New-York tribune., 1879-03-25
TRIAL OF CAPTAIN WILLIAMS.

AN ADJOURNMENT OF TIE CASE UNTIL APRIL 3-
SOME INACCURACIES IN TIE CAPTAINS STATE
MENT.
Captain Williams was in the courtroom at
Police Headquarters at 1870 p. M, holding in his hand
copy OF the Police Manual and several documents A
half hour later President Smith took his seat, with Com
missioner Erhardt his left in few minutes Com
missioner Nichols entered and seated himself at General
Smiths right Captain WIlliamss name called and
he stepped forward and looked ut the commissioners In
a defiant manner The names OF several witnesses were
called and five answered their Captain Will
iams said Before proceeding with this trial have
the following request to make" He then read the fol-
lowing from slips OF paper
Ircspectfuy ask the adjournment Of those complaints
pending against me Tor the following reasons, TO
Tirst-Lack OF time to prepare my defence.
See0nd-Therc IS strong prcsumpve evidence that IL
legal and corrupt have been used 10 procure com
plants and evidence against me.
Third-The rrcgueriTy Of at least four OF the COM
plants, they not having been served onme In com
i5 1876 issued in General Orders No. 213, December
49, 1876, as Rule 13 Of Police Manual.
IouritThe papers having been served on me at @ p.
m March %, and meeting of the board having
intervened between said date and that set down for
trial was unable procure the necessary permission
from the Board of Police employ counsel therefore
respectfully ask that said complaints De ADJOURNED
uDtIi TWO weeks from today, on which day my counsel
viii appear before YOU in my defence. further ask the
adjournment for the reason that thlnk 1Our commits
sGners should be present at my trial have the right
t ask that thew shall both aud hear the witnesses
who are called and examined
CAPTAIN Williams added: ~ insist on this right Of
being heard by counsel aud ask an djoumment for
that rea SON" The commissioners consulted together
FOR few moments and with Counsel Mclean General
Smith tncn said "Captain Willoms, the r1les to
which YOU have referred were Intended Tor the guidance
Of the board. To who stands charged before the
board IL makes no difference whether the charges have
been submitted 10 the Committee on Rules anG Regua-
tons or not As 10 your objection that the full board
naa pFnip ~ N
wait for all the members TO he present the trial wodld
be Indefinitely postponed"
Commissioner Erhardt-Wh"n did YOU receive copy
Of tie charges A.-On Saturday.
Q-How many did you thcn receiver Alive.
General smth-How long time do you ask for! A.
Until two weeks from to-day The counsel want Is
out OF the city.
General Snith-If we cannot get what we want We
sometimes take what we can get. ,.
CAPTAIN Williams-In tuis case can get what want.
week the first OF noxt; presume ne VIII nave time
TO prepare my ease. - l., s,,n,o1 t.
ten days-ntil April 3. at p N. - ,..,., $500,
Erlardt voting nm the affirmative, ana President smith
IN the negative. The courtroom was wen mtd WIN
spectators, many Of them ~ aS aaiomrnmcnt
glt applause, which was qhlehiy
The room w0s soon nearly emp'ed, anu oo'umlssoHcl
Ernardt proceeded 20 try minor cases: - ,,.,,,
Alter the adjournment OF the trial OF Captain VIII
ioms # was remarked 10 superintendent Waling that
Capain Williams had stated that he did not receive the
charges against him until o'clock on Saturday night
.'Whatp q" satd the Superintendent OF Police. "Thats
wrong. gave them TO nim on Friday" MI WaillAg
then referred TO the telegraph record and proved that
between and @ O'Clock Friday evening he had sent
for Williams and had then delivered tho charges W whch
had been against him. Commissioner Ernardt
made his notion for adjournment under the impres,
sion that the charges had not been presened ubilI
Saturday night the captain might not have had time 10
employ counsel General Smith has stated that he de-
sres To he understood, not as voting AGAINST 1ar
cnance for CAPTAIN Williams IN opposing the motion OF
Mr. Erhardt but merely on the ground that an aoourn
ment of ten days was more than necessary.