The Mayor Fires Two Police Commissioners to Keep Blackchapel Shut

The sensation afforded by the removal of Police Commissioner J. G. Niggle was followed yesterday by other events of an interesting character. Mayor Phelps was at work early in the day, and by afternoon had reached the official neck of Commissioner Cheasty, who had been especially outspoken in his antagonism to Chief of Police Rogers. After Cheasty was added to the list for conspiracy with Niggle to oust Rogers and prevent the suppression of prostitution in certain parts of the city, Orion O. Denny and Frank P. Clingan were appointed as the new members of the police commission, and before 3:30 they had been confirmed by the House of Delegates.

The mayor prepared and sent to Commissioner Cheasty the following findings and judgment:

'In the matter of the removal of E. C. Cheasty from the office of police commissioner. Findings and judgment: After an investigation of the causes set forth in the letter of removal addressed to E. C. Cheasty, police commissioner, and being sufficiently advised of the facts therein stated, I find the same to be true, and that the facts stated are sufficient in judgment to warrant the removal of the said E. C. Cheasty from the office of police commissioner. It is therefore ordered and adjudged that E. C. Cheasty be and is hereby removed from the office of police commissioner of the city of Seattle, and the clerk of the board of police commissioners is hereby ordered to enter the findings and judgment upon the record of the board. PHELPS, Mayor. Seattle, Sept. 6, 1894.'

This was accompanied by a letter dated September 6, addressed to Mr. Cheasty and reading as follows:

'You are hereby notified that I have this day removed you from the office of police commissioner for the city of Seattle for cause. My reasons for having you removed are as follows: That you have, without cause, conspired with other members of the police commission, and especially with one J. G. Niggle, formerly a police commissioner, to remove the present chief of police from said office; that you assisted, by your counsel and advice, to prevent the suppression of prostitution in certain portions of the city by the chief of police, although orders had been given by me that the laws should be enforced in that regard; that at various times during my incumbency of the office of mayor you have failed to do that which became your duty in upholding the police department in its enforcement of the law, and have sought to embarrass the chief of police in the legal and due administration of the law, although the said chief has been especially directed by me to see that the laws are enforced.'

The mayor then personally saw O. O. Denny, vice president of the Denny Clay Company, and offered him the position of police commissioner. In making the offer the mayor asked for no pledges or expression of opinion concerning his attitude toward Chief Rogers. Mr. Denny accepted the appointment, although it had come entirely unsolicited and surprised him greatly. Frank P. Clingan, formerly the well-known cigar merchant, was the next person to be called upon by the mayor, and when Mr. Clingan knew the object of the visit he expressed his willingness to become a commissioner.

It was doubtful when the appointments were to come before the House of Delegates for confirmation, and the general opinion was that nothing would be done about the matter at the special meeting of the delegates to consider the 'light' problem. Mayor Phelps, however, never does things by halves, and when the delegates were called to order Deputy Clerk Coryell read the following communication from the mayor:

'I have removed from the office of police commissioner of the city of Seattle Mr. John G. Niggle and Mr. E. C. Cheasty. To fill the vacancy caused by the removal of John G. Niggle I have this day appointed Mr. O. O. Denny, Republican, of the Fifth ward. To fill the vacancy caused by the removal of Mr. E. C. Cheasty I have appointed Mr. F. P. Clingan, Democrat, of the Seventh ward. I request that these appointments be confirmed by your honorable body.'

There was little opposition to confirming the nomination of Mr. Denny, but Mr. Voigt moved an amendment to lay the matter over until they could learn something about Mr. Denny. Mr. Voigt's amendment had no second, and the main question was about to be put when Mr. James rose to say he would ordinarily have supported the amendment, but Mr. Denny was well known, being a son of A. A. Denny, a good business man and reputable citizen, and he was glad such men were being appointed. Voigt said Mr. Denny might be a good man, but he objected to such haste with a bare quorum present. Messrs. Kistler and Hard then came in, leaving Mr. Goodhue the only absentee, and the mayor's message was read again for their benefit. On roll call the vote was six in favor and one—Wrighton—against. Voigt was excused from voting, as he said he did not even know Denny by sight. Mr. Clingan was then confirmed, the proceedings being similar and the vote the same.

After the meeting the new commissioners took the oath of office and filed their certificates with the city clerk.

