Murnian Declared Unfit For His Job.
Type of event: Lynchings
Location: Duluth; St. Louis County; Minnesota; United States
Citation:
Duluth Herald, June 13, 1920, page 1, 6.
“Murnian Declared Unfit For His Job”
Image text
MURNIAN DELCARED UNFIT FOR HIS
JOB
GRAND JURY FINDS THAT PUBLIC
SAFETY HEAD IS INCOMPETENT FOR PLACE
Says His
Action Has Disgraced Police Force and Placed Foul Blot Upon the
City.
Murnian and Sergeant Olson Are Condemned for
Failing to Prevent Lynching of Negroes.
William F. Murnian, city commissioner in charge of the
department of public safety, is unfit for his job. His lack of action on the
night of June 15 last has disgraced the police force for all time and has placed
the foulest blot upon the city ever known in its
history.
This is the meat of the finding of the
special grand jury which has been investigating the events of the night of June
15, when a mob which had been recruited on the streets that afternoon to avenge
the alleged outrage of a West Duluth girl by negro circus hands, stormed the
city jail, wrecked the place and without effective resistance from the police
“tried” three suspects, sentenced them to death, and hanged them to
a lamp post within a block from police
headquarters.
The special grand jury which has
concluded its probe of the police and the department of public safety, submitted
a lengthy report to the court shortly before noon today. The report reviews at
some length the facts as they were presented by witnesses called before the
grand jury and concludes with a finding to the effect that responsibility for
the actions of the police on that evening rests squarely on the shoulders of
Safety Commissioner Murnian.
Scorches Commissioner.
“It is the finding of the grand jury,” the report
reads, “that Commissioner Murnian is not competent to hold the position as
head of the public safety of the city of
Duluth.”
Other “findings” of the
jury are: That Commissioner Murnian was at the station throughout the evening
and that nothing was done to materially prevent the mob from having full
sway.
That Commissioner Murnian and Sergeant Olson, by
their actions and lack of actions are open to the severest
criticism.
That their conduct was most unbecoming and
the trust placed in them most flagrantly
violated.
That their action and lack of action has
disgraced the police force for all time and has placed the foulest blot upon the
city ever known in its history.
That Commissioner
Murnian was responsible for the action of the police department and made no
effort to organize the men.
No Recommendation Made.
The report contains no recommendations as to what should be
done in the case of Commissioner Murnian. It makes no suggestion that he should
resign and there is nothing said about a recall election. The grand jury simply
states that his is incompetent to hold his present assignment on the city
council.
Commissioner Murnian’s name is
mentioned frequently throughout the report. The evidence taken was to the effect
that when the truck which was driving up and down Superior street recruiting
members for the “necktie” party made its first trip past police
headquarters, Commissioner Murnian was in the chief’s office in conference
with Sergeant Olson.
“They knew about the truck,
either then or immediately afterwards. No orders were given to stop it and it
was not stopped,” the report states.
Knew of Situation.
The testimony given before the grand jury concerning this
consultation as it appears from the report, was that the subject of removing the
negroes incarcerated at the jail was being discussed at that time, and that at
that time Commissioner Murnian knew of the
situation.
The jury finds, however, that “no
plan to handle the police or to repel an attack was decided upon, beyond the use
of water.” “Both Sergeant Olson and the Commissioner,” says
the report, “maintain that the use of firearms and clubs was not
discussed, but state that there was conversation relative to the amount of
ammunition on hand.”
On the day following the
lynching Commissioner Murnian gave both newspapers an interview in which he
asserted that he had given orders to the police “not to use
firearms” to repel the mob. He justified his stand by claiming that the
lives of innocent bystanders in the crowd might have been destroyed if the
police had used guns and bullets. Before the governor’s investigation
commission Comissioner Murnian repudiated both interviews and denied flatly that
he had ever given any such orders or that he had told the newspapers that he
had. He is also believed to have given similar testimony before the grand jury.
The grand jury’s statement as to the “no shoot” order is as
follows:
“The sergeant states that he told them
(the police) to do the best they could and to keep the crowd away from the
entrance and out of the station and some of the police state that they were
given orders not to shoot or use their clubs. Unless the latter order was given
there were no definite orders as to how they were to handle the crowd, each man
being left to his own devices. Some of the police state that they received no
instructions about the use of clubs and guns, but the word against such use had
come to them from other policemen. In other words, that the word was passed
around among them without any knowledge on their part as to where it
originated.”
