USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2 > Part 80
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As already stated the United States Court for the Southern District of Ohio has sat, since the division of the State into two districts on Feb- ruary 10, 1855, in Cincinnati. The first judge of the District Court of the United States who held court in this city was Humphrey Howe Leavitt, who had been the judge of the District Court of Ohio since 1834. Judge Leavitt retired March 13, 1871, at which time Philip B. Swing of Clermont County was appointed to succeed him. He served until his death, October 30, 1882. After the death of Judge Swing, William White of Clark County, for many years a dis- tinguished judge of the. Supreme Court of the State, was appointed to the Federal judgeship and was confirmed by the Senate. Owing to his illness, however, he did not qualify and the vacancy was not filled until his death in 1883 and thereupon President Arthur appointed to this position George R. Sage, who took his seat up- on the bench April 7, 1883, the anniversary of the battle of Shiloh. Judge Sage served for 16 years, retiring September 22, 1898. He died shortly after his retirement, November 19, 1898. Albert C. Thompson of Scioto County, who had seen service upon the bench of the State courts and also as a Member of Congress for several terms, was appointed to succeed him, which he did on November 22, 1898.
The Circuit Court under the laws of the United States is held frequently by the District judge and at times by the Circuit judge. The
best known Circuit judges who sat in Cincinnati prior to the organization of the Circuit Court of Appeals were John Baxter of Tennessee and Howell E. Jackson of the same State. As a part of the machinery of the United States Court are the United States comimssioners who at Cincinnati are Joseph L. Adler and Henry Hooper and the referees in bankruptcy who are Charles Theodore Greve, Alfred Mack, Morison R. Waite and William H. Whittaker. The clerk of the United States Court is Gen. Benjamin R. Cowen and the marshal, Vivian J. Fagin. The United States attorney for the Southern District of Ohio whose office is in Cincinnati is Sherman T. McPherson. His assistants are Ed- ward P. Moulinier and Thomas C. Darby.
The Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States was created by the act of March 3, 1891, and upon the organization of this court Cincin- nati became the seat of this court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The court was organized in this city on July 1, 1891, at which time there were in attendance: Justice Henry B. Brown of the Supreme Court, Circuit Judge Howell E. Jackson of Tennessee and District Judge George R. Sage. In March, 1892, William H. Taft, who had resigned his office as solicitor general of the United States, was confirmed as the ad- ditional junior Circuit judge and in June, 1892, the court met with Justice Brown presiding and with him Judges Jackson and Taft. In March, 1893, Judge Jackson was appointed by President Harrison as a justice of the Supreme Court and thereupon Horace H. Lurton, at that time chief justice of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, was appointed by President Cleveland to succeed him. In 1898 a new Circuit judgeship had been created and William R. Day, Secretary of the State, was appointed to this position. Judge Taft resigned in March, 1900, to become the head of the Phil- ippine commission. He was suceeded by Henry F. Severens of Michigan at that time a District judge. In 1903 Judge Day was appointed to the Supreme bench of the United States and on March 16, 1903, this vacancy was filled by Jolin K. Richards, who had been solicitor general in the cabinets of Presidents Mckinley and Roose- velt and formerly attorney general of the State of Ohio. The clerk of the Circuit Court of Ap- peals is Frank O. Loveland, the author of stand- ard works on "Bankruptcy" and "Federal Prac- tice."
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
In 1861 just before the outbreak of the war George Hatch was elected mayor and his chief of police was Col. John W. Dudley, who served
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during part of Hatch's administration. The rest of the time Col. Lawrence Hazen was at the head of the department. During this time the alarm resulting from a sudden attack of Mor- gan's men brought about the organization of the . police as a battalion of infantry. This battalion under Chief Dudley marched to Lexington and after 10 days' absence marched back again. The story of that campaign has ever since remained a sealed book in the annals of the police de- partment. Mayor Hatch was succeeded in 1863 by one of the greatest of Cincinnati's mayors, Col. Leonard A. Harris, elected as a Republican. His chief of police was James L. Ruffin and it was under his authority that the police force at- tained the discipline which it has maintained ever since. Colonel Harris believed in military drill and that the policemen should be as efficient in this particular as any body of soldiers. He completely eradicated politics from the police department and as a result to carry out his re- forms found. it necessary to remodel the force. Many ex-soldiers were appointed as patrolmen and the efficiency of the department was raised to a point far higher than it liad ever attained before. During his term the Council raised the salary of mayor to $4,000 for the purpose of making it possible for him to accept the second term without too great a sacrifice. He also was presented with a house and lot by the business men of the city. One of the reforms instituted by him was the closing of all saloons on election day, which resulted in eliminating much of the disorder usually characteristic of the day. In 1863 the mavor was authorized to add four policemen for each ward of the city but this num- ber was afterwards reduced to two. At the end of Mayor Harris' second term, Charles F. Wil- stach was elected as mayor and Robert Megrue as his first chief of police. He does not seem to have given satisfaction and in a year or so Colonel Ruffin was once more at the head of the force, where he was continued by Mr: Wilstach's successor, John F. Torrence. When S. S. Davis became mayor in 1871, Colonel Ruffin gave way to David M. Bleaks who had been for years a private watchman in Mr. Davis' banking house.
