, 1872-10-31
The Prisoner Proves to be a
Wel1-Known Citizen.
A Model Repri1nand Inflicted by
Mr.. Sheridan.

Captain Gund testified: AL he knew about the
case WAS that Hummel was arrested for being
drunk, was locked up in cell, and WAS subse-
quently released by Sergeant Rehm. Hummel
Was ian A No. l Citizen" The cell in which he
was confined was not fit to be inhabited by
hog. The drainage was bad, the ventilation WAS
bad, and, consequently, the stencil was fearful.
Hummel WAS fined only one dollar and costs, by
Justice Kaufman.
Sergeant Hathaway testified that Hummel
was brought into the station while he was in
CHARGE but that lie did not see him. He could
not tell the prisoners condition when arrested,
tut knew that he was sober when released.
Officer Langan, station-keeper at the Dear
born Street Station, testified that Hu1nmel was
very quiet and well-behaved when he appeared
st the station, and looked and acted like man
who could walk home without any difficulty, if
permitted to do SO. Witness thought that the
Captain was in the station when the prisoner
was brought in, and believed that he (the Cap
tain) lad seen him. For this reason he did not
interfere with the officer who had arrested Hum
mel Had he (witness) been alone in the sta
tion, he would not have locked up the prisoner
without making inquiries into the cause Of his
arrest.
Superintendent Washburn said he hoped Wit
nees would not consider it an infraction Of rules
case came beneath his notice again.
Officer Hackett WAS examined While passing
along the corner Of Rush and Indiana streets,
he was informed by como citizens that man
to the p!ace indicated- and found the man
stretched :: fill Length. and snoring ener-
ge-ic.ly. No: t@:-s ca beat himself, witness
This:lel fos L.s c:5s=:-e- who had charge Of that
rszsical.z lo:z!;sy, sai, upon his arrival, the
sl1mberer WAS .coused and conveyed to the
station. He W.s sppsrently rery drunk when
he woke up: but By the time the station was
reached he WAS undoubtedly sober enough to 70
home alone. Since the arrest witness had told
Rehm that he would not have arrested Hummel
had he known at the time Tho he Was he would
have taken him home-
Commissioner Sheridan. What difference
would your knowing him make in the extent OF
his offence?
Witness. Respectable citizens are liable to
be caught in unpleasant predicaments some
times. lWon1d not treat them rs common bum
mera.
Commissioner Sheridan. Do you then dis
rriminate?
Witness. do. A respectable man, when
slightly under the influence Of liquor, may sit
down somewhere and drop of to sleep without
thinking it to be an offence.
Officer Halbert testified that he was the po-
iceman who went to the assistance Of the pre-
vious witness. Hummel was very drunk when
first aroused, but had sobered up sufficiently by
the time he reached the station as to be able
to go home alone.
Sergeant Rehm, in response to the President,
Eald he had no statement to make, or no tes-
timony to offer, except such as would show the
beastly condition OF the cells on the night when
Hummel was arrested, and the fact that the
Police Magistrate Of the division had been
sought for for hours to sign bond for the priB-
oner's release.
The Board admitted that such WAS the case.
Commissioner Taicott inquired Of Captain
Gund if he had received an order from the
Superintendent prohibiting the release OF pris-
men.
The Captain replied in the affirmative.
Sergeant Rehm stated that the order had been
read to the patrolmen by the Sergeant, but had
not been read to the Sergeant by the Captain, as
Has customary.
4 journalistic outsider remarked that that
was very poor excuse.
Superintendent Washhurn read the order con-
corning the release Of prisoners, and said it
made no difference to him what the condition of
the prisoner WAS, or what state the cells were in
The release WAS in direct violation OF the order.
Sergeant Rehm could not have known whether
Humme1 was drunk or not, as he Was arrested
md locked up while another Sergeant WAS in
charge of the station.
Commissioner Klokke said he believed thst
the Sergeant was guilty of q technical violation
OF the order. There we're peculiar extenuating
circumstances, however. The man Who Was ar
rested Was most respectable citizen, and super
1ntendent OF one OF the largest manufacturing
interests in the North Division. His duties re-
required him to be at liberty at o'clock in the
morning. 4 Justice Of the Peace could not be
found; Hunmels offence, If it #as an ofence
could be atoned for BY 3 fine Of 9100 st the
farthest; the arrest should not have been made,
Is the evidence proved the cells we're unfit for
the occupany OF beast and the Sergeant only
acted in the interests Of humanity when he re-
leased the prisoner. He thought reprimand
would be sufficient punishment.
Commissioner Sheridan said he feared injus-
tice had frequently been done to respectable
citizens. He believed that policemen had often
~ sE-
on the book Of rules issued for their guidance.
He had always held that officers in command OF
stations should be invested with discretionary
power, SO that when such cases as that OF Hum
mel came under their notice they could act as
justice and humanity alike demanded. In the
case Of Sergeant Rehm, he believed that that |
officer had acted wisely, and would vote on the
question with Commissioner Klokke.
Commissioner Talcott-I ask the senior mem-
ber Of this Board what's an officer going to do
when he finds man in drunken sleep On the
street?
Commissioner sheridan-It may turn out that,
when the man is aroused, he ia just as sober as
the officer.
Commissioner Talcott-so you Tote with !
Hokke7
Commissioner sheridan-Yes; am compelled
Commissioner Talcot- well, I won't; vote |
for the discharge Of Sergeant Reh1n, ~ he |
violated rule Of the Department.
Superintendent Waahburn inquired il it would |
Inanding officers concerning the use OF their ]
Judgment in the release Of prisoners. As mat |
ters stood at present, he would be compelled to |
bring charges against every one Who violated
the order.
Commissioner Hokke said he understood that |
Captains had received such orders. |
Superintendent Washburn inquired il the de- !
cision of the Board should stand as precedent. |
He did not desire to bring charges against Off |
cars, and have their trials result in nothing.
Commissioner Klokke believed that the Su- |
perintendent had done his full duty in the case |
of Sergeant Rehln. The action Of the Board did |
not cast reflection upon him.
Commissioner Ta1cott believed that it did. It !
was an unpleasant thing for the Superintendent |
when the Board overruled him. It undoubtedly j!
placed him at sea.
The Superintendent said that it not only |
placed h1m at Sea, but it had the same effect on |
the commanding officers Of the force.
commissioner Sheridan said that the Board
had no such intention. In the case Of Sergeant
would cover it.