The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-18

men-A scene Between His Honor and
Alderman Winslow.
A special meeting of the Board of Mayor
and Aldermen was held last evening, at which
the full board were present, the Mayor in the
chair. The following business was transacted:
PETITIONS REFERRED.
Petitions of Michael Scully to erect new
wooden building ON the corner of Sheridan
and Adams streets, of G. H. Lunt TO erect a
wooden building on Grove street, and of 10Th
am +. Clark to erect wooden building on
Dantorth street. were presented and referred
TO the committee on new wooden buildings
The petition of John Loveitt and others for
the repair of Brown street was presented and
referred 10 the committee on streets.
LICENSES GRANTED.
Victua'ers' licenses we're granted to j II Frost
and Mrs. Martha A. Watson.
A license was granted to Mrs A Thaver for
an employment office.
BOND APPROVED.
The bond of Hanson B. Joyce as inspec tor of
fish was eceived and approved.
ORDER PASSED.
The following order was passed:
Ordered, That public hearing be granted
the petitioners on the horse railroad turn-table
ON
Sept. 10Th, at 7.S0 O'Clock.
POLICEMAN M'GRATH's CASE
The important business of the meeting was
next IN order, and was stated by the Mayor 10
be in reference to one of the police force. He
called upon the Marshal 10 make staten ent
about the matter, and that officer stated th at
he had reported Roger McGratb, an officer OF
the force, 10 the committee on police for me-
glect Of duty in arresting prisoner.
oficer Norton, who was On the beat with
McGrath, was the first witness called, and, al.
ter being sworn by the clerk, testified substan.
TALLY as follows:
That In company with McGrath he was com
Ing down Monument street on the night n
Sept lth. when they heard noise and some
swearing. They went right on, and McGrath
upon coming to the scene of disturbance took
hold OF man, one Matt McGlinchy. living on
the steps OF a house. and told him to move on
Inc mansfefused, and using very violent ian.
guage toward McGrath, offered to 90 with
Norton. Afterward he repented, and tussle
ehsueo. Norton's coat was torn, and he called
Tor McGrath to bring on the irons. Together
they handcnffed him and then Norton dragged
MIN, alone, along the street. AT intervals the
prisoner would be quiet, then troublesome.
he mad been taken about fifty feet from the
point OF arrest when McGrath blew his whistle.
Onicer Frank appeared, and together with
Otieer Norton took the man to the station.
McGrath did not help him after he got hold Of
tne prisoner, save BY producing his irons.
Y. f. Mattocks appeared as counsel for Nc.
Grath. The only question he asked Officer
Norton was as to the time be had been on the
force. The answer was twelve days.n The
direct examination was then continued. bui
little more pertinent to the case was given
save that McGrath was fifteen yards away in 4
crowd of boys when the whistle was blown.
After a few questions from Aldermen Wins
low and Tukesbury, the witness stepped aside
and
OFFICER FRANK WAS SWORN.
He testified that about IL O'Clock on the Mo hi
ID question he was at the corner of CONGRESS
and Washington streets when he heard 4
whlstle and ran to the spot from which the
sound came. Upon reaching it he saw Norton
dragging man, and McGrath some distance
away surrounded by crowd of men and bows
he thought the latter officer was in trouble
put on going to see found he was mistaken
and on asking what was the matter, McGrath
SAID, That man." pointing to the prisoner
won't let me touch him. Finding this was
All, he went at once to the prisoner and with
Norton took him to the station
Some questions were asked by the Marshal
and Mayor, TO show how long the witness lad
been on the force, what was the practice in
calling for help, and what kind of character
McGlinchy was.
Mr.. Mattocks in opening for the defence,
admitted that bis man had made grave mis-.
take, but insisted that it was one of Ignorance.
as the testimony would show.
Officer McGrath was called and sworn.
In answered. few queries by Col. Mattocks.
he stated that he had been on the force three
months, had never received any instructions
from the Marshal or anybody else with refer.
ence 10 his duties and knew nothing whatever
about the meaning of signals. His version OF
the arrest differed materially from that of the
other officers and was substantially:
ABOUT eleven p. M, Sept. It'll, in company
WIN Omcer Norton he was going down Mount
tort st. Suddenly he heard loud talking and .
noise as If row was in progress Going rnp.
IDLY toward the sound he found man,-Mat
McGlinchy-lying drunk on the stems of 4
house. He raised him, told him to be Quiet or
else go to the station. The man became at
once ABUSIVE and violent, when McGrath
promptly threw him to the ground and ironed
him Then assisted by Norton the man was
dragged along the street, resisting strongly at
Times and constantly attempting to iniure him
thinking that it would be better to have the
man proceed to the station quietly and beliey-
blew his whistle Officer Frank came and the
man was walked off.
Just before Officer Frank was called from,
his beat an appeal for assistance had been
Inade to him. He delivered the message to
McGrath who proceeded to the house and suc.
ceeded in quieting the disturbing party.
Many cross questions were put by the Mayor
and several of the Aldermen, but nothing fur.
Their bearing on the case was elected. It was
very apparent that the officer had not been
properly instructed in his duties, and also that
his judgment had been defective in other
cases than the one under consideration.
Francis McGlinchy, Patrick McGlnchy and
Mr.. Donovan, witnesses called by the defence,
corroborated the statements of McGrath in
all the material points and their testimony
was not shaken under cross-examination.
Officer Norton was recalled, and denied that
McGrath had hold of the man as he testified
and denied that McGrath blew the whistle at
his request.
Ot1cer Frank was recalled and stated that
when he reached the scene McGrath was
twenty feet away.
Officer McGrath was recalled and insisted
that he was holding McGlinchy when Officer
IA"nh oiliscu, anu Gnab ne believed Norton
asked him to blow his whistle.
Col. Mattocks then rapidly analysed the
case. He commented on the testimony, in
sisted that his clients mistake was one of ig-
norance and not of cowardice, and sharply
criticised the action of the Marshal in the
matter.
The matter then came before the board for
settlement.
The Mayor said the affair was a matter of
regret to him, but he believed the only way to
prevent the generalization of the force was to
deal sharply with such cases when they arose.
He had given the man chance to resign but
it had not been acted on, and SO he formally
removed officer McGrath from the force for
incompetency and neglect of duty
Alderman 'Winslow moved to lay the matter
on the table.
The Mayor declared the motion out of order.
Alderman Winslow said the understanding
with tho committee on police was that the
matter would come back to them, and he
wanted further time.