The grand jury, however, believes
that guns should have been used on that occasion. On this point the grand jury
says:
Arms Would Stop Mob.
“Had the officer in charge issued rifles and bayonets
and given the proper orders, the mob would never have congregated and the
negroes would never have been murdered. It would not have been the first time in
this city that guns have been put in the hands of the police with orders to
shoot if necessary.
“That there were innocent
bystanders and onlookers, as claimed by the police is no grounds for their utter
lack of organized attempt to stop the mob. In case of mob congregation the
people must understand, once and for all, that when a person, whether a man or a
woman, crowds himself into a place where law and order have been cast to the
four winds and mob will is the rule they cease to be innocent bystanders and
have become a part of the mob; and if upon orders of the police to move away,
they do not heed the warning they must take the consequences if there is any
shooting by the police.”
The grand jury suggests
that if the punishment for rape in this state which in the case of an
18-year-old girl is imprisonment for not more than thirty years, is not severe
enough the remedy is to go to the state legislature and not to resort to mob
violence.
Seven More indictments.
The grand jury this morning also reported seven more indictments; five of which are secret, the defendants no being in custody at this time. The
(Contineud on page 6, third column.)
MURNIAN DELCARED UNFIT FOR HIS
JOB
(Continued from page 1)
public indictments returned are
against;
Louis Dondino, aged 33, 302 Central avenue,
truck driver, charged with instigating riot. Dondino is also under indictment
for murder.
George Morgan, aged 19, teamster, residing
at West Duluth. Morgan is also charged with instigating
riot.
The jury has yet to make its final report before
concluding its work. The report this morning was a partial one. It is understood
that other indictments have been voted, and that the grand jury, which adjourned
this morning will meet again tomorrow evening at 7 o’clock and make its
fifth partial report to the court.
Test of the Report.
The full report on the police department probe follows:
“To the Honorable William A. Cant, judge of the district
court:
“We; the members of the special grand
jury called June 17th, A. D. 1920, to investigate the lynching by a
mob of three negroes in this city on the evening of the 15th of June,
A. D. 1920, have to report that we have made a careful and rigid investigation
of what took place on that evening it seems to us that no better way of
reporting upon this matter can be suggested than that making a plain statement
of the facts, with special reference to the action of the police in connection
therewith.
“The alleged attack upon the young
girl and her escort at the circus grounds on the evening of June 14, A. D. 1920,
first came to the attention of the police department when the father of the
young man telephoned the chief of police about 1 o’clock in the morning.
Upon being notified the chief went to the ore docks where the young man worked,
received his version of the affair, and at once ordered that the circus train be
prevented from leaving the city. About daylight, the police, with the young lady
and the boy went to the railroad yards and lined up the negroes and took some of
them into custody. During the following forenoon these Negroes were questioned
by the police. As a result thereof the police became convinced that certain
others still with the circus should be apprehended. In order to take them into
custody the chief of police, Captain Fiskett and Chief of Detectives Schulte,
who had been handling the case throughout and who were the only ones cognizant
of all the facts, decided to go to Virginia, Minn., and get the balance of the
negroes. They left about noon. At this time there had been no suggestion of a
mob or other disorder.
Lynching Discussed.
“There is some evidence that at about 2:30
o’clock in the afternoon a party overheard some conversation in a West
Duluth pool hall, in which the idea of a lynching was discussed, and this fact
was communicated by telephone to police headquarters. During the afternoon the
fact that the police were investigating the alleged rape became noised around
the city and considerable feeling was aroused. This feeling was greatly
increased upon the appearance of the afternoon paper with its account of the
affair.
“At about 4:15 o’clock p. m., the
chief, at Virginia, Minn., talked by telephone with headquarters in Duluth, and
was then told that nothing of any importance had developed. Anticipating the
possibility of trouble the chief then ordered that if anything did develop all
the men should be called in the headquarters, proper action be taken to disperse
any crowd and that he and the sheriff be notified. Further rumors came to the
police after this and orders were given to call in all the men not on beat, the
fire department was communicated with and arrangements made to get the necessary
hose.
“In the meantime, and in the early
evening, a group of young men in West Duluth, starting from or near the pool
hall mentioned, came downtown in a truck. As they passed through the West end
they were observed by at least two policemen, and the fact that they were on the
way was telephoned in. This truck continued on along Superior street, past the
police station to Second avenue east. There it turned, drove back along
Superior street to Eighth avenue west, turned again and went to Lake avenue,
turned again to Second avenue west, turned once more and drove to a point at or
near the police headquarters. During this drive through the West end and the
center of the city, those on the truck were yelling and calling to the people on
the street to Join the necktie party and to Help get the niggers. They had a
rope which at first was waved about their heads, and later trailed behind the
truck in order that those who wished could grasp it and follow.