About this time ex-Commissioners Cheasty and Niggle went to the city hall, anxious to see the mayor, but had to put off the interview to some other day. At police headquarters everything was quiet and orderly. The commission plot had been torn up and an attempt made to oust Chief Rogers. Capt. George Hogle, who was nominated as chief, went about his duties as if there had been no meeting, and said he was not aware, except by newspaper talk, that he had been named as chief of police. Chief Rogers would not say more than that he was still running the police department, and had nothing to say about the trouble between himself and his former supporter and friend, John G. Niggle.

The history of the trouble which has led to the removal of two police commissioners, after a most determined fight by the chief of police, is most interesting and involves persons of prominence. Nearly a year after Mayor Phelps took office he found on either side of the street a large number of small houses occupied by prostitutes of low character—French, Japanese, colored. This district was one of the most notorious in the city and was commonly known as Blackchapel. The houses occupied by these women were cheap structures erected for that occupancy. The women brazenly solicited from the doors and windows of the houses.

Immediately after Chief Rogers was appointed, the mayor instructed him to close these notorious houses. The women were driven out. There was a protest from Commissioner Niggle, who had a confidential interest in some of the houses from which the women were driven. Mr. Niggle insisted to the mayor that Blackchapel must not be left undisturbed. Mr. McNaught also repeatedly called on the mayor and insisted that his tenants must not be disturbed in any way, and threatened that, if they were not allowed to return at once, he would make it warm for the administration and bring about the removal of Chief Rogers. Mayor Phelps did not recede from his position and told both Mr. Niggle and Mr. McNaught that he intended to keep that locality such that women and children could pass through without being confronted with vice in its worst forms. Women were allowed to remain in houses belonging to Mr. McNaught not on the public thoroughfare, but Mr. McNaught still insisted that the women be allowed to return to the houses on the street from which he could get the highest rental.

Mr. Niggle, who had been one of the strongest supporters of Chief Rogers before his appointment and up to this time, now became pronounced against him. He persistently sought to make combinations with other commissioners for the removal of Chief Rogers, and it is said a combination was formed over two months ago by him with Commissioners Reife and Cheasty, but the plan was not carried out at that time because Commissioner Cheasty went to San Francisco on an extended trip. Meanwhile Messrs. McNaught and Niggle exerted every influence in their power to compel the mayor and chief of police to allow their tenants to return.

Failing in this, upon Commissioner Cheasty's return from San Francisco the old plot to remove Chief Rogers was taken up. All three of the commissioners had been appointed by ex-Mayor Ronald with the understanding that they were opposed to Rogers. Last Saturday night at the meeting of the police commissioners, Messrs. Niggle, Reife and Cheasty announced to the mayor that they intended to remove Rogers, but gave no reasons. The mayor informed them that Rogers had been carrying out his instructions, and that he intended to support him to the full extent of his power. He told them that if they had any charges to file against Chief Rogers he would investigate them, and if he found them true Chief Rogers would be removed; that, being charged with the administration and the execution of the laws of this city, he felt that he was entitled to have a chief of police in whom he had confidence and who would carry out his orders.

Mr. Niggle insisting that he was determined that Chief Rogers should be removed, the mayor served on him a paper removing him from office. Both Mr. Cheasty and Mr. Reife urged the mayor not to do this, saying that Mr. Niggle was a young man of some prominence and that his removal would injure him in the community. They suggested that the matter might be amicably adjusted and asked the mayor to withdraw the removal. The mayor did withdraw the removal and said he would hold the matter open until Wednesday night, to which time the meeting adjourned, so that the commissioners, if they had any charges to file against Chief Rogers, might have them investigated. He told them, however, that he believed the attempted removal of the chief was instigated by those who desired Blackchapel reopened for their pecuniary benefit and by those who bore political hatred against Chief Rogers.

When Wednesday night came only three of the commissioners—Wallingford, Reife and Cheasty—met the mayor. They waited a long time for Mr. Niggle to put in an appearance, although Messrs. Cheasty and Reife were anxious to commence proceedings. Finally, after 9 o'clock, the meeting was called, and Mr. Niggle, who had been in the neighborhood for some time waiting for the meeting to open, put in his appearance, his evident intention being not to give the mayor an opportunity to remove him before the meeting began. The mayor, however, suspected the scheme and called Mr. Niggle out before he had taken his seat on the board, and after a short conversation with him served on him a notice of his removal. What was given almost word for word in the Post-Intelligencer yesterday morning.

