The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-27
BOHEMIAN BRAVERY.


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CAPTAIN HeIme Vindi .ated-The Charge of
C0wardice Uufounded-The Bohemian Re-
porter the Only OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Be-
fore the Police Commissioners.
The case OF captain John c. Helme OF the Thirty
first precinct who. it VIII be remembered. was
charged by reporter named Davds through the
columns of morning paper with having abandoned
his command during the fighting at the corner Of
Twenty-seventh street and Eighth avenue on the
10Th inst. in most cowardly manner and ran down
Twenty-seventh street, where he mid himself be.
hind four story brick house. was brought up be-
fore the Police Commissioners yesterday morning.
large number Of friends of the Captain were pres
ent, together with about fifty witnesses who had
been summoned for the defence. Mr.. Davds was
present In good time. accompanied by Mr.. Helme,
who had undertaken his case for him. About ten
O'Clock the Commissioners put In an appearance,
and shortly afterwards The trial commenced
Mr.. Manlerre called Mr.. Davias TO the stand, and,
after having him sworn, asked him II he the
author OF the AFFIDAVIT which appeared his
name in the columns Of the sun on the 18th inst.
Davlds said he was.
''You have sworn here that you saw Captain Helme
run down Twenty-seventh street III the time Of the
firing; is that truef'
"Weil no; didn't see him run away, but did
see him after he had got behind the house."
On being further questioned Davids stated that he
was reporter on the Sun; that he went up to the
the riot, and from there he went with Inspector
Jameson to the corner Of Forty second street and
Eighth avenue. From here he went up to the
Boulevard and returned again to JamesOns com.
mand about eleven O'Clock A. M. and renamed
with them during the remainder Of the day. When
the firing commenced he was
ON THE TOP OF STAGE,
ana to avoid being shot ne got down. 1t was JUST
reimbursement street q
Captain Helme asked Davlds II he was the author
OF certain article In the sun OF the 18th instant
and which reflected severely upon him.
Davlds said he was but that he would not swear
to the truth OF 1t.
down Twenty-elghth street. and not Twenty seventh
street, as Davids had afterwards sworn. The afi-
story brick house. but on being questioned Davids
said he did not know what kind Of a house 1t was.
INSPECTOR JAMESON
was the next witness called. He said he had COM
mand OF the column OF police TO which Captain
nelme was attached on the day of the riot; TINT he
was actlng as colonel and Helme was his lieutenant
colonel; he did not notice that the Captain was
absent from his command a single moment during
the riot and he was sure that had he absented him
self as charged, he tJameson would most certainly
have known It; just after the firing mad ceased he
remembered Mr. Davids speaking to him about Cap
tain Helme having run away during the disturb
ance, but on looking around he lJameson) saw the
the columns. From the position III which he stood,
which was at the head OF the column OF police
1T WAS IMPOSSIBLE
for any TO look down Twenty-seventh street. for
the column itself was al least fifty feet from the
ner towards Twenty street. TO get into Twenty
seventh street Captain Helme would neces-
sarily have had to pass through the column OF pc.
lice and then crowd through the mob which at that
was OF the OPINION that the Captain could not pos
sibly have gone into Twenty-seventh street as
charged ana he certainly could not have done so
without being seen by all the men IN his command.
When asked II ne had heard any one else besides
answered Eyes. that he had heard Captain Speigt.
of the Twenty-seventh precinct, aude 1t after
the affair was over: Spaight said he had heard 1t
from another partv."
Captain Speght was
MIR. DAvIDs' NEXT WITNESS.
He was present at the time Of the fight above al.
lHded to. ana noticed Captain Heme during the day
and always saw him at his post. He said the only
was Davds: did not near any other person ailude
to MISCONDUCT on his part at all.
On the above evidence MI. Davids' lawyer said
they would rest their case.
sergeant Fitzgerald was called for
THE DEFENCE.
He was positive Captain Helme could not have
left his command as charged without being missed
BY the men and and he was equally positive that II
into Twenty-seventh street.
Major McGralh of the rwenty-second regiment,
Eighth avenue to leave his command for moment
and go back to Inspector Jameson. and while BACK
there lie saw Captain Helme at his post
Mr.. =. N. Cohen, member Of the press, was next
called. Mr. Cohen told the circumstances OF his
distinctly saw Captain Helme at the time So Of , he
firing, and that the Captain was at the head of his
command, ana as cool az any man he saw during
the whole day.
GENERAL DuRYEA,
Mr.. Robert G: Morris. OF the Times: Captain Bur-
den. OF the Twenty-ninth precnct Sergeant Miller,
OF the Twenty second precinct; captain Clinchy OF
the Twentytnird precinct, ana about twenty five or
thirty patrolmen and officers, all OF whom saw
Captain Helme at the time OF the firing, before the
firing and alter the firing, swore to the facts as
given above In his defence.
Several OF the patTOme and officers said
THEY SAW DAvIDS RUN
at the time OF the firing, down through Twenty
seventh street 'l.ke Whitehead They said it
was a common remark among the police after the
fight
.'Didnt that sun reporter run, though, when the
firing commenced "
One officer said he was told by gentleman that
during the shooting he was helping a lady who
had been knocked down by the mob when Davids
In his haste to escape, jumped clean over her.
Mr. Manierre said IL had been proven very clearly
that Captain Helme, SO far from running away, had
performed his duty most noby, and that the only
man who really had run was the complainant
Davlus He therefore, moved that the case be dis.
missed and the motion was unanimously adopted.
TEE national QAMp