100 Year Old Weblog ~ News From 100 Years Ago That's New to You from Vintage Kansas City.com

January 29, 2026

MUST NOT ASSAULT

THEIR PRISONERS.

POLICEMEN MUST SUBMIT TO ALL

VERBAL ABUSE.

Board Issues Instructions Regarding

When a Man May or May Not

Club or Slap a Person

Under Arrest.

According to a ruling made in a case before the police commissioners at their meeting yesterday, an officer will in future take abuse from persons placed under arrest, and shall not use force to stop such abuses unless the person under arrest shows fight or refuses to be taken to the police station. Patrolman J. J. Waters was before the board charged with hitting Ray W. McMillan, a boy of 18 years old, in the face with his fist. He was suspended for three days, and told hereafter to refrain from hitting a person unless he gave more cause than abusive talk.

Officer Waters testified that McMillan called him names and told a comrade, who was arrested at the same time, not to answer questions asked by the officer. According to McMillans testimony he did these things, but Waters struck him in the mouth because he did and he wanted the officer removed from the police force. McMillan was arrested about midnight at Westport avenue and Main street not long ago.

Labels: police, police commissioners, violence

July 30, 2025

OUSTED BY FOLK

POLICE COMMISSIONER F. F.
ROZZELLE DECAPITATED.

CHIEF HAYES IS NEXT TO GO

SHANNONISM WINS OVER CITY'S

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Governor Building Political Machine

to Help Him in His Senatorial

Race -- Folk's Actions

Astonish Even His

Friends.

Joseph W. Folk, Missouri's "reform" governor, yesterday removed Police Commissioner Frank F. Rozzelle from office. In order to prevent Mr. Rozzelle and Mayor H. M. Beardsley from recommissioning John Hayes as chief of police it was necessary for the governor to telegraph the order ousting Mr. Rozzelle.

The first step toward "Shannonizing" the police department has been taken.

For several weeks Governor Folk has been trying to induce Mr. Rozzelle to vote with Police Commissioner Andrew E. Gallagher for Hayes' removal, in spite of the fact that every commercial organization in Kansas City had recommended the re-commissioning of Chioef Hayes. Every test between the business interests of Kansas City and the Shannon politicians has demonstrated that the business interests are secondary with Governor Folk. Folk is a candidate for United States senator, his presidential boom having exploded some time ago. His only hope of securing the Jackson County delegation is through an alliance with the Shannon forces. The Shannon gang was whipped out of the county court house and the city hall, and the machine so badly wrecked that the only hope of ever getting it in motion again was through connivance with the police.

FAVORED HONEST BALLOT.

As long as Chief Hayes was at the head of the police force elections were largely free from taint. Bill Adler was sent to prison and finally driven from town. Pinky Blitz shared a similar fate. Other sluggers were driven from the polls, padded election lists disappeared and every enfranchised individual was free to cast one ballot and have it counted as cast.

When Folk made the race for governorship he made many pledges along reform lines. One of these pledges was "home rule." He deplored that other governors had sought to control the police forces of St. Louis, Kansas City and St. Joseph and without any reservation promised that he would give the people of these towns home rule in its truest sense. Governor Folk violated his solemn promise on the first occasion when put to the test. It was in the appointment of a police board for Kansas City. Joe Shannon had held several conferences iwth Folk and the business men became aroused to action. A petition, containing the names of fifty reputable citizens of Kansas City, from which list the governor was asked to name two police commissioners, was presented to Folk by a delegation representing practically every commercial and professional organization in Kansas City.

THEN SHANNON SAW FOLK.

Folk dealt out his usual homilies about selecting "good men" for the places and declared the business interests would be satisfied with the men he named. Shannon saw Folk the day before the commissioners were appointed and Gallagher and Rozzelle were named.

But Rozzelle did not "stand hitched." He developed ideas of his own. He refused to become a party to Governor Folk's machine-building plans and there was much chagrin in the Shannon camp. Rozzelle was summoned to Jefferson City by the governor, who tried to whip him into line for Hayes' removal. Rozzelle said he would resign before he would become a party to ousting a capable officer without cause. Folk gave him time to think it over and made two trips to Kansas City to confer with him, but Rozzelle stood by his original declaration. Last Thursday hie signified his willingness to vote to recommission Chief Hayes. Mayor Beardsley favored recommissioning Hayes, but Gallagher made such strenuous objection that the matter went over until yesterday. Then the Shannon crowd got busy and Folk's telegraphic order of dismissal to Rozzelle was the result.

