Republican farmer., 1920-07-23
''B0ard Tried Hard 10 Frame
 Me- "--CrOnaD
Detective Captain Says Police Officials With Burns Detectives Spent Three Hours One Day Trying to Get Him How He Came To Be Suspended -Stanley's Denial.

Denial.
 Charges made yesterday by former Assistant Superintendent of Police Charles H. Suckley, to the effect that the police commissioners used him to frame" Captain Edward O. Cronan were substantiated this morning by the ex-chief of detectives. In his statement, Captain Cronan placed the blame for the alleged "frame-up" squarely on the shoulders of Mayor Clifford B. Wilson and John. c. Stan ley, chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners
 "I have been to1d,' said Captain Cronan this morning, that Mayor Wilson, John Stanley, Chief Allen c. Myers, of the Burns Detective Agency and Acting Superintendent Suckley conferred for three hours one night immediately previous to my suspen- sion, and at that time attempted to find charges .on which I could be suspended. They could find noth- ing on which they could take action of this sort"
 "The next morning, Stanley called at the office of the superintendent. and there examined a report which I had submitted. He commented un- favorably on the form of the report, and that night I was ordered sus- pended for neglect of duty. I do commissioners had anything to do with the matter"
 There is absolutely no truth in these accusations" declared Chair man John c. Stanley. of the Police Board, when interviewed this morn ing. There never has been and there never will be a "frame-up" in the Police department Personally I did not see the reports referred to until all the commissioners saw them.'
 In defending himself further against the charges of Captain Cronan Chairman Stanley went over the en- tire case of Captain Cronan's suspen- sion and trial, showing, according to his own statement. that charges were presented against the former detect i've chief solely upon the instigation of Acting Superintendent suckley. oshqler eh eta etaoinetaioteaoineta
 "Suckley" said the commissioner, reported to me by telephone or at my office, and said that Captain Cro- nan had ignored him and refused to obey instructions as to making out reports. I told him that I was busy, and as the Police board was to meet that night, he could present the case at the meeting"
 .'The acting superintendent stated to. the board just what he had said to me previously. Namely, that Cap tain Cronan had ignored him, failed to report, and that mail for the De- tective bureau lay in the basket foI three days while Cronan refused tc come and get 1t as was his habit.
 'Suckley continued by saying, thai he then sent for Captain Cronan te h,1f no ca ntain sent subordinate for 1t. He again sent fol Cronan, and when the captain ap peared personally, asked him why h' had not reported and also instructed him as to the method of making ou and submitting reports. He late called Captain Cronan's attention t' the fact that the reports were not be ing made out in the proper manner and also told the captain that he wa going to bring to the attention of tn board, the fact that he, Captain Cron an, was insubordinate.'
 "Acting Superintendent Suckle was told that the Police board coul not entertain verbal charges, and tha if he had any charges to make agains the captain he should make them writing. He then presented tn charges"
 In the formal charges which aI peared above Suckley's signatur Captain Cronan was accused or haN ing failed to report to the acting sl perintendent for three days followin his appoin tnent, and also failure submit proper reports. The Dete' tive department head was suspende on these charges, and after a tri before the Board of Ponce Commi sioners. was suspended from duty f. a period of 30 days starting May 1920.
 In connection with the now-famo1 Ella Miller affidavit which was sul nitted to the commissioners duriI the course of the Cronan hearin the chairman stated this mornin that neither he nor any of the oth commissioners saw the affidavit u til it was presented as eviden against the captain.
 When asked whether or not it W true that he had picked up the r ports of Captain Cronan in the S perintendents office, that he had m with the mayor, Chief Myers al Suckley In an effort to find groun on which Cronan could be suspen ed. and that he had ordered the 8 distant superintendent to pref charges against the captain, Col missioner Stanley replied:
 'There Is absolutely no truth
 these stories. There never h been and there never will be sframe-ups in the police departmen
 Commissioners Frank D. Ar strone and William E, Primrose,
 statements issued last night. expre cd the opinion that Suckley h
 made a.. mistake when he made pl
 lie the charge that Cronan
 "frsmed." Both of these comm
 sioners have denied any knowlet
 Of an attempt to get Captain C.