In 1873 the Legislature once more reorganized the police department, providing for - the selec- tion of a commission of four men at the spring election. The men elected were Wesley M: Cam- eron, Gustav Hof. Henry Kessler and HIngh Campbell, four of the most prominent of Cin- cinnati's citizens. Mr. Campbell who was se- lected for the one-year term was succeeded in
the following year by Gus Neather, and after- wards became a work house director by appoint- ment of Mayor Johnston. He subsequently moved to Harrison, Ohio. Henry Kessler, then a prominent insurance man as well as a manufac- turer of gloves, was for many years one of the most prominent men in political affairs. He had been sheriff and was afterwards a member of both branches of the Legislature. He served but a short time on the police board, resign- ing on account of disputes as to appointments, and was succeeded by James L. Ruffin. Gustav Hof was a man of wealth. He was largely interested in the Volksblatt. His taste of political office seems to have been unfortunate, for after the expiration of his term he lost his fortune in the saloon business. Wesley Cam- cron who had the four-year term was for years one of the most prominent of Cincinnati's citi- zens.
At the expiration of Mayor Davis' term, G. W. C. Johnston was elected mayor and served four years from 1873 to 1877. During the existence of the board he was ex officio a member. At this time the title of chief of police was abolished and that of superintendent of police adopted. The first superintendent was Jeremiah Kiersted. He was removed after a short time and Eugene Dayler served in his place but Kiersted was re- instated and held office until February, 1875. In 1874 the Board of Police Commissioners was abolished and the mayor once more took charge of the force and in February, 1875, appointed Thomas E. Snelbaker, who had been secretary of the water works. In 1877 Snelbaker was suc- ceeded by Capt. Jacob Johnson appointed by Mayor R. M. Moore upon his succeeding John- ston as mayor in that year. The same year the Legislature reestablished the Board of Police Commissioners and Governor Hayes appointed as its members : Enoch T. Carson, Charles Jacob, Jr., Charles Brown, George Ziegler and S. F. Covington, of whom Ziegler was the only Democrat. Ira Wood who had been superintend- ent of the Work House was appointed chief. mitch against his desire. He died in 1878 short- lv after his appointment and was succeeded by George Ziegler, a member of the board. 1879 Charles Jacob, Jr., who had been also a member of the board, became mayor and Enoch T. Carson was appointed from the board as superintendent of police. This position he held for two years. Mayor William Means, elected to office in 1881, appointed as his first superintend- ent Jacob Gessert who resigned after service of
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but a few weeks and shortly afterwards commit- ted suicide. This appointment was made possible by the abolition of the board. The next appointee was Col. M. F. Reilly who had been on the force since 1873 and afterwards was made lieutenant and finally captain. Mayor Means, a Democrat, was succeeded by another Democrat, Thomas J. Stephens. and Reilly remained chief until the end
of the term. It was during his term that the riots of 1884, described elsewhere, occurred. In 1885 a new Board of Police Commissioners was established, to be appointed by the Board of Public Works and to receive a salary of $1,500 a year. This was the first board to receive com- pensation. Col. Morton L. Hawkins and Julius Reis, Democrats, and William A. Stephens, Re- publican, were appointed. This board appointed Col. Edwin Hudson, former inspector of police, to succeed Reilly and Charles Wappenstein, who had been Hudson's principal rival for the ap- pointment, was made chief of detectives. James Dunn who had been connected with a patrol and detective force was made inspector. Shortly af- terwards, Wappenstein and Dunn were relieved from duty and Lieut. Thomas Weaver was made inspector pro tem and Captain Grannon was made chief of detectives. Afterwards Michael Mullen became inspector. Dissatisfaction with the board soon culminated in charges filed with Governor Foraker, as a result of which he dismissed all three of the members from office. Colonel Hud- son the chief refused to report to the mayor, claiming that he had been regularly appointed by legal authority and that he intended to remain in control of the police until a new board should be appointed. He was sustained in this posi- tion by the Supreme Court. On the eve of the spring election