Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-06
TWO POLICE SCANDALS.
TIL POLICE COMMISSIONERS TOY
WITH THEM YESTERDAY.
Officer Purvis Charged With Drunkenness
and Officer Rinkenbach With Malicious
Arrest.

Police Commissioners Dexter, Lewis
and Bryson heard testimony yesterday
afternoon in the cases of officer J. F.
Purvis, suspended for drunkenness and
insubordination, and H. A. Rinkenbach,
against whom charges had been made by
w. F. Layton.
The case of Purvis was taken up first,
and Sergeant Morton's report OF the
events occurring on the night of the
27th-28th Of February read, to the effect
that he had gone over Purvis's beat
three times, without finding him; had
blown his whistle repeatedly and at last
had discovered the officer in drunken
condition. He had suspended Purvis
Immediately and demanded his star, but
the officer refused to give it up.
Fifteen witnesses were sworn in a
bunch, and the taking of testimony
began.
Sergeant Morton testified that on the
morning of February 28th, at about 2 :15
o'clock, he had found Purvis on his beat
drunk. Several times previous to this
occurrence he had found the defendant
off his beat and had to drive him back.
He had seen the officer in company with
drunken men. The witness was cross
examined by Pufvis, but his testimony
was not weakened.
Officer Vignes testified that he saw
Purvis off his beat sometimes, and some
times on it. He had seen the officer on
several occasions when he appeared to
be drunk. On the morning of the 28th
he heard the sergeant blowing his
whistle several times.
Police Clerk Moffat showed book
containing note to the effect that Pur-
Wis entered the office on the morning of
the 28th in drunken condition, and
stated that sergeant Morton had ordered
him to report at the Office. Morton had
asked for his star, he said, but he re-
fused to give it up. Several other wit
nesses were examined, and the prosecu-
ton closed.
Purvis then made statement to the
effect that it was his habit to enter every
saloon on his beat several times during
the night to ''size up" the people in
them. On the night OF the 28th, when
he was off his beat, he was on business.
He was not drunk.
]. H. Reynolds, L. J. Mathews and j.
P. Cohn, Los Angeles street merchants,
testified that they,had never seen Purvis
drunk, but that they had never been in
that locality in the night time.
The complaint of Layton against Off
Ger Rinkenbach was then taken up.
Layton's affidavit, already printed in
the HERALD, to the effect that he had
been arrested by Rinkenbach without
cause, as the result of personal malice,
was read.
The testimony of number of officers
was taken, to the effect that Layton oc-
casionally visited houses of prostitution
and lived with woman who called her
self Mrs. Layton, but was not, properly
speaking, vagrant, as he worked when
ever he could get chance.
On1cer Dugan had talked with the
complainant about girl Rinkenbach
had arrested. and had said to him +:
"'You had better look out; Rinkenbach
is after you too"
To this Layton replied: "Rinkenbach
had better look out for himself. l had
him taken off Los Angeles street, and
will do it again."
A. J. Scott, former partner OF Lay.
toms, testified that Rinkenbach had told
him a year ago that he would pull Lay.
ton the first chance he got. When Lay
ton was arrested Rinkenbach told Scott
that if he gave Layton any pointers ne
would pull him too.
G. j. Conroy, saloon-keeper, hao
known Layton three years, and knew
nothing bad about him. Rinkenbach's
reputation as policeman was not good
He had once tried to whip an inoffensivt
German in his saloon while on duty, ane
.Conroy had to threaten to put him ou
if he did not behave himself.
Rinkepbach took the stand in his owl
behalf, and testified that he had watch
ed Layton long time, and that his rep
utation was that of mac. He hat
seen him in the rear of No. 35 Los An
geles street washing towels used in tha
establishment. He had told him sew
eral times to go to work.
Layton-Are you not in the habit o
drinking whisky and staying with {
prostitute named Ida, on Los Angelo
street?
Rinkenbach-No sir; went int
that house to watch you.
George Foster testified that Layton
had the reputation of being a mac
George Ross lived at the Arnold lodging
house, where Layton roomed, and knew
that he lived with prostitute. Severa
other witnesses were called and the cas-
closed.
The commission will meet this morn
ing at 10 O'Clock to render a decision il
both cases.