The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-11-16
THE POLICE IN POLITICS.
One Man on the Force at
Least Finds 1t I'm
profitable.

Patrolman Quinn is attached to the Greg
ory street precinct, and yesterday he was
tried by the Police Commissioners on
three charges, one of being drunk and
disorderly. neglect of duty and failure to
answer the roll call
Captain McKaig testified that on the
night of October 16 a primary was held
on Johnston avenue and that Quinn was
there drunk, but in citizens clothes. The
captain said he had fourteen policemen
there and they formed passage way to
allow the voters to reach the ballot box.
Quinn endeavored to break through this
line of policemen to get near the ballot
box.
HAD HE KNIFE?
II told him. the Captain continued,
ito go away and he cursed me and then |
took him away. Some one in the crowd
shouted he's got knife and | saw him
put his hand in his pocket. / told my
men to remain where they were while |
attended to Quinn, and when got him to
the curb the crowd got him away and
placed him in coach and drove him
from the place"
Didn't you strike me with your club
and say. You Irish - - I'll kill
your D asked Quinn when he cross ex-
amined the Captain.
mo, sir; but your brother begged me
not to arrest you"
my brotherg
"Yes, your brother"
"oh," said Quinn contemptuously,
she's only boy.n
Captain" asked President Feeney.
why did you take platoon of police to
this primary"
Because it was necessary, and the
Chief told me to protect it. 1t was the
third QffaYnnf Tn hold q r1rirx1 a nn6
the two other occasions they had been
broken up"
Sergeant Snow testified that he thought
Quinn had been drinking that night. He
saw what took place between the Captain
and Quinn, and saw the Captain raise his
clnb but did not see him strike Quinn.
The latter cursed and used vile language
to the Captain.
Ibid Quinn stop the votingf" asked
Commissioner Kelly.
HE was blocking up the way. and
told Policeman Jones to put him out of
the way. He was trying to crowd through
the line. A man told me Quinn was
drawing knife when the Captain seized
him, and l saw him put his hand in his
pocket and citizen held his arm.
THERE WAS MUCH CUssING."
Policemen jackson, Harmes, Newcome
and Hamburg corroborated the captain,
and declared Quinn was either much ex-
cited or drunk.
did you hear any one curse, there.
that night?" asked Commissioner Kelly.
We'll, | should say so," was the em-
phatic reply.
What do you expect at a primary,
prayersS' interjected President Feeney.
Quinn, when called to testify, said he
went to the window where the ballot box
was to challenge mans vote, for the
man did not live in the precincr.
Il was talking to q couple of men," he
added, when the Captain called me an
Irish - and struck me on the
arm.n
When asked if he voted at that pri-
mary Quinn replied no. that he did not
even live in The district, but that he went
there because he was interested in can
didate for Freeholder, and he knew lit
would be lively" He added that he
that day, but that he sent note to the
station house asking to be excused, and
the request was not granted.
Don't you know you violated one OF
the rules of this department by taking an
active part in politicsY Mr.. Feeney in
quired.
"You challenged a mans vote, didn't
your
''Yes. through another man,
And that is not active, ehg when you
don't live in that district, too?"
"No SIR"
QUINN WAS AN ANGEL.
John Sullivan, for the defence, testified
that Quinn was sober, did not use bad
language, and in fact was Of such an an
geiic disposition that he could not be
naughty if he tried to. On the other
hand the Captain was a monster, who
dragged Quinn away, used bad language
and threatened to kill him. Beside that,
Sullivan swore that he saw the Captain
strike Quinn.
John Dougherty, of the Hollow. also
believes Quinn pure and immaculate and
that the captain is tiend incarnate. He
heard him say to Quinn - you,
Pill murder you"
When cross-examined he confessed he
did not know whether 1t was murder"
or "kill' the Captain said, but it was
something with lots of gore in it.
Daniel Moran, another Second district
statesman, swore he heard Captain Nc
Kaig say to Sheriff Davis, IF that -
don't go away I'll kill him." He admit
ted that he heard a rumor that Quinn
had drawn knife on the Captain.
Patrick Higgins and John Lane cor
roborated the other evidence given for
Quinn and the case was closed.
TWENTY-FIVE DAYS PAY.
Quinn then pleaded guilty to the two
and neglect of duty. Quinn was fined
fifteen days pay on the first and five days
| ON each of the two other charges, or
| twenty-five days in all.
OTHER TRIALS.
| Patrolman William Dorson, charged
with being absent without leave on
| October 10, and failure to answer the roll
| call, was hned five days pay.
| Chanceman Patrick O'Connor, charged
with being drunk and disorderly, neglect
of duty and absent without leave, was
| the next vici i'm. Evidence was produced
| that O'Connor was drunk and equally
positive evidence that he was sober ut the
| time alleged. His case was laid over
until next meeting and so was that of
Patrolman John Koch of the Sixth Pre-
| cinct.
| Patrolman Frank McMahon. of the
First precinct. pleaded guilty to not re-
| porting at roll call, and was fined two
! days pay, and Alexander Finley, of the
| same precinct, for being off post, October
| %. pleaded guilty and was fined two days
| pay.
| Patrolman John T. Riley pleaded guilty
| to being off Post, November 2. and not
| guilty to charge of neglect of duty. He
| was fined five days pay.
| Patrolman Hartman, for neglect OF
| duty, was fined also five days pay
THE BOARD AT BUSINESS.
| Its Power in the Filling of Sunken Lots
y