of 1886, the Legislature passed a bill providing for a non-partisan police foree. This act of March 30, 1886, was the first that took the police entirely out of politics and in a measure it may. be regarded as the basis of the present system. By it all police powers were vested in the mayor and four police commis- sioners, not more than two of whom should be of the same party. These commissioners were appointed by the Governor who had also the power of removal. The mayor had the power of appointment of policemen and officers of the force subject to approval by the board. All ap- pointments were required to be made without re- gard to political influence or affiliations. Fur- ther to protect the force from any political in- fluence, commissioners were forbidden to accept nominations for elective offices nor could any
member of the force take part in any way in a political convention or primary. The mayor was in control of the organization subject to the rules compiled by the commissioners. The board appointed by the Governor was made up of Rob- ert J. Morgan, George R. Topp ( Republicans) and Milo G. Dodds and Dr. Thomas C. Minor ( Democrats). Mr. Morgan was its first presi- dent and James S. Gordon was clerk for a short time. He was succeeded by Samuel B. War- ren. The following year Mr. Morgan retired from the board and was succeeded by James Boyle and in 1888. Mr. Topp retired and was succeeded by Louis Werner. During 1887 Dr. Minor acted as president ; George R. Topp held the office as president until August 1, 1888, when he became a member of the Board of Public Affairs. He was succeeded as president by Mr. Dodds. The first superintendent under the new board was Arthur G. Moore, who had been a superintendent of the water works. His nomination by the mayor was not entirely satis- factory to the board and his confirmation was delayed. He served but a little over two months when he returned to his old position in the water works and Philip H. Deitsch was appointed to succeed him. Mr. Deitsch remained superin- tendent of the police until the time of his death, almost 17 years later, when he was succeeded by Paul M. Millikin, the present incumbent.
The detective branch of the police force has been in existence in one shape or another since 1854, but was not organized as a distinct depart- ment until 1886. Its first head was Philip Ritt- weger who was succeeded after six months by Ralph A. Crawford. At the end of six months more the bureau was in charge of Col. "Larry" Hazen. Mr. Crawford has remained a member of the force since that time and at present occu- pies the position of inspector of detectives. His service on the Cincinnati police force began in 1879, when he was appointed patrolman by Mayor Jacob. Detailed for detective work about a year later, he was associated for a few months with Charles Wappenstein after which his as- sociate became John Schnucks. This association continued during all the years that have elapsed except during the periods when Crawford was chief of detectives and it is said to be the longest association of two detectives in the history of the forces of the country.
The police force under Chief Deitsch and the detective branch under "Larry" Hazen gained a national reputation for efficiency and probity.
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In 1890 Charles Edgar Brown and Matthias S. Forbus were appointed to succeed Messrs. Boyle and Dodds on the board. Two years later George Henshaw and Samuel Nieman succeeded Messrs. Minor and Werner on the board. The new members two years later were I. J. Miller and Robert J. Morgan, who succeeded Messrs. Brown and Forbus, and Frank Kirchner who succeeded Mr. Nieman resigned. The board was again changed in 1898 when C. B. Wing and James W. Faulkner were appointed to succeed Messrs. Miller and Morgan and Max Burgheim to succeed Frank Kirchner, deceased. In 1902 Dr. Thomas C. Minor was once more appointed to the board, succeeding Mr. Faulkner, and Wade Cushing succeeded Mr. Wing. Mr. Henshaw who had been from time to time reappointed and Mr. Burgheim were the other two members of the board which was the last Board of Police Commissioners. As a result of the code of 1903 the police department was placed in charge of the Board of Public Safety, which was appoint- ed by. the mayor. Its members, appointed in 1903. are : Wade Cushing, Max Burgheim, James J. Faran and Abe Furst. The clerk of this board is C. F. Lakeman and the chief clerk of the police department is J. C. Callahan, who is also instructor of the force and civil service examiner of both the police and the fire depart- ments.