Commissioner Cheasty is indignant at the charges made against him, and proposes to test in court the power of the mayor relative to his removal. He says he has never mixed up in the Blackchapel affair, and that the charge is a scurrilous attack upon his reputation. In talking with a Post-Intelligencer reporter last evening, he said:

'I deny the right of the mayor to remove me by the process he has seen fit to adopt. I believe I have rights as an American citizen and as a police commissioner of the city of Seattle, and intend to test those rights in the courts. I am convinced in my own mind that I was removed because I refused to do the mayor's bidding as regards the appointment of the chief of police. The time has come when it is a question of principle with me and not a question as to the fitness of Rogers to be chief of police. Late last Saturday night the mayor announced that he did not wish either Mr. Reife or myself to resign, and did not desire Mr. Niggle to resign if he would withdraw from his position regarding the removal of Chief Rogers. Inasmuch as no attack was made upon me in the beginning, and as my removal was not necessary to the retention of Rogers, I cannot help thinking the mayor is showing personal resentment toward me for being reluctantly obliged to place him in a humiliating position at the meeting of the board last Wednesday night. It was out of courtesy to the mayor that I insisted on the matter of Rogers' removal being laid before him in executive session last Saturday night, and as a result the mayor not only took advantage of the situation and clearly expressed the determination of the board to remove Rogers by exerting more than his legal power to retain him, but also has directed toward me an attack that is not only uncalled for and untrue, but scurrilous to the extreme. Regarding the charges the mayor has seen fit to file against me, I deny that if holding a consultation with Mr. Reife and Mr. Niggle relative to the removal of Rogers is a conspiracy, I have conspired. As to the charges that I have advised, directed or instructed the chief of police as to the suppression of prostitution in Blackchapel or any other district in the city, I would say that, no matter who is the author of the statement, it is an unqualified falsehood. Nearly my entire life has been spent in this city, and I am willing to allow the people to judge between the mayor and myself as to who has told the truth in this matter. As to failing in upholding the police department in the enforcement of the law and causing attempts to embarrass the chief in the administration of the law, I regard the charges as too frivolous to consider.'

John G. Niggle, who was removed from the position of police commissioner at Wednesday night's meeting, will contest the mayor's right and power to remove him from office. In talking with a Post-Intelligencer reporter last evening, he said:

'I think the mayor exceeded his power and shall contest the matter. In referring to the charges, I expect to show that many of them are false, and where some may have something of a foundation, it will be shown that the same words coming from sources convey a different meaning. I have nothing to say especially about the charge that I have combated Chief Rogers in suppressing prostitution in Blackchapel.'

Capt. George Hogle, who was unexpectedly nominated to be chief of police at the fight on Chief Rogers, does not take much stock in his appointment. He was at his post of duty yesterday as if nothing had occurred. When questioned as to the course he would pursue, he said:

'I have not asked for the position of chief of police, and had no knowledge of what was going to be done or was done at the meeting until I saw the morning papers. I have not received any official notification of my election as chief, and so far as I am concerned I do not know that my name has been before the commission.'

'Do you intend to take any steps to claim the position Commissioner Cheasty says is yours?'

'If the mayor informs me correctly, and I believe he does, no vacancy exists. If such a vacancy did exist I would not accept the position of chief of police unless the mayor desired me to do so.'

Frank P. Clingan, the new Democratic police commissioner, was born at Danville, Ill., in 1852, and three years later emigrated to Oregon with his parents, who went to Dallas, Polk county. From 1882 to 1888 Mr. Clingan was employed as traveling agent of Wells, Fargo & Co., with headquarters at Baker City. The following year he was married, and a little later moved to Pendleton, where he engaged in business. In 1889 Mr. Clingan and his wife moved to this city, where they have since resided. Mr. Clingan was a well-known figure for a long time at 614 Second street, where he conducted a cigar store. He is not now in business. He declines to make any statement as to his policy in police matters.

Orion O. Denny, Republican police commissioner and son of A. A. Denny, was born in this city on July 17, 1863, and was the first boy born in Seattle. He was educated in the public schools and what is now the state university. After leaving school Mr. Denny was second engineer on the steamer J. B. Libby, running between Whatcom and this city. Among the other steamers he ran on were the Fanny Lake, the Otter, from Columbia river; the Chehalis, the boat that was lost in a gale of wind at Teekalet point; the Minnet, Addie, Politkofsky, Quincy, Marvin, Washington and the Eliza Anderson. Mr. Denny left steamboating about six years ago and made an extended trip through the East. When he returned he went into the real estate business, and at the time the Denny Clay Company was incorporated in 1892 he became one of the stockholders and was elected vice president, which office he still holds. Mr. Denny is a resident of the Fifth ward, Fifth precinct, and owns valuable property in that ward. He is married and has a family. The appointment was unsolicited and a surprise to Mr. Denny. Regarding the present situation as related to the chiefship, Mr. Denny is non-committal.