New Britain herald., 1930-06-16
Russell Resigns Despite Repeat ed Statements That He Will
 Not-Sttge Also Moved
ACTION FOLLOWS ATTACK
 AS RESULT OF KILLING
Failure to Cope With Gang Rule Situation Also Responsible Result of Jake Lingle's Murder Was to Appear Today to Give Results of Concentrated Drive.

| Chicago, June Is GP) - William F, Russell announced his resignation today as commissioner of police.
 Faced by severe public criticism of his conduct of the department and apparent failure of the police to cope with the gang rule of Chicago, the commissioner said he had pre- pared statement offering his res- ignation to the mayor.
 Commissioner Russell's retirement carried with it the demotion of John Stege, chief of the detective bureau, whom he assigned today to captain cy of the Irving Park police district.
 Alcock to Take Charge
 John H. Alcock, first deputy com- missioner. was expected to take charge of the department pending appointment of a new commissioner.
 Retirement of the police head came as no surprise to the city, de- spite Russelrs frequent assertions that he would never quit under fire. Whether his action came upon de- mands of Mayor William Hale Thompson was not known, for the mayor has maintained silence through the week of public and press attacks on gang activities that fol- lowed the killing last Monday of a Chicago Tribune reporter, Alfred Jake" Lingle.
 Commissioner Russell was to ap- pear before the city council police committee this afternoon to report the results of the seven day round- up of hoodlums, begun 24 hours aft CT Lingle's death. Alderman Arthur F. Albert had announced he would demand sixty day furlough for both Russell and Stege to permit some other commanders to clean the city of gang domination and corrup- ton within the department.
 Russell said he would retain his place in the police department with his civil service rank as captain.
 Chicago. June IS LP) - The inn mediate resignation of William Rus sell, commissioner of police, and John Stege. chief of detectives, was strongly rumored today, despite re- peated assertions by the commission CT that he would not quit under fire.
 There was even talk among vari- ous business, civic and religious groups-all aroused over the murder a week ago of Alfred (Jake) Lingle, Tribune reporter - that demands might be made for the resignation of William Hale Thompson as may or.
 The mayor, who has made no pub lie pronouncement of any contem- plated action toward meeting the situation created by the Lingle slay- ing, was to meet today with his four closest political advisers-County Treasurer George Harding, Corpora tion Counsel Samuel Ettelson, Municipal Court Bailiff Bernard Snow. and Eugene R. Pike. former president of the Lincoln park board.
 Three More Meetings
 Thee other meetings of the day promised to have an important bear ing upon the immediate future of the administration police policy. A group of business leaders was called to meet with Col. Robert Isham Randolph, president of the associa- tion of commerce, to determine a definite plan for purifying Chicago politics" Leading clergymen were to meet for the same purpose.
 The police committee of the city council planned to call upon Com missioner Russell and Chief Siege for an accounting of their progress in the Lingle murder investigation, l
 Continued on Page Two)