Timline

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The Civic Investigation’s scope runs from February 1912 to the end of May 1914. This is what I have so far of a timeline of events leading up to the investigation in June 1914. 

 

• December 8, 1913 - William J. McNamara is elected as Edmonton’s mayor.[1]

 

• Late 1913 or early 1914 - McNamara meets with Chief Carpenter, current chief of police, and asks for his resignation, rather than dismissing him. 

 

      Chief Carpenter agrees to provide his resignation - “He said that he would in a few days, a week, or so, hand in his resignation and let me know when I wanted it. And apparently he went away the best of friends; I think we walked down from the Civic Block together…” William J. McNamara. [2]

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• February 3, 1914 - The Bulletin reports that Chief Carpenter had been dismissed in the morning and by the evening, Alfred C. Lancey had been instated as the chief of police.[3]

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• February 4, 1914 - A petition from the Ministerial Association and the Metropolitan Methodist Church is submitted to the Health and Safety council asking for a judicial inquiry into the police department. [4][5] [6]

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• February 9, 1914 - In response to the petition, the Health and Safety committee meets and votes on carrying out a police investigation overseen by a Supreme Court judge.

 

       Alderman Douglas moves that the committee recommends that the council authorizes an investigation of Police matters before a Supreme Court judge.

 

       Alderman May moves for the following Amendment- that the Health and safety committee be authorised to constitute themselves as a Court, which they are authorised by the Charter, to investigate the police department for the entire year- Not Seconded

 

    Alderman Clarke (our friend Joe Clarke) - Proposes that Commissioner Booth and other folks prepare questions that can be “ properly investigated” by a Supreme Court Judge and that Booth reports back when questions are prepared. - AGREED - [7]

 

• February 9, 1914- Petition folk are sent a letter from Clarke saying the city has met, reviewed the petition, and have “ adopted the following resolution” . That Booth et al. will prepare some questions for a judge to review. (AKA the least action they could possibly take) -[8]

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• February 17, 1914– Commissioner Booth presents his report on his findings in the police department. He says there was “almost a total disregard of responsibility, of esprit de corps and of discipline”(Booth, report #2) during the previous few months. He names some examples  such as a lack of training for new constables and a missing $540.15 [9]

 

• February 17,1914- The Safety and Health Committee meets, hears Booth’s report and the committee decides to hold off on action and “suggests that this simply be filed until the final report is submitted” as Booth plans to submit more reports. They agree to report this to the City Council. [10]

 

• February 17, 1914 - City Council meets and hears the report from the Safety and Health Committee about the petition, as well as Booth’s report, and the decision to hold off on action until further the final report [11]. 

 

• Late February, early March, 1914 - McNamara says Lancey tells him that “...the instructions Mr. Booth was giving out were pretty strong. He said “I believe it would hurt you”. I said “Never mind me, you take orders from Mr. Booth, never mind who it hurts, give absolutely no consideration to anyone.” -William J. McNamara [12]

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• About May 12, 1914 - McNamara says Booth gave him a verbal report that he was giving info to Chief Lancey about disorderly houses and when speaking with the later Chief he would say he doesn’t know about any “disorderly houses” (AKA brothel) or gambling houses - [13]

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• May 22, 1914- First Street Raid. A gambling house was raided that McNamara thinks was called “Eureka Rooms” (623 1stStreet, now 10129 101st part of Rice Howard Place). The big deal about this raid was that the gambling paraphernalia was left behind when the police took the arrested men down to the station. At some point in the wee hours of the morning it disappeared. [14]

 

• May 24, 1914 - A meeting is held at McDougall Church where a number of angry citizens talk about the gambling raid and the general state of the police department. [15]

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• May 26, 1914 – Booth provides a report where he talks about having hired outside private detectives to review the condition of the city.

 

      The big deal here is the detectives report that nothing seems amiss in the city, which is fascinating considering Booth’s earlier report. 

