100 years ago in The Saratogian
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 1917
Saratoga County Sheriff William J. Dodge is rebuked by the county judge and district attorney during a hearing before the board of supervisors for criticizing investigations undertaken by Ballston Spa police chief James O’Brien.
Dodge lodged a protest against O’Brien yesterday, claiming that the Ballston Spa official “is being employed, by sources which the sheriff did not disclose, to investigate cases which have already been thoroughly investigated by the sheriff’s office.”
Most recently, Dodge claimed, O’Brien launched an independent investigation of a murder in the town of Providence, after the sheriff “took personal charge, and with my deputies had the case cleared up, all the details settled and all the evidence prepared…. In spite of this he went ahead and conducted an examination.
“Now, either my deputies and myself are competent to do this work or we are not. If we are not competent to do it, then I’ll discharge every deputy and resign myself.”
In Judge Lawrence B. McKelvey’s opinion, Dodge’s deputies are not competent. He tells the supervisors today that the deputies “were political appointees, given an office for political purposes and not for their efficiency or ability.”
McKelvey was district attorney for four years before accepting the judgeship earlier this year. He tells the supervisors that he used O’Brien as a special investigator because “he was the best man in the county to do the work.
“He is the best peace officer in the county, the most capable and efficient. If I had remained in office for ten years I would have continued to employ him. I hope the present district attorney will have the common sense and decency to do the same.
“Mr. O’Brien is being assailed only by a lot of helpless, useless, jealous officeholders hanging around the court house at Ballston Spa.”
The present district attorney, Charles B. Andrus, “acquiesced in the statements made by the county judge.” O’Brien is a Democrat, while Dodge, McKelvey and Andrus are all Republicans. The judge and D.A., however, are loyal to State Senator George H. Whitney, while Dodge supports Whitney’s rival, former sheriff Fredrick W. Kavanagh.
Later this afternoon, Sheriff Dodge is given the privilege of the floor to respond to McKelvey’s comments.
“If I have any deputy not capable of doing his work I’ll ask for his resignation and if all have to resign then I’ll resign too,” Dodge vows.
The sheriff denies any personal or political agenda, telling the supervisors that “My only object is to effect economy, if it is possible….I don’t believe the people should be imposed upon by being compelled to pay twice for the same work.”