Judicial Powers for Kansas City Chief
As a result of numerous fires of incendiary origin, an ordinance has been signed by Mayor Beach of Kansas City, Mo., investing the chief of the fire department with the powers of a municipal judge. This will enable the chief to conduct hearings, summon witnesses, administer oaths and hear testimony. If the evidence adduced at the hearing is regarded by him as sufficient to warrant prosecution, lie is empowered to file such information with the county prosecutor.
According to a statement by Alexander Henderson, who is the Kansas City fire chief, the tire department records show that a large percentage of the fires in that city are of incendiary origin, and it has been impossible to get at these incendiaries except through grand jury action.
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