Morning journal and courier., 1884-08-19
FACULTIES.

uHrTlou nIo Ou Odturuhy IdSU NIT. buIler IS an honored and worthy citizen and still works ten hours at his avocation, sailmaking. POLICEMEN,S DIFFICULTIES. The mcBride-BradIey and GeIstOm-
 Murphy Cases Before the Commits sIOners-MayOr Lewis Talks About the Harmony That Should Exist Be- tween Policemen.
 A special meeting of the Police Commis- sioners was held last evening for the purpose of trying the charges preferred by Officer James R. Gelston against Officer George J. Murphy The charges alleged that Officer Murphy was guilty of gross neglect of duty in leaving his beat and of conduct unbecom- ing policeman in striking Officer Ge1ston and calling him names. The difficulty oc- cured on the night of August 8, shortly af- ter o'clock.
 Officer Ge1ston was called. He testified that he left the precinct station at 1 o'clock and went down the railroad track. He met Officer Nett1eton and asked him to go with him to.look through the cars that were stand ing on the track. They were near some cars when they heard rap. Witness asked Net tleton if he rapped on the cars. He replied that he did not, and as the rap was repeated he went around on the other side of the cars. He saw a man running up the track and gave chase, He fired pistol shot. The man stopped and proved to be Officer Mur- phy. Gelston then said:
 70, it's you, is it!"
 'FYes, it is; you shot at me, was the re- ply.
 t'You lie, you loafer. I didn't"
 ''Im no 1oafer."
 Gelston then turned and Murphy struck him.
 Further words passed between them and more blows might have followed if Officer Nettleton had not interfered. Both parties to the altercation had been on friendly terms before.
 Officer Nettleton corroborated Officer Gel ston's testimony. By Officer Murphy's cross examination it was brought out that he was as much off his beat as Murphy was.
 Officer Murphy said: ''On the night be- fore the night in question had some trouble with three roughs and got considerably hurt. asked for permission to lay off half the night, and got it. I reported at the usual time, intending to leave after reporting at 1 o'clock In the early part of the evening my attention was 
 were drinking good deal and one of the railroad employees asked me to keep watch of them. saw them going from the Belle Dock crossing with pail from one of the saloons about there, into 8 vacant lot I.went down to close Austin's door at quarter of one o'clock. then walked up Bridge street, SAW the same two men trying to get into two saloons They were unable to do so and then went over to the switch house. fol- lowed them and they saw me and walked up the track I followed almost up to Chapel street There one of the men stopped at the lumber yard to light cigar. I told him to go home and he went. This operation delayed me ten minutes. I was due at the office at 1 o'clock, so I was late and hurried on. am fast walker and runner. I'm not bragging, gentlemen, when I say that there are not four men in the department who can beat me running or walking. I wore on my feet what we call 'sneaks. They are light rubber shoes. did not go up to East street as usua1 but walked on up the track as saw no reason against it. When near St. John street I heard parties talking on the west side of some cars and as I was passing looked between the cars and saw someone il. n.policeman's clothes Trapped on the car and said theIlo.' heard one ask the other what that was, and so for the fun of it rapped again and kept on, supposing they would come around to see who it was. Pretty soon heard
 
 heard the shot whizz by my ears. I then turned and saw Officer GeIston He said to me: You dirty 1oafer, what are you doing on my beatp looked at him because I thought he was fooling, and then said: T guess you are mistaken; I have right here' He then said was liar and Ioafer, and I struck him with my hand under the excite ment of the moment. I am not loafer, and have worked my way along, being employed by the railroad and then by the Adams Ex- press company. As was out of a position at one time was advised to try for the po- lice force. I approached MT. Gallagher and asked his advice took that advice, and got on the force. The chief will tell you am no liar. I am not sure whether struck him with my closed fist or my open hand. but know I did not have my club. simply ask the leniency of this Board for man who forgot himself under great provocation. I did not report the matter at the office because I thonoht Gelston would think better of his deteTmination to bring the matter before the commissioners.
 Officer Murphy introduced a railroad em- n1ove to corroborate his testimony as to why he was down near the tracks on the night in question. The man saw him twenty minutes