Truck Unmolested.
“When this truck on its first trip passed the police
station, there were a number of policemen in the front office, all of whom saw
it and most of whom commented on it. At the time of its passing, Sergeant Olson,
who was in charge of the station, was apparently in conversation with
Commissioner Murnian in the chief’s office. They knew about the truck,
either then or immediately afterwards. No orders were given to stop it and it
was not stopped.
“During the consultation
mentioned, the idea of removing the Negroes was discussed, and it was decided to
have them remain at the city jail. The fact that the men were being called in
and that the fire department had been communicated with, became known to the
commissioner. No plan to handle the police or to repel an attack was decided
upon, beyond the use of water. Both Sergeant Olson and the commissioner
maintain that the use of firearms and clubs was not discussed, but state that
there was some conversation relative to the amount of ammunition on
hand.
“The situation concerning weapons
available to the police was as follows: There was a number of antiquated rifles
with bayonets in the storeroom, each policeman had a revolver with at least one
round of ammunition. Certain other revolver ammunition was in the vault and
there were clubs in the station. Mr. Murnian states that he understood that the
vault was locked and the combination known only to Capt. Fiskett and the
secretary of police. Other evidence indicate that the combination has not been
used for years, and that the extra ammunition under any circumstances, could be
made available by breaking an inside vault
lock.
“After the truck completed its last trip a
crowd gathered in front of the police station, and was addressed by a young man
who stood on an automobile on the north side of Superior street about opposite
the city hall. He urged the crowd to storm the jail and take the negroes,
appealing strongly to their passions and prejudices. This was in plain sight of
the police station. Nothing was done to stop it or to arrest the speaker. About
this time, or immediately prior thereto, the firemen had arrived and had
attached a hose to the hydrant at the corner of Michigan street and Second
avenue east. The line of this hose was run along Michigan street in front of the
entrance to the police garage, through the space between the police headquarters
and the municipal court, and into a back hall window on the Superior street
floor of the station, thence through the hall, down the back stairs and into the
garage. The entrance doors from Michigan street to the garage were then closed.
The hose where it laid along Michigan street was thus left on the
outside.
Assignment of Police.
“The police, who had reported to the number of twelve
or thirteen, were lined up in the hall. About six were assigned to stand at the
main entrance on Superior street and the balance was sent to the garage. At
this time Sergeant Olson gave them their instructions, the evidence about which
is conflicting. The sergeant states that he told them to do the best they could
to keep the crowd away from the entrance and out of the station, and some of the
police state that they were given orders not to shoot, or use their clubs.
Unless the latter order was given there were no definite orders as to how they
were to handle the crowd, each man being left to his own devices. Some of the
police state that they received no instructions about the use of the clubs or
guns, but that the word against such use came to them from other policemen. In
other words, that the word was passed around among them without any knowledge on
their part as to where it originated. It was so understood, however, by
everyone, and no clubs or guns were used, except as hereinafter
stated.
“At, or shortly after the conclusion of
the speech from the automobile a large part of the crowd went around to the
garage on Michigan street and began an attack. They commence by endeavoring to
push the doors in. The police on the inside pushed to keep them closed. Not
being able to force the doors in this manner, the crowd began throwing missiles
through the upper part of the doors, which were composed of glass and by
battering a hole in the door with a pole. As a result the doors were partially
opened and at this time the police appear to have struck a few of the assailants
with their clubs. This is the only time that clubs or other weapons with the
exception of water, were used during the entire evening. The crowd forced the
doors open and then threw bricks and stones at the police. The latter retreated
to the rear of the garage and endeavored to use the hose above mentioned. They
got no water the hose had been cut. In view of the fact that its entire length
from the hydrant to the point where it entered the window was in possession of
the crowd and entirely without any guard, the fact that it was cut is not very
surprising.
Police Is Retreat.
“The police then retreated farther by going up the back
stairs to the main floor. In the meantime another hose had been attached at the
corner of Second avenue east and Superior street, and laid along Superior street
and through the front door of the police station. This hose was guarded and the
water was turned on, so that when the crowd endeavored to follow the police up
the backstairs this stream was available to keep them back. It was so used, and
this portion of the attack was stopped at that
point.