Next in order will be a police commissioner along Shannon-Folk lines. Then Hayes weill be ousted and a Shannon-Folk police chief named. With a police chief receiving orders from Joe Shanon the Folk idea of "home rule" will probably be fulfilled.

Labels: Commissioner Rozzelle, Governor Folk, Mayor Beardsley, Police Chief Hayes, police commissioners, politics, telegraph

July 25, 2025

POLICE CASE IN A TANGLE.

Greek met Greek in the police boardroom yesterday, but what happned none of the commissioners could tell. The case before the members was that of two saloon men, at 325 West Fifth street, being charged with giving intoxicants to an infant in arms and a child of 4 years. There were two interpreters and two lawyers. After letting the whole lot wrangle for almost twenty minutes the commissioners decided that it would be utterly impossible to get the names of the witnesses, much less to decide whether it was the saloon or an invoiced grocery that supplied the wine that made the little children drunk.

Labels: alcohol, Fifth street, immigrants, police commissioners, saloon

July 25, 2025

LITTLE BOYS ARRESTED.

LOCKED IN A CELL BY POLICE TO

"GIVE THEM A SCARE."

"Don't Do It Again," Warns the

Mayor -- Preacher Who Caused

the Arrests Interrogated

by Commissioners.

Two young boys, Jesse Lynch, residing at 2106 Belleview, and his chum, John Rafferty, living next door, gave Sergeant Seldon and Policeman Barton a fright yesterday in the police board room. By way of a by-product, the boys had the fun of hearing the mayor bore in on John Hart, who said he was the "commanding officer" of the Red Cross mission at Twenty-first and Belleview.

The boys had been arrested on a charge of disturbing a religious meeting. Six or eight neighbors were on hand to testify that they had been sitting on their porches watching each other and the boys for an hour or more, so they were able to say there had been no disturbance. The policemen's defense was that "Commanding Officer" Hart had directed them to arrest the boys, "and some of them," said M. G. Hammon, "were not more than 7 years of age."

"I think there were some little fellows in the gang. I got nine," said the policeman. Afterward his sergeant admitted locking them in a cell to scare them. The bad impression this made on the commissioners was wiped out when the sergeant said he had refused to let the "commanding officer" swear out a warrant, but that he had turned the boys loose.

"I do not like that sort of thing," Commissioner Gallagher said.

"That is exactly the way I feel about it," the mayor echoed. "I do not want little boys locked up. I do not even want them arrested if it can be avoided. Here we find this preacher telephoning for the police to rout a gang. Officer Barton comes on the scene, finds two excellent boys, so this testimony every bit shows, sitting peacefully chatting. They are arrested and in the march to the station seven others are picked up. This is not right. Don't do it again." Policeman Barton said he had supposed his duty would compel him to arrest on information filed by a reputable citizen.

"But not women or children for trivial things like this," Commissioner Gallagher said.

"This was supposed to end the case, when the "commanding officer" returned to the attack. He wanted to know if the boys could train dogs to go into his mission and break up the meetings.

"That is not what the commissioners ought to settle," said a Mrs. Parks. "What you ought to settle is whether or not Preacher Hart has the right to shoot into a crowd of boys with a revolver."

"It was a cannon firecracker," the "commander" quickly said.

"It was a revolver, for I saw you loading it after you had fired it, and you put it under a pillow. I could see through my window and yours," Mrs. Parks asserted. By this time the mayor was sitting up and taking notice.

"Let us hear about this shooting," he said, but he heard two sides and had to take his choice. In the end the commissioners decided that Policeman Barton had not been guilty of anything in the arrest of the children. The Red Cross mission "commanding officer" was warned that he could not make another blanket raid on the boys about his church.

Labels: charity, children, churches, jail, Mayor Beardsley, ministers, police commissioners, Twenty-first street

June 28, 2025

POLICE OPPRESSION CHARGED.

Witness Who Testified Against Pa-

trolman Ordered to Leave Town.

