The case of Policeman John P. Coffey, which was post poned from the last meeting, was then taken up. In thi interval, the Commission has farther investigated the facts in this case, and on motion of Commissioner Waller, seconded by Commissioner Hotz, it was ordered by unanimous vot that the discharge from the force of Officer Coffey be ap proved, and the Secretary was instructed to certify the same to the General Superintendent of Police.

The President called attention to the fact that the law requires that the Commission should, on or before the 15th of January of each year, make to the Mayor for transmission to the City Council an annual report. He further stated that the report prepared by the Commission had by him been taken to the Mayor on Thursday, January 14, and that the Mayor desired that it should be printed for the use of the Council. That is now being done, and it is promised to be ready for the meeting of the Council to be held on Monday evening, February 1.

There being no further business the meeting then adjourned. EDWARD J. PHELPS,

of this City, in connection with the Schrage bond robbery, so-called. Ordinarily mere newspaper statements of this character should not receive much official consideration, but in this instance it does not seem wise to ignore the subject matter altogether, particularly as the charges reflect upon the character and conduct of two of the principal officers of the Department.

Upon their first appearance, Inspector Shea expressed to me a desire for an investigation of them, and Assistant Superintendent Ross, upon his return to the City, after a short absence due to illness, has expressed a similar desire. Both these officers emphatically deny that there is any truth or basis of truth in these charges, insisting that they spring solely from the enmity of confessed criminals to whom some people appear ever ready to yield a willing credence, and both have requested that, if practicable, the Civil Service Commission make an investigation. In view of the rank of the officers, my necessary close relations with them and the seriousness of the charges I should prefer not to investigate them myself, and I believe it would be better for the Police Department, and possibly more satisfactory to the community, if an investigation could be made by the Civil Service Commission, which I assume has power to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses.

I therefore beg to recommend that you officially request the Commission to investigate the charges referred to, and to do so at as early a date as practicable. Of course, all possible assistance in such an investigation will be given by this department.

Very respectfully yours,

(Signed) J. J. BADENOCH, General Superintendent of Police."

On the back of this letter was the following endorsement:

"Approved and referred to the Civil Service Commission, with the request that they consent to conduct an investigation as herein suggested. (Signed) GEORGE B. SWIFT, Mayor."

January 4, 1897.

The Commission decided to hold the investigation requested. It was begun on Thursday, January 7, in the ante-room of the Council chamber, and in opening the same the following statement was made by the President:

"Before proceeding with this investigation, the Civil Service Commission desires that its purpose and scope should be fully understood by all parties interested.

It should be understood that it is to be an investigation, not a trial, and that it is held solely in the interest of the Public Service.

Except as to the employes in its own office, the law confers upon the Civil Service Commission no power of removal from the service, no power to enforce discipline or to impose penalties of any kind; therefore, the Commission does not hold trials. The right to try an offender implies the power to punish.

But in the interest and for the protection of the public service the law confers upon the Commission full and complete power to conduct investigations. It may investigate not only as to enforcements of the law and of its rules, but as to the conduct and action of all appointees in the Classified Service.

If, in the course of its investigations, violations of law are disclosed, the evidence is sent to a court of law for judicial consideration.

This investigation is made necessary by reason of the fact that rumors or charges of grave official misconduct in connection with what is known as the "Schrage Bond Robbery " have been circulated on the streets, and have appeared in the public press, seriously affecting the reputation of the public service.

These charges have been chiefly aimed at Assistant Superintendent Alexander S. Ross and Inspector John D. Shea, two officers of the highest rank in the classified service in the Department of Police.

Investigation of these charges was first asked for by these officers. In accordance with the rules of the Department, their request was made to the General Superintendent of Police, and by him it was laid before his honor, the Mayor. It is upon the written request of Mayor Swift that this investigation is now entered upon by the Civil Service Commission. It will be limited, at least for the present, to ascertaining the truth or falsity of these charges.

In this matter the Commission has no purpose to serve other than to promote the interest of the public service, and it believes that this can best be done by ascertaining the exact facts in the case through means of a public investigation. To accomplish this it will make use of such ability as it has, and of all the power conferred upon it by the law; and it invites the co-operation of every citizen interested in purifying the public service who may have knowledge that may be of assistance to it.

To this end it has engaged the services of Luther Laflin Mills as the legal adviser of the Commission. He does not appear here as an attorney for the prosecution, nor for the defense, but brings his skill, ability and wide experience to aid the Commission in so conducting the investigation that the truth may be disclosed in the interest of justice and the public service."

The investigation was continued during January 7th, 8th and 9th, and the further hearing was then adjourned until Wednesday, January 20th, when it was again resumed and continued until completed, on January 23d. All of the Commissioners were present at each session,

During the investigation the following witnesses were examined, and their testimony, written out in full, is on file

in the office of the Commission:

Alfred St. Joseph Burke.

Frank H. Bowen.

On January 23d the investigation was concluded and the following report was made to the Mayor:

HON. GEORGE B. SWIFT,

Sir-The Civil Service Commission respectfully reports that under authority conferred upon it by law, and in compliance with your request, it has held an investigation "As to the conduct and actions of certain appointees in the Classified Service" in connection with what is known as the "Schrage Bond Robbery."

The officers especially referred to in your communication were Assistant Chief Alexander S. Ross and Inspector John D. Shea, both serving in the Department of Police.

In view of their long service to the City, their high official rank and the gravity of the charges that had been made against them in the public press, the Commission believed the occasion one that fully justified the exercise of the wide power of investigation conferred upon it by the Civil Service Act.

In order that its conclusions, when reached, should be entitled to your confidence and to that of the public, the Commissioners felt it to be their duty to make the investigation as thorough and complete as it was possible for them to make it; and that no effort should be spared to ascertain the exact truth, regardless of who might be affected thereby.