“The crowd finding itself unable to get
in the back way, left Michigan street and went around to the front. The
policeman who had been on guard at the front entrance had stood there, but had
made no attempt to disperse the crowd or to make it move on. One policeman who
had an altercation with a boy who was apparently a leader, was called inside and
put at other work. When the hose was strung along Superior street from Second
avenue east to the front entrance, men were detailed to guard it. They did so,
and the people, for the most part were kept off the south sidewalk. The crowd,
however, continued to gather, and were not compelled to move. About this time
the firemen came with more hose, and the crowd immediately ran it off the wagon
took it up Second avenue east and attached it at Second avenue east and First
street. The line ran from that point to the car tracks in front of headquarters.
They did not have water at once, however, and while they were waiting, for it
the police took the hose which had been used on the backstairs and turned it on
the crowd in front. This caused the crowd to scatter somewhat, but made no
impression on those who were handling the hose for the mob. Although they had no
water themselves, they took a wetting from the police and stayed until they got
some water for their own use. After no great time their water was turned on and
they directed it against the police and the station. The firemen, having lost
their first hose, sent for another load of hose, and when that came the crowed
promptly took it and attached it at first alley and Second avenue east, strung
it to a point in front of the station and turned it on. They then had two
streams of water. In addition thereto, bricks and stones were thrown through the
windows, and as a result the front rooms of the station were badly demolished.
The police backed up into the entrance with their hose. The crowd then obtained
control of the portion of the police hose which was on Superior street and
pulling upon it, managed to kink it in such a manner that the water stopped
flowing.
Police Cease Resistance.
“At this point the resistance of the police ceased.
Sergeant Olson stayed with the hose until the water stopped flowing, but for
some minutes prior thereto he had had little or no assistance. Under the attack
of bricks, stones and water the police had scattered. Some when into the
secretary’s room, and from thence out the windows and down the fire
escapes, while others went to the jailer’s room which is back of the front
room and could not be reached by either water or
missiles.
“This ended the water fight.
Immediately thereafter the crowd surged into the hall and up the staircases to
the third floor. At some time during the attacks as above described, the
sheriff, who had been notified of conditions, appeared with two or three
deputies. He states that he found Mr. Murnian on the Superior street floor and
asked what he could do to assist, but that Mr. Murnian did not answer him. The
commissioner says that he only saw the sheriff at a distance. After going into
the station the sheriff went outside and into the crowd in an attempt to divert
them; remaining there until the rumor came to him that the crowd was about to
attack the county jail when he went to the jail to make preparations to repel
such an attack.
“From early in the evening up
until the crowd gained entrance the commissioner had been on or around the
Superior street floor of the police station. He had given no orders or
directions at any time. When the mob surged into the building at the conclusion
of the water fight the commissioner went up to the top floor of the building and
stayed there.
Speeches of No Avail.
“When the mob entered they packed the hallway and staircases full, but do not appear to have effected any such jam in the adjoining rooms. Almost immediately after their entrance Sergeant Olson got their attention and endeavored to reason with them, but it was of no avail. Shortly afterwards, Attorney H. J. McClearn talked to them and attempted to have them desist from their purpose. This, too was useless. All of those who spoke for law and order were hooted and derided. The crowd was yelling and shouting. They were demanding the negroes and declaring the law inadequate to deal with the situation. After Mr. McClearn had finished a young man followed him in an incendiary speech which further inflamed the mob, and at about this time the attack upon the doors of the jail began. Some time later, and while the attack was in progress, Capt. Elmer W. McDevitt also spoke to the mob in an endeavor to have them quit, but the result was the same as that which followed Mr. McClearn’s speech. This constituted all the speaking that was done in the station.
Speeches of No Avail. (cont)
“The city jail is situated in the rear of the police
station, and is located upon two floors. The main jail is on the Superior street
floor, and the boys department on the floor above. The first attack upon the
jail was on the second floor, followed shortly by the attack on the main jail
downstairs. These attacks were made with timbers iron rails, hammers, crowbars
and other instruments, and consumed a period of an hour to an hour and a half.
During all this time the police were scattered around the building and the
neighboring streets. Some were in the jailer’s rooms, some in the front
room, some out on the sidewalk. One man was sent to First avenue east to divert
traffic. The policeman on the beat just west of the station never left his beat.