An important feature of the non-partisan police force is the gymnasium which is fitted up with the latest apparatus and conducted according to the most approved methods. It has been of the greatest benefit to the force and although the at- tendance upon it is compulsory its popularity with the members has been such that such a rule is entirely unnecessary.
A school of instruction which owes so much to Clerk Samuel Warren has also been a valu- able adjunct. Instructions given cover the Fed- eral and State laws and city ordinances as far as they pertain to police duties, the powers, priv- ileges and duties of patrolmen, the topography of the city and the location of prominent places of interest, such as parks, places of amusement, public buildings and prominent building places, as well as the residences of prominent citizens.
The police manual, which has been revised from time to time by several of the ablest attor- neys familiar with the subject, is a valuable work containing the rules governing the force, the laws of offenses against the ordinances, a synopsis of crimes, a manual of military tactics, advice as
to first aid to the injured and a discussion of the rights and obligations of police as to arrest and the use of firearms.
The Morgan medal, a gold medal of the value of $50, was offered annually by Robert J. Mor- gan and bestowed upon the patrolman who had been most efficient in the discharge of his duties during the year. This medal was first bestowed in 1887 upon Jolin McGramm and nine other patrolmen received at that time honorable men- tion. Each year the number of patrolmen receiv- ing mention has increased very largely, showing the esteem in which the medal is held by the members of the force. This has been replaced by the Nicholas Longworth medal, bestowed un- der the same conditions.
Another honor for which policemen strive is to be placed upon the "Roll of Honor," which records the names of those who have achieved distinction by special acts of bravery in the line of the policeman's duty.
There is also a medal for bravery presented by Mrs. Frederick H. Alms.
The Police Relief Association, originally or- ganized in 1876 but changed in many particulars a number of times since, is for the purpose of distributing pecuniary relief to sick or disabled members and insurance benefits to their families in case of death and pensions to those honorably retired from the force. This organization is to some extent under the control of the board, who are trustees of its funds, with five elective mem- bers of the police force.
Another organization independent of the reg- nlar association is the Policemen's Benevolent Association, which provides for the assessment of all its members, upon the occasion of the death of one of them, for the benefit of the family of the deceased.
The patrol wagon service was established De- cember 5, 1881, by Ed. C. Armstrong, who equipped and maintained for a time this service at his own expense. He was subsequently reim- bursed by the Council, which also equipped four more companies as a recognition of the efficiency of Mr .. . Armstrong's service. The present super- intendent of patrol is Thomas A. Duffy.
Another important branch of the police de- partment is the "Rogues' Gallery" and Bertillon room, where criminals upon arrest are photo- graphed and measured according to the latest ini- proved methods so that complete records can be made which distributed throughout the police departments of the country have been of great assistance in the identification of criminals.
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The code of 1902 has placed the department under civil service rules with practical examina- tions for admission and tenure of position during good conduct. This applies both to promotions and to original appointments.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In 1861 as a result of the request of the citizens of Mount Auburn for the location of a fire company in their neighborhood a new steam engine was purchased and an engine house located on Webster street between Main and Sycamore. The steep ascents of this neighborhood made necessary a new form of engine and as a result the so-called self-propelling engine came into existence. A fire of 1863 was that of May 5th, on which date the so-called Palace Varieties was burned.
Oil March 22, 1866, came the burning of Pike's Opera House.
The fire alarm telegraph was established during the year 1866, after a prolonged agita- tion in which strangely enough many opposed any improvements in the methods of the de- partment. This was located on the southwest corner of Sixth and Vine and the first chief operator in charge was B. B. Glass.
The year 1867 was another unfortunate one in the fire history of the city. On April II, 1867, came the burning of the distillery of Foote, Nash & Company, at the southwest corner of Pearl and Kilgour. The explosion of the alcohol in the building made the work of the firemen extremely dangerous and sev- eral of them narrowly escaped death. A little later, on July 23rd, the coffin factory of Crane, Breed & Company was entirely destroyed. On September 14th another serious fire took place in the neighborhood of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton depot. In this the fine block of five-story brick warehouses running cast from the northeast corner of Sixth and Baymiller streets and belonging to William Moore was totally destroyed. The fire started in the bonded warehouse of George W. Lietch & Company and was occasioned by attempt- ing to handle spirits by candle-light. As is usually the case in warehouses stored with such materials the loss was complete. The year closed with a total destruction of the whiskey establishment of Boyle, Miller & Company at No. 53 East Second street on December 27th. This was a stone building in which were stored 9,000 barrels of. whiskey.
