The Unceremonious Ousting of Seattle's Police Chief
After refusing to answer for rampant gambling and open corruption, Chief J.C. Mitchell is fired by the city council as the city pivots toward long-overdue municipal reform.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
When Mayor Moran arrived at the council meeting on the night of April 12, 1889, the chamber was packed with a restless crowd. The council sat in wait of Chief of Police J.C. Mitchell, who had been summoned to answer for his malfeasance, specifically his total disregard for the enforcement of ordinances meant to suppress gambling. Despite the mayor telegraphing Judge Allyn to excuse Mitchell from grand jury duties, the Chief sent word he was 'too tired' to attend and would be going home instead. Incensed by this further display of contempt for the municipal government, the council took the testimony of several witnesses, including ex-Sheriff Cochrane, who detailed a failed attempt to coordinate a raid because the Chief refused to offer assistance. Witness after witness testified that gambling houses—including the M. & N., the Grotto, and the Bank Exchange—had been operating openly for months under the Chief's nose. Following these revelations, Councilman Jones moved that the Mayor summarily dismiss Mitchell from office. The motion passed by a unanimous vote, effectively ending Mitchell's tenure. While rumors circulated that Mitchell might seek an injunction, the city opted to keep Captain Williard in charge pending further orders.
“I don't see how Chief Mitchell could have helped knowing that gambling games were carried on in the city. I would say that Mr. Mitchell had not done his duty as chief of police.”
This 1889 drama highlights the long-standing tension between Seattle’s law enforcement leadership and the city’s civic accountability. The frustration over the 'unchecked' gambling dens and the lack of coordination between the sheriff's office and city police echoes modern concerns about municipal governance and public safety, proving that the struggle to define the priorities of our city's leadership is a founding tradition of Seattle.
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