The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
Ian AND DEMOCRAT, BLOOMsBURG. COLUMBIA COUNTY PA.
A New YORK Polioeman's Crime.

Sergeant crowley oil the New 1ork
Police force was convicted in that city
last Friday of heinous offence, com.
mitted on girl named Maggie Morris.
Maggie is a girl of seventeen, the
daughter of laboring woman and her
self a factory operative. The man
used the authority of his official posi-
ton TO accomplish crime. To pro.
tect him from punishment he relied
upon potent political influence, which
had saved him from deserved punish
ment before for other offences. The
girl was poor, obscure, helpless.
When she told her pitiful story to the
few friends about her perhaps never
did case give less promise that just
ice would be done. 1t happened fort
unately, however, that she did after
wards tell her story to Police Judge
who listened with attention and promt-
ly issued warrant for the arrest of
the accused officer.
Officer Crowley was put on trial on
Tuesday. The facts brought out by
the trial, were these: Maggie received
an invitation from Cecilia Joyce, a
friend, to attend a ball on the 25th of
April at Standard Hall. Two hours
after midnight she was introduced to
Crowley, who was taking night off
duty and enjoying himself in citizens
clothes. He asked Maggie to dance,
but first said he must have refresh
ments. He took his companion to the
,.afraab ,,a,t roop, and tr;a1 70 ;nJ,,o
her to drink whiskey. She refused.
"We cant drink here" Crowley said
to Bartender Blint. "There are peo-
pie watching me and l don't want to
be seen drinking" and the barkeeper
said: "Of course you can go down
stairs Then Crowley pulled his
victim down the stairs to basement
room, dimly lighted. lie ordered
whiskey for himself and mineral water
for the girl. Miss Morris noticed
that there was whiskey in the water
and refused to drink. The bartender
went out and locked the door and then
the officer displayed his revolver, said
be was policeman and threatened
that he would elk her" il she made
any outcry. They remained there for
few moments until Maggie's friends
missed her and began search. Blint
rushed down staiis.
"Theres an awful row up there" he
said.
"Can't / get out the front way p
asked Crowley.
"Of course" responded the bartender,
and while Crowley passed out upon
the sidewalk Maggie rushed into the
arms of her friend, Celia Joyce, ex-
claiming:
"For Gods sake, kill me! 1 am
ruined"
Crowley on his own behalf, denied
that he had assaulted Miss Morris.
He explained that he had many enc
mics in the district, did not want to
be seen drinking and went to the
lower floor to escape observation. One
of the witnesses was DR.. Samuel
Nc Leod, who is the surgeon Of the
Fifth and Eighth precincts. He testi-
fed that he was called to the House
of Detention in Mulberry street at
four o'clock in the afternoon of April
27-the alledged assault was commit
ted on the morning of the 26th--and
was told that a charge of assault had
been made against Sergeant Crowley
and the Police Magistrate had direct
ed that the alleged victim of the out
rage should be examined. In accord
ance with that order he made an ex-
animation of Miss Morris. There
were evidences, the doctor said, of
very recent violence, but the object of
the assault had not been fully accom-
plished. The doctor testified at much
length and with technical details and
was sharply cross examined. Record
er Smyth said that in order to consti-
tute the offence charged under the
statute it was only necessary to show
that violence had been used and the
attempt need not nessarily be COM
pletely successful in order TO constitute
the statutory crime.
The jurv was out but few mo-
ments, and returned verdict of guilty.
The New York World befriended the
helpless girl, and but for its efforts
her wrong might not have been punish
ed. The case attracted unusual atten-
tion in the city. Crowley was sen.
fenced on Monday to seventeen years
and six months in the penitentiary.