Philip McAbee

BRIBE OFFERED TO BOARD OF SAFETY.

WOULD PAY

IF CITY IS

"OPENED UP."

Sum of $50,000 Declared by

Members of Board to Have

Been Promised If "Lid"

Was Taken Off.

The sum of $50,000 as a first payment, and a large balance to be turned over in two other payments was recently offered to the board of safety by certain local interests for the permission to run a "wide open" town, according to a statement made Thursday to a Press representative by a member of the board. The board, according to this same information, instead of accepting the offer, has spent the last three weeks in the effort to apprehend the persons "higher up," but the attempts to date has been without avail. However, local authorities have practically completed the gathering of evidence in the matter and no surprise would be felt in local circles should a number of arrests result in the near future.

This offer is declared to be a result of the same efforts to disorganize the police department which it is asserted, were visible at the meeting of the board of safety Saturday, called for the purpose of investigating certain reports on the record of John H. Moles, night captain of police. The result of the meeting was that Mayor Quick declared that Captain Moles' character was being investigated without giving him a chance to defend himself, and demanded the resignation of Philip McAbee, president of the board. The mayor since has said that the investigation was the work of "certain interests who are endeavoring to stir up strife in the police department."

Special Probe Thursday.

A special meeting of the board was called Thursday morning by Mayor Quick for the purpose of investigating a number of reports regarding an alleged happening during a supposed meeting of the board of public safety last Friday evening. The affair is said to have taken place in the little court in the rear of the police station and was said to have been witnessed by residents in apartments across the alley. A prominent member of the police department was said to have assaulted his wife, when the latter is said to have quarreled about several private matters, but investigation by the mayor and board of safety Thursday, showed, according to declarations of these officials, that the officer in question was merely chastising a child for disobedience.

However, nothing was said about this matter at the secret meeting nor at the meeting of investigation which was held Saturday afternoon. The record of Night Captain Moles was the only subject touched upon, and a number of witnesses, among them a local newspaper man, were to appear before the board. The entrance of Mayor Quick and that of City Attorney Arthur D. McKinley broke up the meeting and after words had been exchanged, the mayor demanded the resignation of Mr. McAbee, which was refused, and the commissioner for the purpose of removing him from office. The mayor has since appointed E. E. Rosenthal, local candy manufacturer, to full the position formerly occupied by Mr. McAbee.

PAY OFFERED.

Those who seem to be on the inside of the matter declare that a number of charges were to be read regarding Captain Moles' record, had this meeting been allowed to continue. It has been averred that the principal charge was the one that "Captain Moles had several times been seen talking to George Dale, a local newspaper man."

It was through the action of John Collins, member of the board of safety, that the mayor was placed in possession of the information in regard to the special meeting for investigation purposes. That the mayor is responsible for the actions of the board and therefore should have information of all its actions, is declared by the local authorities and was probably Mr. Collin's reason for so doing.

Anonymous Letters Received.

Mayor Quick has since declared that his action in demanding Mr. McAbee's resignation was caused by his desire to give Captain Moles a fair hearing and declared that the captain was the object of persecution by those whose effort it was to "stir up strife in the police department." The mayor has since declared that Captain Moles is one of his most efficient officers in the police department. The statement published in The Press has attracted a certain amount of attention and a statement in reference to it, which was published, was to the effect that "it was a bitter pill to a number of members of the department, particularly Chief of Police Van Benbow." The chief, Thursday morning, said that wile he had said nothing in reference to the matter, he believed the condition of the city at present as compared with the way that the streets were formerly overrun at night would be a sufficient proof of the good record of Captain Moles.

The chief seconds the declaration of Mayor Quick in regard to the anonymous letters which the latter has been receiving by declaring that the writers are "a group of cowards." The mayor, in conference with Press reporters Wednesday, exhibited a number of anonymous letters which he had received in regard to his demand of Mr. McAbee's resignation, most of them being of a threatening character. These letters referred to an oath which the mayor is alleged to have taken to "stand by his brothers in all things," and demanding that Mr. McAbee be reinstated.

Local officials declare that no business of actual importance other than the usual routine of signing the pay checks and allowing the payroll of the police department, will be done at the regular meeting of the board of safety Thursday. Mr. McAbee is said to be absent from the city, and Mr. Collins and Mr. Fisher will probably be the only members to be present. The mayor has expressed an intention of being in attendance at the meeting.