Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-06

MEN.
Mondays and Wednesdays are known as the
''black days to the police. Monday lis the day
that charges are generally received by them
and Wednesday is the day when they have to
appear before the trial committee, or trial
board, as it is called, and make answer to the
charges preferred against them.
Indeed, a policeman seldom considers that be
has been through the mill, so to speak, until
he has had chance to hear questions pro-
pounded by members of the trial committee,
listen to the testimony given against him and
then stand in line at roll call and hear the
lieutenant read general order No. =, to the
effect that he has either been fined or acquit-
| ted of the charges.
| The trial board, as at present constituted,
consists of Capt. Austin, who ranks next to the
chlef OF police; Inspector Swindells. who has
charge OF the detective corps, and Lieut.. Holm
berger, who is in command Of the seventh
| precinct.
TIE BOARD IN SESSION.
There is no room set apart for the trials but
| the board usually meets in room on the third
floor, and when in session the scene resembles
the meeting of a court-martial. Capt. Austin,
who Is stern officer, presides at the head Of q
long table, while inspector Swindells and Lieut..
HoIiinberger occupy seats at either side. 1t is
| the custom Of the members Of the board 70
wear full uniform, while the accused officer ID
also required to wear his best suit Of blue
| Clothes and brass buttons, and present the ap-
pearance that he would on parade.
Inspector Swindells and Lieut. Hollinberger
| have been on the force for long time and
have been promoted from the ranks. The con-
| sequence Is that they are familiar with all the
doings Of the coppers. There many rules
In the manual that the officers have to be care
full and not violate. or else they are almost sure
to end before the trial board.
THE NIGHT INSPECTOR.
Night Inspector Pearson is probably the most
frequent visitor at the sessions of the board
and he does not go there on charges, but gen.
orally to back the charges against some private.
When man is appointed to a position on the
| force and is sent out with an older officer his
first instruction is generally about the move
ments OF the night inspector and until he gets
an opportunity to see that officer he feels un-
easy about his movements in the precinct The
charges are always made out in writing and as
| already stated are served on Monday morning
so that the accused has two days to consider
what course he will pursue and what defense
If any, he will make. Wednesday morning at
10 O'Clock generally finds from one to three
dozen officers in the neighborhood of head
quarters, and even if policeman is only there
as witness or on some business not connected
with the trial board he is looked upon as one
OF the victims, notwithstanding any statement
he may make to the contrary.
When the hands of the clock indicate that
the hour of 10 has arrived the officers assem-
tled move toward the building and the one who
Is to be tried first enters the chief clerks room
with his witnesses. and the witnesses for the
other side are also present. There they all take
hold of the same book and hold it while the
chief clerk administers to them the oath which
requires them to tell 1.-THE truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the TRUTH
BEFORE THE AUGUST BOARD
Another move is made and the accused soon
stands before those who are to try him and
pleads either not guilty or guilty.
Should the accused have counsel to repre-
sent him his counsel is permitted to sit beside
him and suggest questions. The rules of evil
dence do not apply as strictly as they do in a
court Of justice, and the members of the board
use their best endeavors to ascertain the truth,
rules or no rules. Counsel, of course, make
known their objection, but they don't always
count
The testimony is taken by Stenographer
Kemp. and after the trial is all over it is written
out on typewriter and submitted TO the
board The testimony is reviewed. the find
ings are attached and the whole record, after
being approved by the chief Of police, is sent to
the Commissioners, who sit as a reviewing
board 1t is not very often that q reviewing
board has power to increase a sentence but in
what it pleases, and the action of the trial COM
mittee really amounts to nothing. Sometimes
the Commissioners act In one way and some
times in another. Some officers recommended
for a fne are dismissed, while others who are
recommended for dismissal are let down easier
SOME OF THE UsUAL CHARGES.
The charges brought against the officers
are generally for neglect of duty either in one
way another. or intoxication, although there
are many other offenses with which thew can
be charged. Failure TO patrol their beats or
as the police call ii, "hoodling," is at present
considered the most serious offense that an
officer can be guilty of. and when coupled with
intoxication he is almost sure to be dismissed.
Non-payment of debts is another offense which
is likely to cause removal"
Speaking OF .hoodling," many an interestin0
story has been told before the trial board ~
how the officers didn't noodle after their.
accusers had made out strong case against
them, and il some instances the defenses put
up have SO surprised the night inspector and
some of the sergeants that they were almost
willing to believe that black was white While
many interesting tales are heard before the
board, many more interesting ones are told
among the men, who sometimes boast
Of how they got ahead Of the officer who
was on their track. For instance. officers
in house have detected their superiors
watching the building and to get out
without being caught could only be done by
getting that officer away. That they have
heretofore found an easy task, for by sending
some one from the house to go q square or two
away, discharge pistol and cry police or
murder" The officer watching the house
would naturally give up the watch and re-
spond, but this wouldn't work now.
HE GOT INTO COFFIN.
A story is told of an old officer who once COW
cred himself in coffin to keep from getting
caught in his 'hoodle." According to the story
there was undertaking establishment, which.
ike all other such places, was kept open ali
night and the gas was left lighted. In the office
a dog was left on guard. but this was one of the
favorite visiting places for the ''coppers' and
the dog had become 80 accustomed 70 the blue
suits and brass buttons that he treated them
the same as he did the proprietor and their
presence was not noticed.
On the night in question the policeman was
resting comfortably inside the warm Office when
one OF the night watchers approached The
''hoodler" was in the rear room. and as the
dog made no noise when the door was opened
he knew il was one of his brother officers look
ing for him, and the only avenue of escape was
a coffin, and in it he got and there remained
until his superior officer had gone.
BLOWN on BIZ THE SALOON KEEPERS.
Men who are new on the force and who, as
the officers say, drink free booz across the
bar and always beg good cigar" are puzzled
10 know how they are caught, and it only re-
mains Tor their brother officers to tell them
Even a saloon keeper knows when it is time
To call a halt and when officer has drawn
upon his stock too heavily he is not going to
call him down and tell him openly that he