HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/10/50 '365!
March 10, 1950
Hearing of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington, was
held Friday, March 10, 1950 at 10:00 otclock A.M. in the Mayor's Office, City
Hall, Bremerton, in accordance with the provis~onsof Ordinance No. 1474, Sec-
tion 5, as amended by Ordinance No. 17~5~ Mayor Kean presiding with Commis-
sioner Haddon, Commissioner Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan, City Attorney Wallace
Chief of Police Lewis, Captain Phillips of Traffic, Detective Don Lawrence.
Also present was Elmo B. Winger, a taxi driver and his attorney, William Gar-
land, and Mrs. Harry Lane, wife of a taxicab operator.
Clerk read the letter from the Chief of Police dated February 27, 1950
to the City Council setting forth the two charges against Elmo M. Winger, at-
tempting to procure and selling a pint of whiskey to naval personnel, and re-
commending the revokation of Mr. Winger's taxi driverts license. Clerk also
read the record of criminal activities of Mr. Winger.
Attorney Garland mad~ a brief statement regarding the arrest record of
Mr. Winger and said that several of the charges were of former days and sug-
gested the Council should only consider that which would indicate his present
attitude and condition. He said that Mr. Winger absolutely denies the charges
of the sailors, and that there was a violent disagreement between Mr. Winger
and the sailors over taxi charges and they will be naturally vehement.
Mr. Winger then gave an account ol~ the evening's activities on February
26th, involving the naval personnel, and told how he had figured his charge
for the sailors fare. He had picked up six sailors, taken them to Sinclair
Heights and bacX to the Roller Bowl, where he had left off four of them, and
continued to mrive two around. He claimed that one of the sailors told him
he had been in Bremerton previously and knew his way around. This sailor
had directed him to stop at various hotels about the city, and knew the loca-
tions well enough to give the directions.
March 10, 1950 (Con't)
Also, this particular sailor, who was older than the others, said he
knew how to get out ~f paying taxi fares. Mr. Winger said he hauled these
passengers for a total of three hours and ten minutes, and that he had haul-
ed them for a considerable part of that time while arguing about the bill.
The first part of the trip ending at the Roller Bowl cost $5.00 and th.
balance was figured on the hourly rate of $5.00 per hour. Mr. Winger denied
having sold any whiskey to the sailors. He said one sailor had paid $10.00
and then after an argument paid $5.00 more but there was still ~5.00 due.
Mr. Winger said that the $5.00 was paid to a Red Top Cab driver when one of
the sailors ran from the scene of the argument but he ha~ called the police
and when they came they caught this sailor~ and it was when the sailor was
caught that the accusations were made.
Chief of Police stated they just had an oral report from the two sail-
ors taken by Detective Lawrence and Sgt. Greathouse.
Mr. Garland commented that he had third-hand information that one of the
sailors, named Linke, had been involved with other sailors last Dig~t in an
automobile accident, and that it was saim he was a 'troublemaker ~ ha~ been
in two fights last evening. ~ · ..... L/~ ~'. ~
Detective Lawrence gave an account of seeing the cab driver and sailors
arguing at Bur~rell and Pacific anm the sailors were trying to get away. He
picket them up anm thought it best to bring them into the station. One of
the sailors inI'ormed him the cab driver had not got them the girls he had
promised and would rather pay the disputed $5.00 than have further trouble
and Winger said he would rather let the $5.00 go than have further trouble.
Mr. Winger men!ed the charges of attempting to procure females and s ell-
lng whiskey. One of the sailors had informed the police-that when he was
along in the cab that Mr. Winger had sold him the whiskey.
Lawrence further said that the sailors bore evidence of drinking but
had no signs of whiskey with them. The sailor had inI'ormed the police that
Nr. Winger had stopped at several hotels but that he was new here and didn't
know their names.
Winger stated the older oi' the two sailors had directed him where to
go and ham gotten out anm entered the hotels. Under questioning of the Mayor
~r. Winger mentioned several hotels where the sailor had been.
City Attorney stated that at future hearings he would like to have all
complaining witnesses present. He said that he could not be convinced under
Mr. Winger's statement that everything is as stated but ii' the Council de-
sired a suggestion, it woulm be to give him a sharp reprimand from the Coun-
cil that he is coming pretty close to a violation. He said he believed the
cab fare was reasonable for the time spent by the driver. Mr. Wallace said
the past record of Mr. Winger was not too bad except those acts a long way
bacx in his liI'e; however, the cab driver received a license with this record.
He saim that eitaer of the two charges, if proved, would be suI'ficient to re-
voke a cab driver's license.
Mrs. Lane stated she was on the switchboard the night of the complaint
and had been inI'ormed that the sailors were troublesome and the driver couldn't
collect his fares an5 she ham told him to handle it the best he could and then
let her know.
Mrs. Hamdon co~umented that th~ sailors should be present as this hearing
is one-sided.
Mrs. Lane said further that the sempe sailor, Linke, had been involved
last night in an accident w~ere one of her cabs had been hit broadside. It
was reported to her that Linke had bragged t~ one of the cab drivers later
of his charges against this driver and had enjoyed making them. She stated
that Mr. Winger is a good driver and dependable. She questioned whether the
testimony of the sailors would be any good since they had been drinking.
Mayor Kean stated that he believed the Police Oepartment was entirely
right in asking for a hearing but he didn't think that things brought out
sustained the revokation oI' the license. He said he still wanted to sustain
the Police Department in bringing this before the Council due to the nature
of the charges.
One charge is bordering on the May Act anm the charge of selling liquor
is bootlegging. This is serious and the Mayor said he believed the Police
Department did the right thing under the circumstances, and Mr. Winger could
consioer this as a reprimand and be more careful in the future. Also, the
Mayor said that he concurred in Nr. Wallace's advice that the cab 5river be
caref~l to stop before r~naning a f~re in such a case to ~15.00 or $20.00.
March 10, 1950 (Con't)
Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon that the Council not lift the lic-
ense anm deny the request; anm to support the Police Department who it. is
believed acted in ~od faith because the accusations and the past record
warranted the hearing, carried.
Mrs. Haddon co~lented in connection with her second to this motion
that the owners of the cab companies should keep in close touch with their
d~ vets,
Mr. Garland stated he thought the statements made about the Police
Department bringing the case before the Council is a commendable one and
it tales the load off the Chief and the Captain of Traffic, and makes it
seem more serious for those coming, before the Council.
~PROVED: City Clerk
' Mayo~