Mayor Beardsley yesterday informed Police Commissioner Gallagher that a witness named Lee, who had testified in the case involving Officer Park, charged with gambling while on duty, in Sheffield, had been arrested on a charge of vagrancy and had been ordered to "leave town."

"That is more than we must be asked to stand," Commissioner Gallagher declared. "I move that the matter be investigated and that all parties concerned be brought before the board. Are you sure it is true?"

"I know it is true," the mayor confirmed. "Lee testified here against a policeman, the policeman afterwards arrested him as a vagrant, hauled him down here before Judge Kyle and since then has told him he had better get out of town."

Labels: Judge Kyle, Mayor Beardsley, police commissioners, sheffield, vagrancy

June 28, 2025

NOT TO DISTURB SICK.

No Fourth Noise About Hospitals or

Named Residences.

An order was sent to Chief Hayes yesterday afternoon by the police commissioners to positively prevent the explosion of firecrackers within a block of any public or private hospital. The same proscription will be made around private residences where there may be sick people.

If they will send their addresses to the chief," said Commissioner Rozzelle, "he will see that the sick people are not disturbed."

Labels: Commissioner Rozzelle, hospitals, Police Chief Hayes, police commissioners

June 22, 2025

ANSWER OF CITY OFFICIALS.

Contended That Music in a Park Bars

Sale of Liquor There.

D. V. Kent, city auditor, and A. E. Holmes, city treasurer, who were served with an alternative writ of mandamus from the circuit court to compel them to issue a dramshop license to J. J. Norton at the new Electric park, filed their answer yesterday. They contend that the board of police commissioners has authority to refuse to issue dramshop licenses and to decide whether the owner of a license may change the location of his drinking place. The point of the mandamas suit was that such power lay in the mayor and council.

The city offices also contend that a license cannot be legally issued to J. J. Norton because he is the agent of a brewery; because he plans to allow music within hearing distance of the drinking place, and because he does not define the portion of the park in which the intoxicating liquor is to be served.

They further claim that the board of police commissioners does right in refusing to issue dramshop permits for places in the residence section of the city.

Labels: alcohol, amusement, boar, circuit court, Electric park, police commissioners

May 30, 2025

SOCIALISTS GET A CHANCE.

May Hold Meetings in Grand Ave-

nue's Open District.

James Howard, perpetual president of the local order of Social Socialists, appealed yesterday to the police board for permission to hold meetings in the downtown district. He complained that the police had run his party off Grand, south of Eleventh street, where permission had been given to them to hold forth.

"You let other political meetings be held on the street corners," said Howard.

"Yes," granted Mayor Beardsley, "but that is only when the campaign is going on."

"Our campaign is always going on," promptly retorted the Social Socialist.

After the commissioners stopped laughing they decided unanimously, "That is exactly the trouble," and suggested that the perpetual president try and get a word in edgewise between the Salvationists, the Bakerites and the other little crowds that nightly meet on Grand avenue.

Labels: Eleventh street, Grand avenue, Mayor Beardsley, police commissioners, politics, Socialists

April 5, 2025

IN THE PUBLIC ROW

DISCHARGES MAY BE MADE IN

VOTE ON COMMISSION

PENDERGAST TO THE FORE

DARES MAYOR TO PROBE AND

IGNORE CITY HOSPITAL.

A new phase has arisen in the police row. Despite Governor Folk's known vexation over the retention of Captain Weber, based upon Mayor Beardsley's written opinion, which the governor has, it is predicted when the commissioners vote this week on the question of recommissioning the superiors, Commissioner Rozzelle will vote as he did on the day of the trial, to clear him. What Governor Folk will then do remains to be seen. The mayor's opinion, which was published in the Journal, said that the evidence showed that Captain Weber lived in a block which he owned, and that there was a gambling room in it for months, which was equipped with push buttons and other signals. The mayor, discussing the seeming conflicting opinion and vote, and answering the question whether he would reverse himself or stand pat, said yesterday that he thought he would veto again as he did at the trial.

"I gave the captain the benefit of the doubt," said the mayor. "I remember we went into the question exhaustively. I do not think I shall reverse myself."

Commissioner Rozzelle was strongly opposed to any reflection being cast upon the headquarters captain at the trial, so it is not likely he will turn about unless the mayor does.

