New Britain herald., 1922-07-08
M e m bers Hold Star Chamber Session But Are Reported to Have Adjourned Without any Choice
Hart and Kelly Seem to Be the Leading Candidates Mayor Might Be Called Upon to Choose in Case of Tie.

Although the police board on OF.
 ganizing, made the pledge that all
 meetings would be open to the press,
 the members met last night and held
 lengthy and, 1t is said, somewhat
 heated at times, discussion relative to
 the selection of police chief to suc-
 ceed W. J. Rawlings next month.
 While last nights meeting was prac.
 tlcally star chamber session." the board takes refuge behind the tech.
 nicality that no business was transact
 ed. The contention of the board ,s
 that the meeting was only informal
 and to get opinions and that all for
 nal meetings will be open to the press. Furthermore, the board rein. forces itself by referring to its orig inal asserted policy of reservinE the right to go into executive session 1t any time.
 Be that as 1t may, however, the one fact that stands ont as undisputed is that the police board today stands deadlocked it's choice for a new chief of pol. Mayor Paonessa at- tended last h.. it's session, but even he was unable to bring about a defin. | ite decision. try though he is report ed to have done.
 Get-Together Party. With the regular meeting of the board only few days away. namely on next Tuesday and with the selec- tion of a chief of the department due to the pensioning of W. J. Raw. lings. the present incumbent of the position, the meeting of last night re. solved itself into sort of get-together party, with the hopes that some ded. nite conclusion would be arrived at as to the new head of the police de- partment.
 Several Are Mentioned. Within the past few months and particularly since the vote to retire Chief W. J. Rawlings, talk has been heard as to his probable successor. Among those mentioned prominently were Captain Thomas W. Grace, Chief Detective Sergeant William c. Hart and Sergeant George c. Kelly. There have also been rumors that the police board might so outside their depart ment in it's selection of a new head.
 When the board met last night, the chief item of business interest at first seemed to resolve itself into whether or not supernumerary policemen of the New Britain police department should be delegated for duty at the East Hartford yards of the New Haven railroad company to guard against trouble.
 Get Down to Business.
 This matter, however, is believed to have been only secondary in the minds of the commissioners. During the interim of the vote to retire the chief and the present time. the possible selection of his successor has been gossip. Captain Thomas W. Grace, senior officer. and next in line for promotion. has been, on account of physical disability, regarded as un- likely of promotion. Next in line. as a matter of seniority, was the name of Sergeant George J. Kelly. Then came Chief Detective Sergeant Will liam C. Hart From time to time there have been rumors that tho board. in it's effort to rehabilitate the New Britain police department, might go outside in it's selection of a man to head the department,
 At last nights meeting. as far as can be accurately learned, the board discussed at length the ability and rhara cteristios of the mentioned cAn- 1idates, which included Captain Brace, Sergeant Kelly and Sergeant Hart and Theodore Johnson. former member of the police department.
 After a discussion relative to the merits of the candidates 1t was the consensus of opinion among the member. of the board that due to the one and faithful service of the pres .nt members of the department, the board should not go outside the -anks in making the selection of the successor to Chief Rawlings.
 Outsiders Eliminated.
 This of course eliminated Mir John son. who is at present engaged in a ;peoial position with the New Britain National Bank. and one other candi- late. The talk then resolved itself nto the possible selection between Captain Grace, Sergeant Kelly and Sergeant Hart There appears to be disposition upon the part of the ,oard, while they consider the capa- ,ilities of Captain Grace, to eliminate i'm because of supposed physical dis .bility
 Kelly and Hart.
 Tn getting down to the other two andidates, the situation seems to be t present that only Sergeant Kelly nd Sergeant Hart are now in the unning At the outset, Sergeant Hart eemad to have been the favorite for he place It is believed that owing o his work at the head of the so- alled vice squad and his hard and drive against the vto- ators or the liouor law, there may ,e considerable opposition to his ap- ,ointment.
 On the other hand. Sergeant Kelly,
 Ll<antir,,ed Ienth RasAl