 

      He says he was dealing with “very clever men who were smart enough to cover their tracks”. As a result, he says he does not have enough evidence for any convictions, though he has fired the Chief of police and three detectives. [16]

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• June 6, 1914 - McNamara sends a letter to city council saying they need to meet to discuss the communication from Judge Harvey and Judge Scott[17]

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• June 8 1914 - The City Council holds a special meeting “for the purpose of considering communications received from the Hon. Mr Justice Harvey and the Hon. Mr Justice Scott, relative to the Police Investigation” - William J. McNamara

 

       The following questions are developed and agreed upon as the scope of the investigation and city council finally has to give in to the pressure for an inquiry.

 

       MOVED Ald. Clarke —-- May:

       “...pursuant to section 526 of the Edmonton Charter..” 

1. “Has since the first day of February, 1912, any alderman, commissioner, or other officer, servant, or agent of the City of Edmonton, received any reward or gratuity, or promise of reward or gratuity, from any person or persons whomsoever, for the purpose of protecting, shielding, or conniving at the carrying on of any illicit or illegal undertaking or business within the City?”

   1. TRANSLATION: Since February 1912 have any city council member or city staff been taking bribes to look the other way when it comes to illegal activities, with specifically a focus on sex work and gambling?

2. Has the Police force of the City during the period aforesaid been properly conducted, and has proper discipline been maintained therein, and have the officers and persons employed therein been guilty of any malfeasance, breach of trust, or other misconduct?

   1. TRANSLATION: Since February 1912, have any of the members of the police force been taking bribes or in general being scumbags? If so, how high up does it go?

3. Are any persons in the CIty permitting their premises, or premises over which they have control, within the City, to be used for the purpose of a common gambling house, house of ill-fame, or other disorderly house?

   1. TRANSLATION: Since February 1912, has anyone who owns property in the city been allowing gambling or sex work to happen in their property?

4. Has the growth and extent of crime and vice within the City during the period aforesaid been such as to indicate a failure on the part of the civic authorities to enforce the law?

   1. TRANSLATION: Has crime generally increased between February 1, 1912 and June 8, 1914? Have authorities done diddly squat about it or encouraged said crime? 

 

The motions are carried and passed [18]

 

(please note: legalese translation is my own)

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• June 12, 1914 - The civic investigation begins!! [19]

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References:

1. “Five Winners in the Contest of Yesterday”, The Edmonton Bulletin, (Edmonton, AB), December 9, 1913

2. “Civic Investigation” (Rg.8.18, Box#2, Edmonton, AB 1914) pg. 113

3. “New Commissioners Dismiss Chief of Police Carpenter and Appoint Ex-Chief of Police Lancey to Post”, The Edmonton Bulletin, (Esmonton, AB), February 4, 1914

4. Safety & Health Committee, “Meeting #10”, (meeting minutes, February 9, 1914)

5. Thomas Powell, “Petition for judicial enquiry”, petition, February 9, 1914

6. Secretary Metropolitan Methodist Church Board, Booth, S.M., Edmonton, AB (February 6, 1914)

7. Safety & Health Committee, “Meeting #10”, (meeting minutes, February 9, 1914)

8. Safety & Health Committee, “Report #19”, (report, February 9, 1914)

9. Manville S. Booth, “Report #2 of Commissioner of Safety and Health”, (report, Edmonton, AB, 1914)

10. Safety $ Health Committee, “Meeting #11”, (meeting minutes, February 17, 1914)

11. City Council, “Meeting no. 20”, (meeting minutes, February 17, 1914)

12. “Civic Investigation” (Rg.8.18, Box#2, Edmonton, AB 1914) pg. 118

13. Ibid. pg. 126

14. Ibid. pg. 132

15. “Administration is hotly attacked at big mass meeting”, The Edmonton Bulletin, (Edmonton, AB), May 25, 1914

16. Manville S. Booth, “Safety and Health No. 336”, (report, Edmonton, AB, 1914)

17. City Council, “Meeting no. 74”, (meeting minutes, June 8, 1914)

18. Ibid.

19. “Justice Scott will not adhere strictly to rules of evidence”, The Edmonton Bulletin, (Edmonton, AB), June 12, 1914