Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-10
Board of Police Commissioners.

: Trial of Officer LeyerZapf for Gross Neglect of Duty and COwardice-He is Dismissed from the Force. The Board of Police Commissioners met last evening to hear charges against Officer Leyer- zapf, preferred by the Chief for gross neglect of duty and cowardice, in that he entered the store of Edward Butler on the night of April l, and when asked to arrest two boys who 1 were creating disturbance that he did moi do so, but went out of the store and left the premises without any protection, and after go- ing away the boys created farther disturbance by breaking the windows. Afterward the boys were arrested by other officers.
 Edward Butler testified that James Dunn and William Brennan came into his store and commenced making 8 disturbance. He called Officer Leyerzapf to arrest them and he came in, and after telling them to keep quiet went out
 Peter McGinn testified that he was standing on the opposite corner and he saw the trouble. After the boys went away they came back again and he saw the officer have hold Of one of the boys. Afterward the boys ran and the officer ran after them, but he did not run as fast as he (witness) could walk. Heard him blow his whistle, but he did not come around again for an hour and half.
 Michael Brennan testified that he heard MT. Butler tell Officer Leyerzapf to arrest the two boys and saw the officer take hold of one of them. When Leyerzapf came back heard Of ficer Tiernan aek him where he had been, and he said he had been around the back yards to look for the hoys.
 John Kellaher told about tho trouble in But lsr's store He heard Butler tell Leyerzapf to arrest the two boys, and saw him take hold of Dunn. Also saw Dunn run away from the officer. In five minutes the boys came back and renewed the disturbance.
 John Mulligan, boy, testified to seeing the trouble on the night in question. lie said he saw the two boys turn up Wallace street when they ran away from the officer.
 Officer McAvoy said he first heard of the trouble on Grand street. He started up Hamilton street and met 8 woman who told him that they were breaking win dows He went there, and seeing the boys gave chase to them. They got away, but he afterward found Brennan on Jocelyn Square with crowd of boys, and arrested him. Off, cer Mccarthy had previously arrested Dunn.
 Officer Herman testified in substance the same as Officer McAvoy. He said also that he blew his whistle in order to call Leyerzapf He came in five or ten minutes after, and when he came he asked him where he had been. He replied that he had been around through the yards to look for the boys.
 Officer Began said that when he came around in the vicinity of Buffers, he found Leyerzapf standing on the corner and he told him that there had been fight over at But ler's; asked him why he did not stop it and he replied, 'sWhat can one man do there alone?" Officer Leyerzapf was off of his beat when he first saw him.
 Officer Mccarthy said his attention WAS called to the disturbance on the night in ques- tion, and he went to help quell it. He after terward saw Dunn and arrested him. He did not see Officer Leyerzapf at all on that even- ing.
 Officer Leyerzapf in his own defense testi- fled that when he started for the boys on the night in question they ran away. At this time he did not know that there were any windows broken. He said they ran into the back yards and he was looking after them. He said it was fifteen or twenty minutes past eight when they got away from him. He thought he did all he could.
 Emma Rumpf testified that she saw the whole trouble. She said the crowd threw stones at the time the officer was chasing the boys.
 Henry Rumpf said he saw the boys run ming and saw them jump over the fence. Of ficer Leyerzapf came up in a great hurry and inquired of him if he had seen the boys. He told him he had and the officer hurried on, as though he was anxious to catch the boys.
 This closed the evidence and the Board went into executive session to consider their verdict.
 In executive session the Commissioners voted to dismiss Officer Lsyerzapf from the force.
 Charles T. Stormont applied for position on the force. His application was ordered on fiIe