New-York tribune., 1885-02-28
CAPT. WILLIAMS ACQUITTED.
THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM DlSMlssED'

arNrR., PORTER ALONE VOTES IN THE NEGATIVE
THE RESULT NO SURPRISE.
Tho Police Commissioners Yesterday met 10 pass
Judgment in the case of Captain "lIia'.I5. Is tast;
secret debate lasted over an neur, anu Win much
mony given at the trial was discussed WIN inuJn
yigor bv General Porter and President rIeMUm, ;nG
Both commissioners had prepared briefs revicGIns e
the testimony. General Porter teao W. Williams bad
failed to suppress gambling IN the lwehty nii,tn ~.
Precinct. had made false reports concerning s tli9
cambllnc- houses in the precinct, aud had nlsopcyeQ
the orders of the board He admitted the force Ol
the evidence that Captain Williams had ~ SaIy thys
Improved the condition OF the precinct, dcspee 'ilc
itU bnt such evidence, he said, had no bearing nj.
upon the Captains guilt In connection witn g. .o no
tho % fn be heia responsible for the
actnai and entire suppression of all crime OF OF any
particular crime" He thought the eyldehee Iaiioa f
10 show that CAPTAIN Williams had knoweaBe u
the gambling in his precinct. In reporting thst no
gambling was going on in the preclnct OaPSdtn III
Williams meant that there was loue nv o,oa nroD
laid hold of and mado foundation for ponce RLU-
ceedings. Regarding the failure OF Captain VIII
Jams 10 discover gambling by sending out de.ec-
tives who were unknown TO the gaihpiciS' "i'
French wrote:
There are grave doubts as the propriety Of such
course Mary magistrates refuse to hold prisoners upon
Snccmont TO commit crime and the voluntary commits
of crime for the purpose OF founding S
personslly strongly disapprove OF such methods pc
Heve them to delnoraizng TO the force ana 70 tne
community Whatever view may be entertained, now N;.
wav It does not lie within the powers of precinct cap
tain He has contingent fund TO use ana MS TWO
enc detectives perfectly well knownn 10 every saa''
Ter in his precinct. =,
After commenting mildly upon the failure OF OF
Superintendent Wallpg to inform Inspector
Thorne or Captain Williams Of the proof OF gam gam
bling furnished by Frank Waliine's confession Mr..
French stated his conclusions as follows:
Captain Williams should not be punished for for
mot mot SSDS Know, which the detectives and officers
and did not believe, which Inspector Ihorne with ms
aids and Inspector Byrnes with his detective force were
lice learned il by accident This would lie so even II
CAPTAIN Williams had during the months OF December
and January last no other dnnes 10 @ 6ows ~
however that he had constantly pressing upon ms ume
and demanding his attention ana ehott great ~ @
OF other duties affecting the preservation ana proeco
of life person and property. and the general order ana
peace of the community fully as important as ana many
of them far important than, the suppression OF
gambling houses that but small portion OF his time
attention could properly be given 10 thls suoJeci
without ne ecting other aud important duties. and
the evidence in this and the written testimony OF
hundreds of the best citizens of the Iwenty-nnth fre-
cinct attestiDg the fact that Captain Williams during he
months OF December and January and for years he
fore, had been dschargng his many diihcuIt ana l-
porant duties with singular fathfunesS ana etclehcy
NV conclusion that the complaint ana the
specifications embraced therein should be dismissed
In the discussion which followed the reading of
the briefs Mr. Matthews 2!d not take an active
part. Nr. French inquired If General Porter was
able to Judge the case according 10 the evidence
presented at the trial. and General Porter SAID he
ihoupht he could separate the evidence which was
presented from that which would have been stlll
more conclusive If certain INTENDED witnesses had
not disappeared mysteu0uSly before the trlai. Mr.
McClaye at length moved TO dismiss the complaint
against Captain Williams, and General Porter
alone voted in the negative. The announcement OF
the verdict caused no surprise AT Ponce Head
quarters. Captain Williams was there III the after
noon and appeared pleased with the result.