New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-07
mercally known as tho American Limo, the Red Star
Line, and the IDman Line
THE POLICEMAN THoUG HT HE HAD FIT
BUT CAPTAIN coETRIGHT ARRESTED HIM FOR BEING
DRuNK-sONIH 0nn IT, srIMnNY

BUT CAPTAIN coRTRIGHT ARRESTED HIM FOR BEING
DRUNK-soMR ODD TESTIMONY.
All four Of the Police Commissioners sat in The
board room at Headquarters yesterday to listen to
tho evidence In the case Of young Policeman John
Mara, Of the Carmansville squad Mara passed the
Civil Service examination and was put the force
In January 1886. Before that time he had been cart
driver. Captain Cortrght told tho Commissioners that
shortly before 10 O'Clock on New Years night Mara
staggered into tho Atalana Casino at Eighthavo and
Onc-hundred and fifty ffthst, leaned tho bar
and demanded drink of liquor. Mara's uniform was
muddy and his coat unbuttoncd. Ho had lost his
Deit and club and was about half mile away from
his post Captain Cortrght in the Casino at tho
time and led Mara outside. Seeing that the policeman
was drunk the captain started to take him to the police
station. Mara refused to go and tho captain had to
use force with tho help Of Policeman Goez to mako
him walk along. Several times on tho way to tho
station Mara showed fight and had to be choked into
submission AT the police station Mara attempted 70
strike the captain lie locked up In cell,
stripped OF his uniform, and the following day. was
held In $500 ball for trial at the Harlem Police Court
on charge Of drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
Several witnesses corroboratcd CAPS ain Cortrlghts
story and 1t vas made plain that Mara both drunk
and violent at tho time of his arrest
In IFS defence Mara declared that he was sober
enough at p. IN. He had " faint recollection of
being druggcd at that time on his post. After that
found himself in cell Tuesday morning. Three
witnesses testified that Mara wa sober shortly before
y. III. on Monday. Then came the most astonishing
part of the defence. Levi Holman. n piofcssi nal
base ball player and Andrew Barton a night watch
man, swore that they Mara fail his post at ST.
Nicholas and One hundred ard ff Ieth-st about
p m. on Monday night. They went to him and found
him apparently suffering from epilepc fiji. While
they were unbutoning his coat aud rubbing his hands,
man who said he was doctor came along AMI
offered to get some medicine Later he gave Mara /
dose out of bottle and the policeman revived
DIR. Thomas Megan, recently arrived from Ireland,
and staying at No 2734 Tenth ave. testified that he
found Mara suffering from eplepc ft at the time
mentioned and gave him spoonful Of mixture Of
opium, bromide, ch0ral, whskoy, and spirits of
monia Mara recovered In few minutes and
advised to go to the police station, but he said he felt
better and went along his post. On cr0ss-examina
ton the three last mentioned witnesses contradicted
each other faty regarding their relations with Mara
since Monday night Police Surgeon Demainv lie sa d
that Mara's symptoms. described by DR.. Mcgan at
the time OF tho supposed eIdepc ft might have been
duo to an overdose OF plain whskey BY tler ques-
toI.s the Commissioner, betrayed belief that Mara
might have had a fit at p. m. and yet have been
drunk an hour later Decision reserv"l