THE CITY HOSPITAL AGAIN

"They dare not do it," said Alderman Pendergast yesterday, speaking of the investigation. "The mayor dare not do it, he dare not investigate the police unless he investigates the city hospital. I am not the man to start trouble, but if I have to throw the administration's city hospital onto the mayor to keep him from making trouble for the police, I am in for doing it this time. Take a peep under the lid at the hospital and you will decide that the police and the detectives are a department of saints. They mayor dare not investigate the one without investigating the other. I am not screening crooks. If there are grafters on the department, find them and find them quick, but find those in other departments, too, while you are at it."

Alderman Pendergast for many years was the main support of the police department. He is now being called into service again and yesterday was industriously at work in behalf of the department.

The commissions of all the superiors, including Chief Hays and Inspector Halin, expired yesterday. The men will be serving legally until they are recommissioned or their successors are appointed to relieve them. Inspector Halpin is said to be withholding his resignation solely because men in his department are under fire. He is said to have made $50,000 in the last five years as a partner with his brother, James Halpin, in the contracting business, and has been wanting to give his whole time to that business for some months. Now that he is under charges of running his department loosely he is hesitating about resigning, but his friends are saying for him that he would no more than thank the board for a new commission.

BEARDSLEY MAY DECIDE.

When the commissioners meet tomorrow morning it will be to talk over the reorganization. Commissioner Gallagher will be for postponing everything till the governor can come, as he has said he will. Commissioner Rozzelle will favor issuing new commissions at once. They mayor will have the deciding vote. He favors Chief Hayes and on the day of the trial of the cases of Detective Kenney and Huntsman said "they are two of our best men. Accordingly it is possible that the mayor may vote to recommission.

Commissioner Gallagher said yesterday he did not think there would be an investigation. "It is a joke to think the policemen would testify against their superiors. The Latcham case shows what would happen to them if they did. They would get on the stand and tell nothing, or worse than nothing. We know enough now to decide whether new commissions ought to be issued. It will not take me long to decide. I know what the governor wants. I think Mr. Rozzelle knows, too.

Labels: Commissioner Rozzelle, detectives, Governor Folk, hospitals, James Pendergast, Mayor Beardsley, police commissioners

May 4, 2025

GOV. FOLK TO COME

HE WILL PERSONALLY INVESTI-

GATE POLICE CONDITIONS.

A SHAKEUP FOR THE FORCE.

NOW INTIMATING HAYES AND

HALPIN ARE IN DANGER.

Governor Folk is coming to Kansas City to make an investigation of the police department for himself. It was said in Jefferson City yesterday that he would be in Kansas City "within the next ten days or two weeks," evidently timing his visit to fit the adjournment of the extra session of the legislature. The governor is in complete control of the police investigation and yesterday he was busy going over the records of those from whom the new heads of departments are likely to be picked. Disclaiming any intention to order a wholesale removal of policemen and detectives, Governor Folk said yesterday:

"I believe a majority of the men on the force are what they should be, but among so many men there may be some who do not measure up to standard. There are just as many honest men among policemen as in other walks of life, and there are probably just as many dishonest men proportionately. Crookedness among the police, however, has a more injurious effect upon the public than crookedness elsewhere. A man in uniform is still a man. In the instance of Kansas City, as in any other instance, wrong must be weeded out. No effort should be spared to eradicate and eliminate any element of wrongdoing."

BEGIN INVESTIGATION MONDAY

In view of the governor's decision to come to Kansas City it is possible that there will be no final orders issued in the matter of dismissals until he does come, though it is agreed by all the commissioners that they will begin the investigating work next Monday.

So precarious are the chances of Chief of Police Hayes being recommissioned next week that his friends yesterday started a move to hold mass meetings in his interest if necessary. Police Commissioners Rozzelle and Gallagher returned from their interview with the governor yesterday. As the main instigator of the row in the department, Commissioner Gallagher looked triumphant. Commissioner Rozzelle did not seem so enthusiastic.

"I happened to be in Jefferson City, said Commissioner Rozzelle, "and I called up the governor at the mansion and asked him when I could see him. He said he was just going to the theater but he would talk with me after he got home again. I went over after the performance. We had a little talk, discussing the police and the reorganization. That was about all there was to it."

