HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/05/1939 Special Mtg Board of Public Safety Minutes � 22
� SPECI�L I�;:EETIT�G--SErTE�.`3�R 5, 1939
' � s�ecial meetin� of the Bcard ��as called for t�e purpose of
' hearinT c�iaroes r_lade by Attorney Charles ��'Tills tc the efi ect tiat
certain policy �;^�,mes cJere bein� prosecuted b�� tize Police �e�a-rtr.meni,
and Cit�; Officials and that ct'_nex�s ti•rere bein� r,er�:litted �o oper�.te.
T,�r. ','fills failed to appear be.fore ��ie ,.,oard in response to �..� invi�a-
tion and insteacl ser_t the follcti7in�~ letter : ' �
"I have your letter informin� :ne oi' a special meetin�; of the �
t3oard of Public Safety at 9 :00 01 clock Tuesda�r Septer�ber 5th,
1939, and su�;�;esting tiiat I appear and �ive infor:;iation rela�ive "
to the opera�ion of an�,T polic� �a„Ze , in tnis cit�T. . '
rrIn the second para�ra�h of -rour le�ter �ou s tate that �ti�re are
�nxious to c'atain any in�,crmaLion tnat ti•Till lead to the arrest and �
conviction of the operators cf �ny polic�; ��e operatin;; in ��ze -
Cit� of Sou�h Bend. � I do not nave .informa�tion acimissable as �
evidence inan�r court :"7r11CY1 yJOLlld lead to t:�e arrest and conviction �
of any o?�erator oz a policy g��e. Tllereiore, I shall not be present
at saic��ieeting.
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"�'or STour in�oi�:nation, the ttie.abers cf z-our vice squad have t:ne .
inlor.nation tlzat I have rela.tive to the operation of pclic;� ���es ' - •
in t%zis city. ''i'�,is faet ti�as brou�ht out b�� the testiriony of said '
officers at trials oi Clarence Elliott last January and �ierbert
Scott last Vreel:. It tivas my contention as attorne�r for the defense �
in �oth cases, that proper evidence ti°ras not obtained to sustain ccn-
vict�ions for cperatin� o�' policy �2_:le, and that the evidence intro-
duced by t'�e state shoLld '-�ave bean .su�pressed and bcti� defendantg
discnar�eu. P;Zotion to suppress y�as filed and overruled in eac�z case:
Hoz,Tever, in viez•r of the ;eneral inl erm�tion �^rhich �rour police .off.icers.
have relative to operation of policy �a�es in this c-ity, it is my
considered opinion tlzat if the 1a�v enforcement agencies rrere sincere
in their efforts to prosecute policy game operators, they ti�rould �
' secure tnrou�;h dili�ent police inves.ti�ation and le�al �rccess,
facts and e�,hi�aits leg�_lly acimissai�le as evidence in suc�z �rosecutions. -
"Very truly yaurs,
Ci�'l�br Cnas. 'T. i"Jills:'
In vierr of tne fact tnat tn� "deathless d��rss� are �t an end since
i eter i;Iieleszetiricz died as a result of an automebile accident on the
cit�r streets, the 3card orders �ne flag of t�ie �ittiT ii�:,ll flo�m a.� half
rnast un�il sundoti�m :'Jecinesc?a;r, Serteriber 6th.
inere bein� no f urther business to co::ie befo e tiie �oara, the
meet�ng au.jcurned.
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