Philip McAbee

MAYOR DECLARES

STATEMENTS ARE

WITHOUT FACTS.

Asserts He Has Never Charged

That Misinformation Was Given

of Meeting.

Published statements imputed to Dr. John C. Quick, mayor of Muncie, were denied emphatically Saturday morning by Mayor Quick. One of these statements in particular which credited the mayor with declaring to a high official of the administration that he had been misinformed regarding the purpose of the board of public safety meeting which was held last Saturday afternoon, resulting in the mayor's demand of the resignation of Philip McAbee, president of the board, has been said by the mayor to be absolutely false.

"I have been credited recently with a number of declarations which I have not been responsible for," said Mayor Quick to Press reporters, Saturday, "and I really would like to know where a number of persons are obtaining information of the kind that is being published. I have never made a declaration to the effect that I blame the past administration with the recent quarrel which has risen in the official family of the present administration, although such has been the report published in a local paper."

In regard to declarations to the effect that the mayor is attempting to give alibis for his action in asking the resignation of Mr. McAbee at last Saturday's board meeting, the mayor has since said that "I need not alibi. I am doing what in my own opinion is best for the interest of the public and I shall continue in my present course without fear or favor."

Due to the absence of Mr. McAbee from the city, no action has been taken by the mayor, other than that of the appointment of E. E. Rosenthal, local confectioner, to take the seat left vacant by the ousted commissioner. It is said by Mayor Quick that should Mr. McAbee desire a hearing for the purpose of defending himself against any charges which may be preferred against him, he will receive this privilege.

Compliments Moles.

That a special meeting of the board of public safety was called for the purpose of investigating alleged facts in the record of Night Captain John W. Moles is well known. The investigation, according to the mayor, was the work of those who were attempting to stir up strife in the police department, as well as of those who had "an axe to grind" over personal affairs. The board, said Mayor Quick, was investigating the character of Captain Moles without giving him a chance to defend himself and certain facts are said to have been presented at the meeting which are alleged to have long since been proven false.

Incidentally, in spite of declarations regarding questionable incidents in the past record of Captain Moles, a high compliment has been paid to his former record when employed as a patrolman on the Muncie police force. Former Superintendent of Police William McIlvaine declared Friday that former Patrolman Moles was one of the most efficient officers in the department over which Chief McIlvaine had jurisdiction. "Whenever I had a beat which needed cleaning up," said Mr. McIlvaine, "I simply assigned Office Moles to that beat and the work was accomplished without any more trouble."

Can't See the Joke.

While according to a local publication, the $50,000 bribe offer to the board of public safety is said to be a joke, yet some local authorities are inclined to think that the humor in the situation may be missing. It was said recently that the above mentioned sum had been offered to the board of public safety for permission to "operate a wide open" town, and it is said that the joke theory is being advanced by those who are anxious to cover up their trails in the matter.

John Collins, Democratic member of the board of safety, declared Thursday evening, that while the offer had never been made to the board in his presence, yet that he had heard several rumors of the affair recently, prior to the account of the matter published in The Press. Mayor Quick also declared that he had heard a number of rumors regarding the alleged bribe offer. Despite several reports that the offer was made last January, the officials are inclined to doubt this statement and say that a recent investigation on the subject has been and is being made.