One dispatch from Jefferson City says Captain Weber was ordered dismissed, and that Inspector Halpin was slated to go and that other changes were recommended on the strength of the testimony given before the board on Wednesday," was suggested.

Labels: Commissioner Rozzelle, Governor Folk, police commissioners

May 3, 2025

ASSAULT ON GEORGE HICKS.

Main Witness Before Police Board

Beaten Near His Home.

George Hicks, who made charges against detectives at the police board meeting yesterday, was assaulted at Twelfth and Jefferson last night on his way to his home at 1223 Jefferson. Two men attacked him, one knocking off his hat, the other striking him on the ear so that blood flowed from it. Picking up his dog, which one of his assailants had begun to kick, Hicks fled to his home. Rocks were thrown at him as he ran.

It was dark when the assault took place and Hicks would not say that he recognized his assailants. He added that they were some of his enemies. Also he said he had been warned something would happen to him if he testified against certain men.

That the assault was carefully planned seems evident. A young man entered Hicks' restaurant at 339 West Fifth early in the evening and asked when the proprietor was going home. He was told and departed.

For testifying before the board Hicks had been promised protection and no doubt more than the usual police vigor will be exercised in finding his assailants. If the police can't, the board probably can furnish the vigor.

Labels: Fifth street, Jefferson street, police commissioners, Twelfth street, violence

May 2, 2025

BOARD GETS 'TIPS'

COMMISSIONERS LEARN OF

POLICE WORKINGS

DETECTIVES TELL OF A ROW

ANOTHER SAYS JOHN PRYOR

HAD HIM TRANSFERRED.

Hints That Crooks Were Protected and

That Officers Used Their Influence

in Having a Prisoner Released --

Witness Assaulted on Way Home

"Did not some detectives, on the pay roll of the city, come out to the race track and ask you to protect some pick-pockets, Mr. Hicks?" Police Commissioner A. E. Gallagher yesterday asked George Hicks during the hearing of the Kenney-Huntsman detectives' row.

"I refuse to answer," replied the witness.

"Why do you refuse to answer?" the police commissioner asked.

"I simply refuse at this time, anyhow."

Later on in the hearing Commissioner Gallagher again asked Hicks if he would tell who had asked him to protect crooks at the track. Hicks at the time being in the employ of a private detective agency. Again he declined, but said:

"I had been asked not to bother certain people."

"And did you leave them alone?"

"I did."

ASKED TO PROTECT TOUTS.

"Tell us who they were?" asked the commissioner. Pausing a moment, Hicks said nervously: "I will not tel you now. I will tell the commissioners privately if they like to hear. I will not name them today."

Still later in the inquiry, Commissioner Gallagher asked Hicks what class of people he had been asked to protect.

"Touts," he said, and when, in answer to further questions, he added: "Touts are 'good things.' They point out the jockeys who know the good things. They are good producers. They get the coin. They skin people. They induce strangers to bet on horses. They put only half the money on the horse and keep the half they do not bet, even if the horse loses. If they win, they get half the stakes."

In order to have everything possible before them prior to reaching a conclusion in the hearing, the commissioners withheld their verdict in the hearing until next week, the understanding being that Hicks is to be called to attend an executive session in order that the board may learn who it was asked him to protect rogues at the races and what rogues he protected.

STARTED IN A FIGHT.

Two weeks ago there was a personal encounter at police headquarters, in which, according to all the evidence given yesterday afternoon, George Hicks had privately sent for Detectives McNamara and Kenney and had told them that there was a man with $5,000 on him in the "red light district." McNamara turned the case over to Kenney. Kenney located the "roller" and saved his money for him. When Kenney and Huntsman, McNamara and a dozen other detectives were making up their reports the morning following the Hicks incident, Huntsman, who was paired with McNamara, taunted Kenney regarding his detective work. Hicks' name was called and Huntsman coupled it with an epithet.

"You did not call him that till you had got his wife's diamond earrings," Kenney says he said, but Huntsman swore that Kenney used the word "copped" instead of "got."

