KNEW IT WAS COMING
CAPTAIN WEBER MERELY WAIT-
ING ORDER OF DISMISSAL.
When Hayes Was Dropped He Pre-
pared for the Ax -- Other Captains
and Lieutenants Commissioned.
Hammil Is Transferred.
CAPTAIN W. E. WEBER
Continuing Governor Folk's policy of removing "political enemies" from the police department, Captain Weber was yesterday dropped from the force by Commissioners Gallagher and Jones, Mayor Beardsley voted to recommission the captain. All other captains were recommissioned.
Whitwash spread over the actions of Patrolman Athur who, it was charged, attempted to draw a revolver on former Commissioner Rozzelle at Wednesday's board meeting.
Lieutenant Hammil, who refused to return Patrolman Arthur's club and gun after the overt act until ordered to do so by Acting Chief Ahern, was transferred from headquarters to the Walnut street station. Lieutenant Hammil also took an important part in impeaching Arthur's testimony before the board regarding Arthur's vitriolic attack on Chief Hayes and former Commissioner Rozzelle in police headquarters.
Lieutenant Walter Whitsett, who has been mentioned as a possibility for chief, and who it is said is friendly to the Kemper forces, is given Hammil's place at headquarters. Many believe this is the first step toward making Whitsett chief.
The transfers of Lieutenants Hammil and Whitsett were upon the resolution of Commissioner Gallagher "for the good of the service."
Commissioner Jones, in his first resolution, moved to reappoint James Vincil to serve three more years as secretary to the police board.
Captain William E. Weber has been on the police force since he was appointed jailer November 4, 1889. He was appointed a probationary patrolman the following day and May 30, 1890, was made a patrolman. He walked a beat for five years and won his promotion to sergeant by an act of bravery.
In a fight in Grand avenue, a liquor crazed salesman rushed at an intended victim with a butcher knife. Captain Weber coolly shot the butcher knife from the hand of the would-be slayer. His promotion to sergeant came on September 4, 1895. He was made a lieutenant of police October 1, of the same year, and was recommissioned after serving three years.
To take advantage of the raise in salary, Lieutenant Weber resigned and under the Cleary law, August 15, 1900, was at once appointed to his former rank with the increased pay allowed a law just passed. August 29, 1901, Lieutenant Weber was commissioned captain.
