Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-13
Police ofacers on Trial.

. The Police Commissioners Hear the
 Charges-VVftnesses Not to be Arrested
 Hereafter-Orilers Only to be Given by
 the Chief.
 A special meeting of the Police Commis- sioners was held last evening to hear charges preferred against Officers Pickering and Phelps by Jesse Crane, who lives on Wash ington street, and who alleged that he was illegally arrested and his property taken from him. There were present His Honor the Mayor, presiding, Commissioners Bol1- man, Catlin, Harmon, Hart and Kilbride.
 Before proceeding with the investigation, charges were read-which were signed by Ex-Fire Commissioner w H. Fulton-against Officer Maurice Connolly for arresting man on July 4, on West Wat. street. with undue violence and failing to take the arrested party to the station house after making the arrest. It was voted to hear these charges on Tues day evening of next week.
 On Commissioner Harmon's motion it was voted that all persons hereafter making charges against police officers shall be pres ent and state their grievances at the next meeting after the same are placed in the hands of the clerk.
 After receiving the application of Charles M. Meigs to be appointed on the force the Board proceeded with the trial of Officers Pickering and Phelps.
 Jesse Crane, who was the principal witness, said that he saw statement in the paper that he was not altogether sober when he was arrested. On inquiry he found oEE o1 kI,n statement regarding his sobriety. He said he never was more sober in his life He then stated that while crossing the street he was arrested and at the time had in his hand a pail of eshalf and half'' The policemen took him by the shoulder and kept hold of him until he got nearly down to Oak street, when he requested them to take their hands off of him and he would go with them quietly. He said there was no charge made against him by the officers when he arrived at the station house. His pail was taken away from him and he had never received it back. He said he was not drunk and had not drank drop of beer or liquor during the day. George W. Myer was next called and said that he boarded with MT. Crane. He said that Mr. Crane went out to get the beer for his daughter. He was perfectly sober at the time and had not been out of the house dur ing the day. He had known Mir. Crane for twelve years and had never known him to be unu0E Gu0 OL 44HoOAs
 Edgar Saxton was next called. He said that Mir. Crane went out to get some half and half for his daughter. Later some one came to the house and said MT. Crane had been arrested with his son started to go to the station house and met Mir Crane coming back. He said that he told them the story of his arrest.
 Clark Peck testified to MT. Crane's so- briety after an acquaintance of twelve years Officer Pickering testified in his own de- fense to the fact of MT. Crane going in and coming out of 8 saloon on Congress avenue with pail of beer. He said he took the beer from Mir Crane and let him walk to the station house. He said he told Crane that he did not intend to lock him up. He said he did not arrest Crane and had no intention of doing so.
 In reply to Commissioner Catlin, Officer Pickering said that he did not know that it was necessary for two officers to go to the station house with pail of beer when the owner was not under arrest.
 Officer Phelps testified in substance the same as MT. Pickering. He said he saw MT. Crane go into the saloon. He said he had known Mir. Crane by sight, but did not know his name He could not say that Officer Pickering had hold of Mir. Crane after he reached the sidewalk, as he had all he could do to keep the boys from kicking the pail of beer out of his hand He desired to keep the beer ss evidence against the person who sold it.
 Officer McGrath testified that he saw 8 crowd of boys on Congress avenue. He ran down there and found the boys trying to get the pail of beer away from Officer Phelps and drove them back.
 Officer George Bradley testified to seeing the officers coming through the street with the pail of beer. He thought MT. Crane was about 50 or 75 feet ahead of the officers
 Prosecuting Attorney Pickett was called and said that the subpoena for MT. Crane was returned to him. He said Mr Crane was not present when his name was called in court, and he (Pickett) asked the court for a capias. He said he had been called upon by officers quite frequently in regard to their duties He said he told the officers to arrest persons when they were seen coming out of saloons with pitchers or pails of beer, or bottles of liquor, between sunrise and sunset, in order to get the evidence of crime from them. He distinctly recollected telling Officer Pickering this. He never had told the officers to stop persons having liquor in their possession af ter sunset.
 In executive session the Board voted that Officer Pickering was guilty of the charge of arresting MT. Crane and that Officer Phelps was not guilty. They instructed the officers not to arrest witnesses hereafter, and also voted to instruct the force to take their orders from the chief in regard to arrests and no person else.