Accused Police Heads Suspended; Chief Will Fight - Gehringer Believed To Be Out Of City; Both Men Are Called Bribe-Takers

Accused Police Heads Suspended; Chief Will Fight

Gehringer Believed To Be Out Of City; Both Men Are Called Bribe-Takers

Police Chief Sherman Mortenson, suspended along with Detective Lt. Eugene Gehringer last night by the board of police commissioners, indicated today that he will fight charges linking him with gambling activities in Ann Arbor.

While he has filed no formal request for a hearing, Mortenson issued a statement this morning “most earnestly and emphatically” denying the charges and stating that he will be “satisfied with no less” than an impartial trial.

Authoritative sources believe that he will be defended by Louis E. Burke, the local attorney who recently won an acquittal for Prosecutor John W. Rae from charges of disorderly conduct.

Whether Gehringer will demand a hearing is not known. Repeated attempts to contact the veteran detective this morning were unsuccessful. Belief that he may have left town was supported by the fact that his house was locked and newspapers and mail were left untouched on the front porch.

Charged As Bribe-Takers

Mortenson and Gehringer were charged yesterday with accepting bribes and protection money, and knowingly permitting gamblers to operate in the city. The charges were made by Circuit Judge James R. Breakey, jr., county one-man grand juror, who recommended that the two be suspended from office.

Chairman Joseph C. Hooper of the board of police commissioners announced the double suspension just four hours after he and Prof. Orlando W. Stephenson received Judge Breakey's report. A third commissioner, Herbert L. Frisinger, was out of town.

Following the action, Stephenson said, "This is the first time anything like this has happened here. We naturally are deeply shocked, but, we have sworn to do our duty and will let the ax fall where it may, whether it hurts anyone or not."

Enkemann Acting Captain

Capt. Casper M. Enkemann, second-ranking officer on the police force, was named acting chief by the board. Sgt. Albert Heusel was appointed acting head of the department's detective bureau.

Levelling sweeping charges at the two officers, Judge Breakey’s report claimed both "permitted laws to be violated, assisted and enabled gambling to flourish, were in league with the underworld and accepted bribes.’’

Mortenson was quoted as telling his men “not to bother’’ with gambling operations in the city and that gambling would "go on.” Gehringer was said to have ordered his officers to "lay off" gambling establishments.

Mentioned specifically was the United Cigar Store, 118 E. Huron St., whose owners, Vernon Maulbetsch and Wilson Haight, are under grand jury indictment. Judge Breakey also referred to the numbers racket and "numerous other gambling establishments.”

The judge said Haight and Maul-betsch were permitted to keep receipts from the racing handbook they allegedly ran in the police department’s safe. Gehringer was said to be a "good social friend" of Haight.

The grand jury accused Mortenson of refusing to order enforcement of anti-gambling laws except in "isolated instances." Then, it was charged, the orders were "verbal and half-hearted" and! never followed up.

Gambling, Judge Breakey said, is "rampant" in the city, especially the numbers racket which, he charged, was allowed to “grow and flourish" under Mortenson’s administration.

Mortenson Makes Statement

This morning Mortenson issued a complete denial of the charges.

"Of course I am shocked at these general charges and accusations which I most earnestly and emphatically deny,” the police chief

"I have been an officer of the law for 23 years and have felt that I have earned and deserved the confidence and respect of my associates in this community.

"It has been my experience as a peace officer that even the most desperate law violator is entitled to his opportunity for a fair, impartial and just hearing. I shall expect no more and will be satisfied with no less.

"Until the time arrives I shall have nothing further to say except that I trust my friends will still keep on indicating their confidence and faith in me as they have so generously done since this publicity was created.”

Climax Long Investigation

The charges brought to a stunning climax the year-long grand jury investigation which has already indicted 17 men accused of conspiracies with "at least three more” indictments still to come.

Judge Breakey made clear, however, that no criminal charges had been lodged against either Gehringer or Mortenson. He declined to reveal whether he would name either in future indictments.