Huntsman called Kenney a liar and was hit over the head by Kenney's revolver. All agreed the blow was a light one. Huntsman had four witnesses to swear that he was seated at a table when struck. Kenney swore that Huntsman had risen and seemed to be in the act of drawing his own revolver. Inspector John Halpin ordered the men to write a full report of the affair and he sent it to Chief of Police John Hayes. The chief sent it to the board and a week ago yesterday the contending detectives, Huntsman and Kinney, appeared and offered to apologize.

Mayor Beardsley refused to let the matter drop there, declaring that he wanted to know about the diamond deal. Everybody was then cited for yesterday, and when the case was called the board room looked like the detective bureau.

ABOUT THOSE EARRINGS.

The first hour was spent going over the row in the headquarters, but at last Detective Huntsman told about the diamond earrings. He said that three years ago a police character named George Hicks had told him that he, Hicks, owned a pair of earrings which he had pawned to a man named DeJarnette, and added that DeJarnette was about to leave the city.

"He asked me," Detective Huntsman said, "to get the stones, as he would rather I would have them than let the other men have them. Some time before Hicks had been quarantined in a house and I had arranged to have meals sent to him. He was grateful, and I supposed that was why he was wiling to let me have the stones. I met DeJarnette and gave him $208, the amount he had loaned, for the stones. Before that I took them to Harry Carswell, a jeweller, to have them valued. He said they were worth about $225. I owned them three months and then sold them at a profit of $30. I never told Hicks I was making him a loan on them."

Officer Harry Arthur, who heard the negotiations between Huntsman and Hicks, supported this testimony. Kenney, who had started all the row, said he knew nothing about the details. "I never said Huntsman 'copped' the stones," Kenney protested., "I said he 'got' the stones, and so he admits."

This was all prosaic, but things brushed up considerably when George Hicks took the stand. He proved to be a sallow complexioned man of about 30 years, introduced by Detective Thomas McAnany as "a reformed pickpocket who lately has been working for a private detective agency watching crooks at the track sides." After saying that he was the proprietor of three rooming houses, Hicks admitted that he ad been arrested at South McAlester, I. T., saying in his confession: "I was at the depot with some pickpockets. A coat was stolen and I was picked up. They threw me in jail and I had to stand trial."

KENNEY'S INTEREST IN HICKS.

"Somebody helped you here. Who was it? Commissioner Gallagher asked.

It developed then that Detective Kenney had gone to Chief Hayes and had asked him to write to the authorities at South McAlester in the interest of Hicks. Chief Hayes took the stand to say that all he had done was to write a formal letter asking what charge had been placed against Hicks, the reply coming that Hicks had been in the meantime released.

Hicks, continuing, under examination by the mayor and Commissioner Gallagher, said he had been employed by a private detective agency to watch for crooks at Elm Ridge race track, and that he had been asked by someone to "protect" touts. It was at this time that he refused to answer the commissioners in detail. Detective McAnany, unwilling to let suspicion rest upon himself, demanded:

"Was it me, Hicks?"

Hicks replied that it was not.

"Me?" asked Detective Rafferty.

"And me, and me?" shouted Detective Bates and Arthur and Ghent. Hicks cleared these men, but said he would not answer any other detective who would question him. Detective Huntsman and Hicks were standing side by side before the commissioners' table, and the former interpolated that Hicks was a "hop fiend," evidently to explain his inability to understand the diamond sale.

GUN RAFFLES BY DETECTIVE.

"You are a liar," said Hicks. The detective's hand became a fist and Detective Bert Brannon was just in time to get between the two to prevent a blow.

Hicks' explanation of the diamond deal was that he merely wanted a loan on them. Differing from Jeweler Carswell, he said his stones were worth $350.

"Where did you get them?" Commissioner Gallagher asked him.

"I bought one from a pawnbroker for $130 and I bought the other from a thief for $140."

"From a thief!" exclaimed the mayor, who was hearing plain talk for the first time.

"From a thief named George," answered the witness. Hicks then told of a detective "raffling" a gun. "He raffled it twice," Hicks said, "and he still has the gun, unless he has got away with it in the last week or two."

"Now, Hicks," said Commissioner Gallagher, "you are not on trial, but the board wants to get at the bottom of this thing. Are you willing to tell us now the names of the detectives who told you to let the touts alone at the race track?"

