Zero Hour At Hand: Mortenson, Gehringer Hearing Opens Tuesday
Zero Hour At Hand:
Mortenson, Gehringer Hearing Opens Tuesday
Zero hour for Chief Sherman H. Mortenson and Detective Lt. Eugene L. Gehringer—suspended city police officers accused by the grand jury of graft and corruption—is 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon in the city council chambers.
At that time they will appear before the police commission to answer formally the charges lodged by Circuit Judge James H. Breakey, jr., one-man grand juror. The judge has asked that their temporary suspensions be made permanent.
It appears likely the hearing will be conducted in a series of afternoon—and possible evening — sessions to accommodate Prof. Orlando W. Stephenson, commission chairmen. His history teaching duties are expected to occupy all his morning hours.
Both Special Prosecutor William D. Brusstar and defense attorneys for the two officers have indicated their readiness and willingness to go ahead with the hearing and carry it through to its finish, which may take several weeks, without interruption.
Brusstar has previously announced a formidable slate of 39 prosecution witnesses, most of whom are expected to take the stand to support the grand jury's charges. Details of the defense probably will not be revealed until unfolded before the commission.
Although not a criminal trial, the hearing will follow courtroom rules of evidence and procedure. The commission will decide if the grand jury has sufficient grounds for its demand that Mortenson and Gehringer be removed.
To uphold that contention, Brusstar is prepared to elicit testimony from 13 present and five former members of the city police force, former mayor Walter C. Sadler, County Treasurer Clyde D. Fleming and several persons linked by the grand jury with local gambling.
Charges Listed
Judge Breakey created a sensation June 11 when he accused the two highly, respected officers of accepting bribes and being in league with city gambling interests. He charged their actions constitute neglect of duty, malfeasance, and other official misconduct.
Referring to Mortenson, the grand juror quoted the chief as ordering his men "not to bother" with cleaning up gambling establishments. Gambling laws, the court said, were being enforced only "halfheartedly" in "isolated instances.”
Similarly, Gehringer was said to have told his subordinates to “lay off" gamblers and to have been "a good social friend" of Wilson* C. Haight, partner in the United Cigar Store, frequently mentioned as a protected gambling house.
Both officers, the charges stated, openly flouted their responsibilities by "permitting laws to be violated and assisting and enabling gambling to flourish." For this consideration, the judge said, they were paid "bribes and other gratuities and gifts.”