The commissioner remained on the third floor. Two or three sporadic efforts were
made to stop the mob, but without effect. While they were hammering at the main
jail door, Lieut. Barber and a couple of police expostulated with them, but were
thrust to one side Lieut. Barber also went up on the second floor, with the same
result.
“The entrance to the boys’
department was finally effected by battering down the outer door and breaking a
hole through the inner wall, Through this hole some of the crowd entered and
finding the negro, forced him out through the hole and into the hands of the
mob. He was taken downstairs, out through the main entrance, up Second avenue
east to First street, and to the electric light pole on the northeast corner. A
rope was thrown over the arm of the pole by a boy thereon and the noose passed
about the negro’s neck.
Lynching First Negro.
“At this point Father Powers, a Catholic priest, made
his way through the crowd, and, gaining their attention, appealed to them to
refrain from going farther. The mob listened, but when he finished an attempt
was made to hang the negro. The rope broke, the negro fell, and some of those
near at hand beat him. He was then hung again and that time fatally. This negro
was removed from the jail at about 11:20 o’clock, p. m. At the time he was
taken out the jam upon the stairs lessened, and the commissioner followed down
behind the crowd until he reached the landing overlooking the main hall, where
he remained until the last two negroes were taken
out.
“Meanwhile, the crowd attacking the main
jail had effected an entrance through the main door, had discovered the five
negroes confined in the cells, and had started breaking the locks on the cell
doors in order to get at them. During this time Lieut. Barber and Patrolman
Walker were apparently the only ones who got into the jail room. They pleaded
with the mob but without effect. The breaking of the locks continued until all
of the negroes were released. As fast as this happened they were taken to a
certain cell where some of the mob had constituted themselves a court for the
purpose of passing upon the guilt or innocence of the victims. Apparently in
some way, the mob had gained the idea that some were innocent and some guilty,
and this court took it upon itself to determine the
facts.
As a result of the examination the members of
the mock court and the crowd came to the conclusion that two were guilty and
three innocent, and about the time this situation had arisen the word came that
the militia was on the way and it was necessary to hurry. The two negroes
mentioned were then taken out, carried along Superior street to First avenue
east up First avenue east to First street and thence east to the same pole where
the first negro had been hung. This time there was no speech-making. The negroes
were hung, the last being brutally kicked by a young man on the pole.
Further Lynching Frustrated.
“A few minutes prior to the taking out of the last two
Negroes Chief Murphy. Capt. Fiskett and Detective Schulte arrived from Virginia,
Minn. They had left there about 8:15 o’clock p. m. without any knowledge
that anything was wrong. They had in the car four of the negroes apprehended at
Virginia. During the evening the rumor had been current through the mob that the
chief was coming from Virginia, and the suggestion was made that he be met on
the road and the negroes taken from him and lynched. Commissioner Farrell,
becoming aware of this plan started the automobiles out on the wrong road and
himself went out to meet the chief. This meeting took place near Rice lake. The
negroes were turned over to Mr. Farrell, who took them to his farm and the
chief, the captain and Lieut. Schulte came on to town. When they arrived the
first negro was gone. The hall was still filled with people, the jail inside of
the doors was jammed full and the barred door
shut.
“Finding they could not get in they went
to the city hall and the chief issued orders to round up all the policemen and
have them report to him. This was done by Capt. Fiskett. When gathered together
there were about thirty-eight. This took about ten or fifteen minutes. They were
then marched out in front of the station onto the sidewalk, the plan being to
form a cordon to keep the crowd back and to send in squads to pull the mob out
in small groups. But while they had been gathering the men the last two negroes
had been taken out and hung. Anticipating that the mob might return, the police
were armed with the rifles the block between Second avenue east and First avenue
east was cleared and the three remaining negroes were run to Superior.
Wis.
“This ended the disturbance. The crowd
slowly dispersed. Some time later the police went to the pole and recovered the
bodies of the victims and they were turned over to the coroner.
Only One Organized Gang.
“A word might be added as to the nature of the mob.
There is no evidence of any organized gangs coming from different parts of the
city to take part in the attack, except the crowd from West Duluth above
mentioned. There is no evidence of dynamite or acetylene torches being at hand
or in use. There was no one leader. The active portion of the mob was composed
largely of young men and its personnel was apparently changing
constantly.
“The foregoing are the facts as
adduced by the evidence to make the following comments
thereon:
“The six negroes held in the city jail
at police headquarters charged with a most horrible and brutal crime–a
crime that to many of us is worse than murder, and about which we feel that the
brutes who commit it, whether black or white should receive the full penalty of
the law.