"I will not tell; I will not tell you now," was the answer.

Detective Huntsman, in examining Hicks in his own behalf, added for the information of the board: "I have known Hicks for seven and a half years. He is a dice man, a notorious circus grafter, a hop fiend and a liar. He is a stool pigeon, telling detectives and police what other crooks are up to. He got pinched in the Indian Territory and Detective Kenney interceded for him."

PRYOR HAD HIM TRANSFERRED.

When policeman Harry Arthur, who was on the detective force at the time of the diamond deal, was on the stand the commissioners got another tip.

"I was at the race track and pinched two crooks," said Officer Arthur. This made me unpopular with John Pryor, who was making a book. After that, I was put on the beat in front of Pryor's place. He said he would have me removed. I was taken off in four nights. Now they have me out in 'the timber.'"

Detective Ghent admitted he had tried to have the inquiry quashed, but said he did so merely because of his being friendly to both Huntsman and Kenney.

At the conclusion of the hearing there was considerable agitation at headquarters over Hicks' admission that he had been asked by some city detectives to protect touts, and much speculation as to whether or not he would keep his word and tell the board in private who had gone to him. Hicks had denied that he ever "reformed," but the detectives explained that it was the practice for private detective bureaus to employ men who had associated with thieves, "gun mobs" and rogues generally, to work with their regular men at track sides, the duties of the reformed men being to point out their early acquaintances in order that they might be put where they could not pick the pockets of patrons of the race meets.

Labels: detectives, gambling, Mayor Beardsley, Police Chief Hayes, police commissioners

April 25, 2025

GIANTS WOULD BE POLICE.

Three Men More Than Six Feet Tall
Are After Helmets.

Three men applied yesterday afternoon to the police commissioners to be appointed to the force, each of them measuring more than six feet in height. Virgil Dillard, recently discharged from the regular army, stood 6 feet 3 inches and Quartermaster Sergeant W. R. Lee, in charge of the Third regiment armory, measured 6 feet 1 1/2 inches. John Roy Sloan's mark was 6 feet 1 inch.

The applications were all put on file. Lee is a famous horseback rider. When in the army he was the crack rider of his regiment, one of his stunts being to ride two horses with crossed stirrups. Chief Hayes is picking out big men lately for the down town district, there being a rivalry between municipal chiefs of police of recent years in the matter of smartness on the force. It is notorious that arrests are few in the down town district, so an imposing looking man is preferred to a natural born sleuth.

Labels: employment, military, Police Chief Hayes, police commissioners

April 18, 2025

LYNCH MUST STAY SOBER.

Next Drink He Takes, Off Goes the

Sergeant's Head.

If Sergeant Jerry Lynch takes another drink off goes his official head. The sergeant was up before the police commissioners on a report from Captain Bray that he had been drinking. He testified that when he gets on a toot it lasts a week, but he declared that since his promotion a year ago he had been as sober as a judge. Commissioner Rozzelle was for reducing him, but Mayor Beardsley, who is always in favor of making a convert to the blue ribbon society, voted with Mr. Gallagher to drop the matter and restore Lynch to duty.

"With the proviso," cautioned the mayor, "that if you take another drink you will leave the force."

"If I take another drink I will not report again for duty," said the sergeant.

Labels: alcohol, Commissioner Rozzelle, Mayor Beardsley, police, police commissioners

April 12, 2025

"PLAIN TALK" TO BE SILENT.

Editor Gives Notice That Publication

Has Been Suspended.

(Follow up to this earlier item)
"Plain Talk" is to be published no more, at least not by Wilford B. Smith, its publisher and editor. Smith appeared before the board of police commissioners yesterday and announced his intention of giving up the publication.

"I find that my paper is not receiving the sanction of Kansas City's best people," explained Smith, "and while I believed at first that I was right and doing a work that would tend for the moral betterment of the community, the attitude of public sentiment has pointed out to me my error."

Smith, who is but 23 years old, began to publish "Plain Talk" several months ago. It was printed each month in Kansas City, Kas. Three editions were issued, and information against the publisher was issued by I. B. Kimbrell for issuing a publication devoted to scandal. The case is now pending in the criminal court.

