The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-06-25

In discharging Seyeryns. Mrs.
LAndes said she had no alternative,
because OF the chiefs eyasive and
defiant attitude" and his refusal to
obey her orders TO dismiss every
guilty police officer on the Seattle
force
MAKES GRAVE CHARGES
AGAINST SEvERYNS
In her letter advising Severyns
that he was dismissed. Mrs. Landes
places fun responsibility for the graft
and corruption in the police depart.
ment and the iawiessness in Seattle
upon severyns
Welisknown heads OF the Seattle
vice and liquor ring. Mrs. Landes
charges. are daily and open visitors
at police headquarters. Other men
known TO be connected with law vio-
lations are also in frequent confer.
ence with high officials In the police
department, she says.
Such fraternizing with the law.
less Is constantly tearing down the
morale OF your own department.
whatever there may be left" Mrs.
Landes wrote Severyns.
JUST WHAT EXPECTED
SAYS CHIEF
It's just what expected" the
chief said. He WAS first informed OF
his dismissal by The Star.
II will step out gracefully ana
then wait and see. / don't know
whether I'll come back when Mayor
Brown returns, or not. don't want
to. much. but may. II the mayor
presses the point.
II have tried to do my duty here
and II is unfair to charge me with
all the things with which I've been
| charged"
NEW CHIEF WON'T
FIRE 100 COPS
Il don't expect to be chief very
long" Police Chief Joe Mason told
The Star. taking practically the same
stand his former chief. now Mr.. Sew
eryns. took In connection with the
present trouble.
II win not fire 100 cops or any
number of cops. just on hearsay."
the new chief said. Il will obey or.
ders from the mayor. but / must
have the evidence before I discharge
an officer. II Mrs. Landes gives me
the evidence III fire EN-.
I'm not worrying about my Job,
anyway"
Inspector Mason joined the force
August 20. 1902. as a patrolman. He
was promoted to sergeant in 1909 and
gained his first commission as po-
lice lieutenant in 1914. In 1919 he
was made captain and became in
spector this year by Chief Severyns
when 1t was found that Illness would
prevent Harry T. o'Brien, then in.
spector. from continuing such ardu-
Gus duties.
In statement TO The Star Mrs.
Landes said she would go thru with
her program to clean the 'riff,raff''
from the police department to the
utmost OF her ability and authority.
Asked II she would later rs.
sumo personal charge Of the 20.
lice department. Mrs. Landcs
said:
''Whilc j do not relish the re-
sponsibility Of taking over the po-
lice department, I have always
found that II have to do any
thing can sec II thru"
In her letter Diminishing the chief
the acting mayor accuses Severyns
OF inefficiency and vacillations.
1T is the duty Of the police to
maintain a reasonable trend of law
full conduct, and as this is lot being
done by you. whether thru inability
or unwillingncss, It becomes neces.
sary to place in charge OF tho police
department someone who can func.
ton with greater effectiveness" tho
letter stated.
Tho records OF your department
do not show any arpreciablo inroad
on the liquor ring, whose leading
spirit is man who is a frequent
and apparently welcome visitor at
police headquarters. Other men
known TO be connected with law
violation of almost every type are
also In frequent conference with
high officials In the police depart.
mcnt Such patronixlng with tho
lawlcss Is constantly tearins down
tho morale OF your own department.
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