Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-26
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.

| The Police Commissioners met at o'clock
last evening. pursuant to adjournment, for
the purpose Of hearing the argument in the
case against officer O. G. jackson, in which
he is charged with conduct unbecoming an
officer. All the members of the Commission
were present, as were also the City Attorney
and counsel for the defense, G. 7. Jones and
r. T. Devlin. Mr.. Jones aeked to place upon
| the stand several witnesses TO prove the char
acter ef the defendant. The request being
granted, a. II. Powers, G W. Chesley, P. 81.
Russell, L. II. Petit and Harry Gribble were
sworn, and stated that they had known Mr..
jackson for great many years, and had al.
| ways found him to be a man whose general
reputation for honesty, truth and veracity
was good. Gases were mentioned where Mr..
Jackson had introduced a party TO certain
dealers, and that upon Jackson's recon-
| mendation they had let his friend have
large amount of goods. Jsckson'a friend
failed. but jackson, to protect his honor, had
paid them, out Of his own pocket, the entire
amount OF their loss, although legally he
could never have been held for it.
Letters were read from Chief Crowley, Of
San Francisco, ana 1. W. Lees, Captain Of
the detective force, highly recommending
Mr.. jackson as q good and honest officer.
The defensa then rested.
The argument was opened by f. T. Dew
lin, who reviewed the entire testimony. lie
thought that but little weight sheuld be
given TO the testimony of Mr.. Kuehnel, from
the fsct that his testimony is contradicted by
Mr.. jackson and also by Henry L. Buckley,
who Is q disiDterested party. He thought
thst Me jackson, in restoring the property
to MIR. Kuehnel, did his duty. He endeavored
to ascertain who was ths culprit, and il he
could have been found, would have been
punished. In case of theft the officers en-.
desvor TO first find and res ore the property
stolen, and next punish the thief. 1t was
done innoeently, with the best of motives,
snG with the sanction Of the police depart
ment. He simply did his duty, and would
have been culpably negligent if ne had not
done AZ he did.
G. g. Jones thought the Gaze needed no
argument. There is nothing in it at al un-
less jackson and Buckley have sworH falsely,
or Mr.. kuehnel is mistaken. jackson KEW
Dir. Buckley TO be good lawyer and an
honorable citizen; ne took his advice and re-
turned the money TO Mr.. Kuebnei. All this
grew eut OF story that a criminal sold his
attorney while be was il jail. He lnade false
statements, thinking by co doing no would
get off with a lighter punishment. There
was no compounding Of felony, nor an at
tSupb " uO sutL a tHAHg. NlC. huS1n5l 3 SNi-
dence does not agree with any OF the Wit
nesses that were examined in the case.
It all grew out of the false statements
made by Cronin, condemned criminal.
He eulogized jackson as an officer, claiming
that he had done more good, solid work.
than any other officer on the force during the
same time. He had prosecuted white gam
blers, keepers of houses of ill-fame, the worst
kind of warrants, end in so doing has made
many enemies among the criminal classes.
He said the bringing of the Scott murderers
to justics was due to his superior detective
ability. Jackson did no person wrong Or
attempted to Go 80. He acted upon the sd-
vice of q friend-s man who had held the two
responsible positions Of City and County At
torney.
The Commission unanimously agreed that
Mr. Jackson was not guilty as charged.
The Board adjourned, to meet Tuesday
next at p NJ