Smith said that he came to Kansas City from Texas two years ago for the purpose of publishing such a magazine. Up to the time of launching his enterprise he practiced law. He said that he was an adopted son of W. A. Brann, publisher of the "Iconoclast" at Waco, Tex., until the time Brann was shot by an indignant citizen of that place a few years ago.

Smith's appearance before the board yesterday was for the purpose, if possible, of thwarting action about to be taken by Chief Hayes against the publisher.

Labels: criminal court, Kansas City Kas, Police Chief Hayes, police commissioners, Prosecutor Kimbrell

April 4, 2025

AFTER "CHOP SUEY" PLACES.

Police Board May Decide to Take

Action Concerning This.

Chop Suey joints and their environment are to go. A place on West Eight stret was complained about yesterday by Mayor Beardsley, presiding at a meeting of the police commissioners. The mayor protested that such places are merely to admit women to drinking rooms, in a covert attempt to get around the wineroom law. Commissioners Rozzelle and Gallagher agreed with the mayor that it was not so much the "suey" as the bottle of beer that went with it that kept the places going and the women as steady customers.

Three saloonmen were before the board on charges of selling liquor on Sunday, all of them having restaaurant attachments. After hearing the evidence in these cases, granting that in no instance was it strong enough for a revocation, the board suggested that saloon men who want to remain in business will have to close up the doors and windows leading to restaurants where women congregate, and where men do their drinking on Sunday.

Labels: alcohol, Commissioner Rozzelle, Eighth street, Mayor Beardsley, police commissioners, saloon, women

April 4, 2025

FOR SALOONS AT 47TH.

Licenses Are Again Sought at
This Street and Troost.

Preparatory to another raid of the saloonkeepers fro licenses at the end of the Troost avenue car line, a number of petitions were filed yesterday with the board of police commissioners asking that saloons be reopened there. A year ago the board cosed the saloons at that point, where thousands of women and children transfer nightly from the Swope to the trunk line cars.

Indicating how dense traffic now is at that point, last Sunday the street car company had no fewer than eight watchmen and switchmen at this point, all needed to handle the crowds. It is urged by the property owners and the street car company, objecting to the reopening of the saloons, that Forty-seventh and Troost comes within the scope of the board's rule not to allow saloons at important transfer points, particularly in view of the fact that so many women and children change cars there.

Labels: children, Forty-seventh street, police commissioners, saloon, streetcar, Swope park, Tracy avenue

March 29, 2026

AN EDITOR UNDER ARREST.

Information Against the Publisher

of Plain Talk Filed by Prosecutor.

Detective Matt Kenney went to room 429 New Ridge building yesterday afternoon and arrested Wilford B. Smith, editor of a publication called Plain Talk, which is published in Kansas City, Kas. The first issue came out in January and there have been three issues since.

Chief Hayes has been investigating the matter ever since the last issue and Wednesday it was brought to the attention of the police commissioners. They requested I. B. Kimbrell to take some action: Yesterday morning he drew up an information charging Smith with the publication of a paper devoted chiefly to scandal. The general charge is a violation of section 2176 of the Revised Statutes.

Smith was taken at once to police headquarters and booked and as Justice Shoemaker was found in his office he was taken there and arraigned about 5:30 p. m. He pleaded not guilty and was released on a $500 bond signed by Harry G. Longnecker, who offices with Smith. The preliminary hearing was set for April 3.

Labels: detectives, Kansas City Kas, Police Chief Hayes, police commissioners, police headquarters, Prosecutor Kimbrell

March 21, 2026

PATROLMAN ROONEY LET OUT.

Man Who Preferred Charges First
Gave Him a Beating

Because Patrolman Rooney was so perplexed last Monday afternoon that he did not know whether he was talking to Mrs. Leo Robinowitz about a pair of shoes once stolen from her or about the silly season, he was thumped unmercifully by Mr. Robinowitz, whose residence is at 1618 West Ninth street, and another man with a fist on him like a maul. The officer was in citizen's clothes and drink simultaneously, and Mr. Robinowitz never was more surprised in his life than when he found out he had been jumping on the frame of a cop.

He said so in filing charges with the board of police commissioners.

Rooney's side of the story never got before the board, for he was dismissed offhand yesterday.

Labels: Ninth street, police, police commissioners, violence