The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-29
WILLIAM R. EBEL|NC
NAMED ACTING Chief
During SUSPENSION
Suspended Police Head CHARGED
With INSTRUMENTATION, Neg
Iect, Malfeasance
PETITIONS ARE CIRCULATED
Formal Charges Against Vet
eran Department Chief Arc
Filed by Commission

Suspended as chief Of police Of Bis
marck late Tuesday, Chris J. Mar
tineson Wednesday reviewed series
Of formal charges filed against him
and began preparations for resisting
removal from office In q hearing be-
fore the city commission, set for 7:30 p.
m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, in the city hall.
In six paragraphs Of charges filed
with the city auditor late Tuesday by
the board Of city commissioners.
Martineson was charged with neglect
and refusal for three or more months
last past to attend to hts duties Is
chief Of police; with failure, neglect
and refusal for several months past to
obey orders Of the police commits
sioner; with guilt Of malfeasance In
his office for . long period Of time;
with failure, neglect and refusal to
cooperate with members Of the police
force; with failure, neglect and refusal
to carry out directions and orders Of
the board Of city commissioners and
the police commissioner respecting
regulation Of traffic; and with inca
pacity to properly carry out the duties
as police officer because Of his ply
steal condition.
In q resolution adopted last Satur-
day forenoon by the city board, City
Attorney Charles L. Foster was in
structed to ask Martineson for his
voluntary resignation.
Commission Takes Stepo
Monday, however, Martineson an
nounced his decision to resist removal
and, as directed by the Saturday reso-
luton, Foster began preparations Of
formal charges against the police
chief and A. p. Lenhart, president Of
the city commission, ordered MARITIME
son suspended pending hearing, ap-
pointed Police Captain william r.
Ebeling to act In his place and set
the hearing for next Tuesday evening.
Specifically, the commissioners
charge that at various and diverse
times he (Martineson) has changed
CT had changed under his orders and
direction, police slips made upon ar
rests Of various and diverse persons.
changing the crimes as charged there
or by the arresting officer to lesser
and minor crimes and has taken small
sums Of money from such arrested
persons, and thereafter released them
from custody without \ hearing up
on the charges upon which said pris-
oners were arrested and without any
appearance being required before the
police magistrate or any other magis-
trate in Burleigh county or elsewhere"
It Is expected the commissioners
will cite specific cases designed to
show characterization by Martineson
u the hearing. as we'll as specific cases
designed to prove all charges.
No Appearance Tonight
In view Of the fact that the hearing
date already has been set, Scott Cam
eron, who with +. E. McCurdy and
Alfred Zuger is acting as counsel for
Martineson, said it now Is improbable
that Martineson will make IN appear
ance before the city commission at its
meeting Wednesday evening. Mar
tineson had planned to formally noti-
fy the board that he Is resisting re-
moval at the meeting Wednesday
evening.
Petitions in behalf OF Martineson,
for presentation to the city commits
sion, were placed In circulation Tues.
day afternoon and Cameron estimat-
ed Wednesday forenoon that approx.
in,ately 1000" persons had signed the
petitions. They read g follows:
honorable City Commissioners q
the City Of Bismarck-We, the UNI
dersigned, love our city and wish It
to remain = safe place for ourselves
and families and we therefore protest
the action taken against our chief Of
police and request you to retain Q. J.
Martineson Is chief Of police"
Martineson has been connected with
the local police force for q years and
for the last 10 years has been head Of
the department..
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