The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-05
TO BE LAID OFF A MONTH.
THE NEIDLINGER CASE IN THE
CITY COUNCIL.

tious Policeman Changed to Thirty
Days Suspension from Duty 49, An
Insight into Some Of the Ways OF
the Police Department.
The council chamber looked as though
it had been turned into a police
court room last night. A dozen or
more policemen filed the Office
inside the railing. The Neldlinger appeal
case was the loadstone that drew all the
bluecoats there. After an investigation,
lasting until l o'clock this morning, the
council failed to sustain the
mayors action, and instead of
dismissal from the force, Neidlinger's
punishment was fixed at thirty days' sus-
pension from duty.
Officer Neidlinger was dropped from the
force two weeks ago by the mayor tor
cursing Officer Lightbody. he claimed the
right of appeal from the mayors decision to
the council, and the case was brought up
last night.
After the conclusion of the testimony and
an impassioned speech by Alderman Fal-
ligant for Neidlinger and the presentation
of brief argument by A. II. Mac
Donell, Esq. Neidlingers counsel.
Alderman McDonough moved that the
decision Of the mayor be sustained The
motion was seconded by Alderman Myers.
SUSPENDED FOR THIRTY DAYS.
Alderman Cam offered a substitute, fix
ing thirty days suspension instead Of dis
missal, which was seconded by Alderman
Haines and the substitute was adopted.
An effort was made by Alderman Myers
TO restrict the latitude of the questioning as
TO the mayor refusing to grant Neidhnger
a continuance of his case, and rejecting
testimony that would have shown
the prcvocation, but Alderman Har-
mon argued that the case ought TO have
been heard He was in favor of giving
every man a chance for a fair trial.
Aldermen Cam and Falugant took the
same ground Chief Green was
sharply cross-questioned by Alder
men Cam and Falligant, and to
such purpose that Mr.. Neidlinger's counsel
questioned the chief very little.
AFTER CHIEF GREEN.
The chief was the last witness on the
stand, and was forced to admit that he had
never reported the fact taat Mr. Neid-
linger visited him and preferred a
complaint against Lightbody, but the chief
explained that as Mrs. Neidlinger had said
that she would not press the complaint if
Lightbody would apologize for shaking his
fist in her face, under the circumstances
he considered the complaint with
drawn. He told Mrs. Neidlinger that he
couldn't compel Light5ody to apologize, but
that he would tell him.
To question by Alderman Falligant. the
chief said that he didn't think it his duty to
report the fact Of the complaint to the
mayor when Mrs. Neidhnger had with
drawn it.
70 Alderman Cam the chief said in re-
ply to a question as to what hs had
said to Mrs. Neidlinger when she
made the complaint, that he thought she
hoA he ~, D.
lceman Lightbody why he stayed in the
yard so long. The chief said he would
have given a short answer himself.
Alderman Caln-You justify an insult
to lady if she interrupts policeman with
question of that kinds
The chief did not admit that he did.
A POINT OF sTIGNETTE.
Alderman Cann-Don't you think any
short reply to lady is always wrongl
The chief admitted that he thought it
was, but he went on to cite a case in which
a murder was committed in the barracks
Dec. 20, 1872, since which time he said no
nationality, creed or politics is permitted to
be mentioned at headquarters, and he
didn't propose to have it done.
Alderman Cann-rhats all very good,
but don't see that it has any connection
with your justifying an insult to lady and
giving charges against the person no atten-
ton.
Chief Green--The mayor is the commander
of the police.
Alderman Cann-But you are the one to
prefer the charges. You had been given
only a qualified withdrawal by Mrs. Neid-
hnger, and you considered 1t ended the
matter.
Chief Green-You can bring the COM
plant yet.
The chief was pressed to know if now.
after hearing the evidence against Light
body, he would enter a charge on the
docket, but he successfully evaded an an
swer
While the chief was on the staud, Mrs.
Bailey was recalled, and testified THAI when
Mrs. Neidlinger wanted to enter a COM
plant against Lightbody, the chief began
TO catechise her to know if she
thought her husband had done right and
that Mrs Neidlinger, finding she could get
no satisfaction, remarked that if he allowed
policeman TO insult a lady she would have
no more TO do with it, and the two ladies
then left his office
sERGT. MoCK's STORY OF THE AFFAIR.
Acting Sergeant Mock, who was the first
witness, testified that Neidlinger used OPP
probrious language to Lightbody in the
sailyport of the barracks, alleging
that he had shaken his fist in
Mrs. Neidingers face This Lightbody
denied. SergJ. Mock said that he threatened
to send Neidlinger down to the station
house If he didn't stop talking, and then
Neidlinger went off. On Chief Greens
order Sergt. Mock preferred the charge
against Neidlinger
Policeman Lightbody was next called,
and he denied that he had used rough Ian
guage to Mrs. Neidlinger or that he had
shaken bis fist in her face. She called him
an Irish puppy, he said, and told HIM to get
out of the yard when he went to arrest the
colnred woman he was after. That night
after going to the barracks he met Neid-
hnger and told him that he wouldn't re-
port his wife, but he had better see
her, as she threatened to put him on the
information docket for going in the yard
and Neidlinger told him to make no report
till he could see his wife. Lightbody said
that all he said to Mrs. Neidhnger was
that he was i'll the yard for prisoner, he
was getting out as fast as he could, and
that be wouldn't insult lady and especially
her, as he was Neidlinger'S friend
PATRoLMAN PACETTI's SIDE OF IT.
E. B. Pacetti, the newly appointed police
man, testified that he heard Neidlinger call
Lightbody liar and say that he would
smash him in the face Lightbody was
denying the charge made by Neidlinger
and the latter called Lightbody an Irisf
puppy and applied a more approbious
epithet. The testimony of Detective
Basch was to the same effect as thar of th,