New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-04
TRIALS OF THE POLICE.
THE CASE OF CAPTAIN WILLIAMS.

assault on w. V. Blake ut Gilmore's Garden.
Very positive statements were made both
sides. sensation was caused by the demand
of Captain Williams's counsel to have President
Smith of the Police Board testify The counsel in
sisted that President Smith was the instigatOr of
the charges and was untitled to be n Judge IN the
case. The trial Will be continued on Monday next.
The Mayor las informed the accused Police Com
missoners that he will give them another hearing
tomorrow.
A STORMY SCENE IN TIE COURT ROOM.
CHARGES OF WILLIAM V. BLAKE-Bow CROWDS
ARE KEPT QUIET AT GIIMoRE's GARDEN
PRESIDENT SMITHS REFUSAL To BE WITNESS.
The courtroom at Police Headquarters was
filed with Witnesses and spectators at IL yester
day when the trial OF Police Captain Alexander D Will
ians was begun. Among the spectators were Judge
Cowng, Assistant District-AttogBey Bell, Alder
men Morris K,onan, Sauer and Sleyin, John d. Town
send John J. Burns. several local politicians friendly
To Captain Williams, and many policemen in citizens
dress. Inspectors Dilks and Murray and Captains
Byrnes, Chuchy and Kilhlea were present in uniform,
having been subpenaed witnesses FOR Captain Will
Jams Police Commissioners Smith, Eruardt ana Nichols
sat together at the Presidents desk. Near them the
counsel for the board. Charles f. MacLean. George
Bliss, Captain Wiliamss counsel not present at the
opening Of The court but ne in few minutes later,
accompanied by John Davenport.
his place before the Commissioners. and with
u defiant look. remained standing while the charges
against him read and the names Of the Witnesses
were called. The Commissioners proceeded 60
try HIM tho first eharge-that OF club
bling William V. Blake, Of Trenton, n. j.,
March IL, at Gilmore's Garden and ejectng
MIN from the building by force without arresting lin.
Mr. Bliss SAID that the charge denied and after
stating his and his rank Captain Of the Twenty
ninth Precinct Williams was allowed TO take
p seat by Messrs Bliss and Davenport, with
whom he conferred during the session. Mr..
Blake, the complainant, then described the trea'-
lnent he had received from Captain Williams. He
said he was in GmOres Garden the evening Of
March II, witnessing the walking match, when Captain
W llams singled him out from a number OF men who
had Kissed and prOlded him in the chest with club,
saying, Come out here, you ID sneak-thiet'
Blake declared that he did moi resist, and that
he offered to leave the building. but the Captain
dragged him from the gallery III winch he sitting.
and struck him three hard blows with the club he
went toward the entrance As he was leaving the
building the Captain struck HIM again, but mede no
attempt 10 arrest Inn. He entered the building after
ward and remained until nc2-ly midnight. The Cap
tain saw him again. and looked a. if lie wanted to
swallow Inn. Mr. Bliss led the witness through
very long crossrxaminaton. hu' unable to catch
him in any contradictions. II, drcw ont the fact how
ever that Blake had been led 10 make his complaint by
reading newspaper articles, aud that ne had visited
General smith, at the latttrs residence after the com
plant lad been made. Here Mr. Bliss called the
attention Of the Commits toner's 70 the fact that
tie copy Of the charges served on Captain
Williams was dated March 10, while they had been
published in the newspapers on March IL He asked
10 see the original copy the charges, and called at
cntion TO @ change the date III the records Of the
Board arc go be altered IN TINS lnahhrr No s1d' Is
indeed time that som" lny'.ic' non Was mace more
Mr. Davenport pulled Mr. Bliss sleeve and whispered
something IN us ear. 1900. 49,.
continued. 81 ncug NJ General Smtu That the per-
who caused tue charges 10 he made sent them 10 me
Mr Blake and said "Do Won know how il happened
that on March Il Comm ssiQuer smith knew You were
G. Q person who was rc-trd rom the irG. % = Nc.
Maclcsu objected 10 the question, and wrangle en-
sued between The counsel Inc Commissioning ana not
Commissioner might nave learned 1t from the news
witnesses FOR the eonpaina9t were then swoEEg
MI. Blake had made. lhey were an eyewitness oi
The scene in Garden recognized bojh 81" iak" aud
Captain Williams, aud gave nearly the same account OF
inc manner in which the latter used MS club.
OF these witnesses, Henry Thompson, Of 80 $50 Wei
ngi0n 'qnaIc saw utaiN iM1 @LOC m W. OnCon.,l'
Mr.. Thompson, VINO Is .dWytr, gave iuh ana con
declared That Captain WIlians struck Mr. Blake IN
brutal manner. aud that he used pr0idne ana vulgar
language 10 addressing the persons WHO stoOl near
TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENCE.
Nv Bliss said the defence would show that the time
Of tie waking match Gllmorc's Garden flied with
a crowd wnich needed TO be controlled By strict
enforcement Of The rules, and that Captain Williams had
performed ms duty ana nothing more lie referred again
to the publication OF the charges OF March -, and III
speaking Of the manner in which the complaint Of
MI Blake had been made topic Of general interest
through tie newsp papers 10 said "The wnoie trouble
here IL that James Gordon Bennett Of The Heraid
arrested for dsordery conduct, ana locked ny over
night in Captain Wiiliamss st1'loE-hOusc.' During
his speech he used the word prosecution"
ard Mr. Maclean inquired whom he referred to by The
word. Mr Bliss retorttd. win another look al Pres-
dent smith, :" GcI'l know whether ms name begins
whon rad been made by Rowe the winner OF the w1lk
ing match simpson his tfaineI ana ~, W. AsAjhaQn
in praise Of Captain "iiismss conduct during
the match and ex ressod belief that Eo%eh would not
have been allowed TO win had il not been Tor strict eD
forcemeut OF order IN the Garden.
Edward P.ummcr, one o! tue Judges at the walking
tain Williams and asked 90 have him removed from the
building; that Captain williams ordered Mr. Blake 20
not strike him Mr.. Pummcr SAID ne journalist
hut he made many blun1ers in his use OF words Mr.
MacLpau turned TO him aud asked, IN sarcastic man
ncr: you correct IN your statements you are
IN your GRAMMAR lLanghterl 49,, .....,-.,. .
"Mr. Plummer. do you ever write IN cphers, and are
You able TO road mem al'%fwIuI LEE !unaueT was
Edwin X. Goodrich, Of No 731 broadway, RAYMOND
l. WARD of the 81 James Hotel and about a dozen
Other wncSses testified mat they Captain Williams
Put man out OF The Garden on the evening OF March
roughly. Mr.. GOOdrch's statements were the most
Important IN behalf Of tho defence. He recognized
Mr.. Blake as the man he had seen c1ecled; and
was positive lie said, that Captain Williams did not
STRIFE Mr.. Blake or kcE him. Several Of the other
witnesses cUuld not recognize Mr. Blake, and contra
dicted each others statements IN somo ninor points
Mr. Kelly, the manager OF tie walking match, who
called afierwsrds, said that Captain Williams
had put Two or three mon out OF the DuiidlhS
each evening willie the walk in progress Theodore
T. Walton Edward q. Gilmore, Inspector Diks snd The
Police Captains present testified ihoi the crowd "a the
Garden during the walking match difficult To con
troll ana that stringent police rulo was necessary to
preserve order.
A SENSATION N THB COURT.
TIE examination OF 50 may witnesses had consumed
nearly The whole afternoon, with the exception OF
half hour for lunch. and at o'clock every one IN
the courtroom seemed impatient 10 have the trial
close Several witnesses on both sides had