“The punishment for rape in this state
is imprisonment in the state prison for not less than seven nor more than thirty
years, and attempted rape is punishable at one-half that sentence. If the law is
not severe enough, the remedy is not by mob action. The remedy is to go to the
legislature and have laws placed upon the statute books that are adequate for
this crime. There were those in the mob who gave no thought or consideration to
the law. They knew only the law of the mob and that was the only law they cared
to administer. With mob authority only, some set themselves up as a kangaroo
court to pass on the guilt or innocence of men accused and in custody of the
city authorities and held in the city jail.
Blame on Police Laxity.
“Attention has been called in the foregoing statement
of facts to the truck which traversed the principal street of the city. It is
unbelievable that a police department or a single police officer, whose sole
duty it is to protect life and property and to guard the city’s interests,
the lives of its citizens and of all who come within its borders, could have
witnessed the movements of this truck and its load of young men on their errand
of murder of law defiance and destruction of property, without so much as a
protest. But the evidence before the grand jury does not show that there was any
effort whatever to stop the truck. We are satisfied that had the police stopped
it, arrested the men on it, and ordered the people to move on as is usual in
thse cases, there is no question but that the trouble would have ended. We also
consider it bad judgment to have kept the negroes in the jail after the first
rumors of impending trouble. They could have been taken to Superior or into the
country under guard if the county jail was considered inadequate. Had the
officer in charge issued the rifles and bayonets and given the proper orders the
mob never could have congregated and the three negroes would not have been
murdered. It would not have been the first time in this city that rifles have
been put in the hands of the police with orders to shoot if necessary. That
there were innocent bystanders and onlookers, as claimed by the police, is no
grounds for their utter lack of organized attempt to stop the mob. In case of
mob congregation the people must understand once and for all that when a person
whether man or woman, crowds himself into a place where law and order have been
cast to the four winds and mob will is the rule, they cease to be innocent by
standers and have become part of the mob; and if, upon orders of the police to
move on they do not heed the warning, they must take the consequences if there
is any shooting by the police.
“It was most
unfortunate that Chief of Police Murphy, Capt. Fiskett and Lieut. Schulte, the
three ranking officers of the department, were at Virginia to arrest and take
into custody the other negroes who were alleged to be implicated in the crime.
As before stated, on theirreturn they immediately formed the police into a
squad, with rifles, and in a very short time dispersed what was left of the mob:
and while they were too late to save the lives of the negroes their action
prevented any chance of the mob returning for the negroes that were still in the
jail.
Murnian and Olson Censured.
“At the time the mob gathered, Sergeant Olson was in
charge of the station. Commissioner Murnian of public safety, who was the head
of the police department, was also at the station throughout the evening.
Nothing was done and no action was taken by the commissioner of public safety or
by the sergeant in charge, that in any way materially prevented or stopped the
mob. The commissioner and the sergeant, by their actions, and lack of action,
are open to the severest criticism. Their conduct was most unbecoming, and the
trust placed in them most flag rantly violated. Their action and lack of action
has disgraced the police force for all time, and has placed the foulest blot
upon the city ever known in its history.
“We
believe that Commissioner Murnian was responsible for the action of the police
department on that evening, and that he made no effort to organize the men.
Neither did he make any effort to consult with Sheriff Magie after he arrived on
the scene, to have him co-operate with the police department and work out a plan
of defense. We find that the police were not organized for defense as a unit,
but that each man was told to do the best he
could.
“During the evening individual police
officers showed thought and energy and did their best to quell the disturbance
and drive away the crowd, but the men in authority had no definite plan for the
men to carry out, all of which showed gross incompetency.
Murnian Not Competent.
“We believe that commissioner Murnian was responsible
for the condition that existed with the police department on that evening, and
it is the finding of the grand jury that Commissioner Murnian is not competent
to hold the position as head of the public safety of the city of
Duluth.
“All efforts put forth by the police
department were weak and of no avail. We have had considerable testimony as to
the shortage of patrolmen in the police department and the inadequacy of the
salaries paid. We recommend that the police department have a thorough
overhauling and that the city budget be so distributed that addition patrolmen
may be provided and the salaries be adjusted and raised to a point where the
police department may be in a state of efficiency and city be properly
protected.
“The signal and call system is out of
date and in many cases useless. A new system is much needed. An entirely new
defense equipment for police headquarters should be provided, which in the
future will safeguard life and property and enable the police to cope with and
successfully combat any mob violence.”