New-York tribune., 1871-07-27
LOCAL MISCELLANY!
A BRAVE OFFICER vNDICATED

DESTROYED.
A large assenblage was present yesterday In
abe courtroom at Police Headquarters to witness tne
ta q Capt John G, Helme OF the Thirynrs' freClno'
ona charge OF cowardce during the not OF july IA Io
complaint was made by David Davds reporter OF INC
sun newspaper who IN bis afdavt charged that capt
Ielme when the military opened FIRE, deserted his com
mand and ran behind brick house. where ne RENAME"
Ont the firing had ceased Commissioner Manlerre pro
sifed and Commissioners Bosworth and Barr "oIo
present during the trial.
Dayids the first witness testified that ne was re-
,orter of The sam the affidavit shown was made and
signed bv him ON the morning OF the 10Th he was at Po
lice Ucadguarters from TO a. IN; accompanied In
spector jameson and his command to Forty-seeondst
md Eighth ave-, and then went with Detective Lam
brecht 20 the Boulevards; afterward returned 10 IN
speeter Jameson and his command and went with
them to Thirtieth-st and Eghthave. when inc
nnnr began in Twenty-seventh-st., he saw Capt
ueluo down the street S 10 feet west OF Eighth
ave- he was standing within six inches or foot OF the
brick house on the south sde did not see him run down
there was the roof of stage when he frst sa" 'ap
Aeme: got Of the stage soon as the nlng pegan' ue-
cause he did not wish 70 be shot Capt Heme was De-
side the house this time; afterward told inspector
Jameson of Capt Helme's conduct; him leave his
hdlprplace and return to his command The witness
Was crossq STONED by Capt. Helme at considerable
length and reiterated his former assertions
INSPECTOR Jameson testified that Capt Helme acted as
oone oths battalion during the day; did not
notice him absent for any time; the complainant came
70 him aud said that Capt. Helme behind house;
witness said it impossible and looking around, saw
the captain in his place; the line OF police was four
ranks deep and 10 reach the house Capt. Helme must
have gone an around the line OF through this solid col
umn; had he done either, some one would have no
tioed him. In response to question by the complain
ants counsel, the Inspector said the ranks
were not broken at any time; when Da-
aid od
Hclme was in front Of the right wing; the route
Cant speight asked II he had heard Of Capt. Hclme
running around the corner, and replied he had not
Capt Hclme under his observation oil the time, ex-
cept when he walked around toward Twenty sxth-st
Davids couldn't look at the crowd down Twenty yseyenh
s 40 as 10 distinguish any individuals the street was
fun Of people, there firing in the neighborhood
OF Twenty it below didn't consider the
police in any immediate danger we're they werej there
was a man shot little above Twenty-sixth ST.
Capt speight testified that when the firing began there
were two stages front Of the police and the horses at
tacbod them became unmananageble witness caught
one by the head and with the assistance Of Others the
horses were soon got under oOntrol complainant In
formed him Of the absence Of Capt Helme; saw the
Captan in front of his command recOlect that soldier
~ tb@ matter with Capt Helne between there and
Twenty-thrdst saw the Captain obey inspector Jane
MS,or J. a. McGraTh Of the 22d Regiment testified
,hat be soW Cant Heime before and after the firing
witness an returning from interview with Gen. Va
nan attempted 10 get on the sidewalk but could not
n Cohen reporter for the Ne,o- Yorker Journal dis.
unctv saw Capt. Heme il position immediately atter
Tx xMaor-Gen. Abram Duryea testified that he saw
Capt Helme the head Of his command several times
during the dav and in common with all the rest OF the
force, acquitted himself brayely ,.., ., =.
large number Of other witnesses corr0borated lle
testimony in Capt Helme's favor. Not one saw him
leave his post or ID any way shTK the danger eonnoA
cant Helme testified that he ala not leave his COM
mand on that day did not turn down M IN
dan but da not know him. did not 60 to the corner Of
Twenty nor into store eSIae down from
Twenty ynnth-st close column OF division nul tney
got a little beyond Twenty -seVenthsti the columi was
rected TO halt al the time the firing began; the column
halted from the corner Of TwentyseYenthst ana
elmost simultaneously with the commencement OF Ihe
hTiBg the horses drawn up near the ponce go iIsnE
eued and caused for the time, little confusi0D as
The idewaand told the driver TO keep them from com,
ing down finally got the stages ana
the horses up Twenty Wlth uIecu1Ls HOe
% bring them back again TO the avenue; never et we
column for one moment during the hTng, nor on[Gg the M
entire day while the column was uhuet luIeH hopt 'e
same position while marching down Elglth-aNe;; Ie
Tweuty-nintl-st.; formed In weutyninthst an close
column by division; first marched up the Eghthave u
Thirtiethst bearing the crowd BACK thdt prSFlUusy
house TO house aud then and halted until the
military formed on the rght Inspector Walhng marcheg
down the avenue, also, clearing thestreet forming sur
hcent space Of clear ground between the houses oI
military maueuvers, 50 as to receive tHe rioters tha,
the command for one lnOmeut, nom leaving twenty
ninthst until Twenty-thrdst was reached never saw
Davds before that dAY. TO know him, ana KnoW OF no
could have for his attack except TO create
sensation.
Commissioner ManierIe said il bad been proven that
the Captain had done his duty faithfully and well and
apparently the only who on that occasion was
the complainant Probably the imagination OF the com
pnant was excited that he thought he saw the Cap
tain running The motive for placing Capt Helne on
trial was to afford him opportunity Of showing the
public that he had 9ced bravely the day in question
He had been connected with the Department for great
MANY wears and had always acquitted himself well. Ii
was rather hard his old age he should be charged
with cOwardice
The Commissioner moved that the complaint be dis
missed. This DONE each Commissioner voting in the
affirmative. Capt Helme thanked the Commissioners
for the opportunity they had afforded him of rghting
himself with the public he would rather have been ac
cused Of any other crime than cowardice, and he
was much Obliged 10 the officers Of the various precincts
and others who had aided him in vindcang his good