The stone crumbled to pieces by the intensity of the flames and the loss which was almost a half million dollars was almost complete. At one time during the fire the Spencer House in the rear of the buildings was seri- ously threatened but it was fortunately saved.
In 1869 a new engine house was erected at the corner of Sixth and Vine according to plans of Architects Anderson and Hannaford. In this year came the burning of the College Building described elsewhere.
In 1871 a detachment of the Cincinnati Fire Department was sent to Chicago and ren- dered effective aid in the great fire in that city. In the following year considerable alarm was caused by the prevalence of the epizootie which crippled the entire business of the city, including the street railroads and the fire department. Fortunately no serious fires occurred during the prevalence of the disease. There were three alarms and in each case the engines were pulled by long lines of men very much in the fashion of the olden days. The entire organization of the fire de- partment was changed by the act of April 29, 1873, by which the old laws and city ordi- nances governing the department were re- pealed. By virtue of this law, a Board of Fire Commissioners was instituted who had entire charge of the department. The mayor, G. W. C. Johnston, appointed the board which was constituted as follows: P. W. Strader, president, W. B. Folger, secretary, and Charles Kahn, Jr., Henry Hanna, George Weber and George C. Sargent. The board reorganized the department entirely and adopted a new code of rules. The force at this time was constituted of 149 officers and men, divided into 18 steam engine companies, four hook and ladder companies, fuel and supply wagons and the fire alarm telegraph corps. There were in the service five first, six sec- ond and seven third-class engines, all with one exception made in Cincinnati. In the fol- lowing year J. L. Thompson became presi- dent of the board and C. J. W. Smith suc- ceeded Charles Kahn, Jr.
A costly fire of 1875 was that in the John Holland gold pen factory which suffered a loss of $100,000.
The Bloch fire on July 2, 1875, was notable for its fatalities. The falling walls of the building buried Chief Megrue and 12 firemen in the ruins. One fireman was killed outright and two others fatally injured, but the chiet
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. and others were rescued after sustaining con- siderable injury.
The fire of 1867 at Melodeon Hall at the northwest corner of Fourth and Walnut con- sumed the celebrated painting of "The Prodi- gal Son" by Edouard Dubufe on exhibition at that place. This picture was one of the world's celebrated paintings and at one time was bought by A. T. Stewart for the sum of $30,000. At the time of its destruction it was owned by H. W. Derby who had paid $40,000 for it. It had been exhibited throughout the country and was regarded as a commercial investment for show purposes worth $75,000. A photographic copy of the work is in "Art Treasures of America" and the study for the larger picture is in the A. T. Stewart collec- tion. The fire caught from a temporary gas jet arranged on the stage to light the picture which had been placed too near the draperies.
A false alarm of fire on February 5th of this year resulted in a panic at Robinson's (new) Opera House. The house was crowded with the most prominent citizens of the city, who had gathered to witness a spectacular performance. There was no fire but in the . crush that ensued several persons were killed.
In 1877 the organization of the department was changed and it was placed in the hands of the Board of Police Commissioners by what is known as the "Ransom Ripper Bill." A long contest followed the passage of this bill, which it was claimed had provisions other than those intended by the Legislature. The matter was settled by the appointment on April ist of Charles Jacob, Jr., president, and George W. Ziegler, Enoch T. Carson, Charles Brown and Daniel Weber as police commissioners. The law creating this board was repealed at the next session of the Gen- eral Assembly by the act of February 14, 1878, and as a result of this Judge Moses F. Wilson of the Police Court appointed the following fire commissioners: George C. Sar- gent, William Dunn, C. J. W. Smith, George Weber and Jolin L. Thompson. During the control of the department by the Board of Police Commissioners, Chief Megrue, on Jan- uary 24, 1878, tendered his resignation which was accepted. At the meeting of the new board, a petition signed by 65 leading mer- chants was presented asking his reappoint- mient, but he absolutely declined and Joseph Bunker was then elected fire marshal, with
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