The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-11-17
.FEBNHY ANGRY AGAIN
Discipline Cannot be Pre-
served in the Force.
If DRUNKEN MEN REMAIN
Commissioner Kelly Says Many
Aggravated Cases Are Sup
pressed Mentions a
case In Point.

The Police Commissioners met yester-
Fisher, of the Fourth precinct, and then
turned round and upheld drunkenness
among the men in other precincts. Com
missioner Van Keuren voted with Com
missioner Kelly, and as result the men
charged with drunkenness. and for whose
dismissal President Feeney made hard
fight. got off with a fine Of thirty days
pay. President Feeney was mad, and re-
signing his chair to Commissioner Van
Keuren, he hauled his associates over the
Goals, rebuking them severely for their
unwarranted action. n
In retaliation, Commissioner Kelly
created sensation by asserting that
time and time again charges were made
against men that never see the light OF
day. and that men who well deserved
exemplary punishment have in some
wav escaped without even reprimand,
even when the charge has been drunken
ness AS an instance. the case OF Police
man McAnerney Of the Fourth precinct,
who was found drunk on post and sus-
pended. He is now on duty. yet never
has answered to the charge. 1t is said to
have been suppressed.
This little row, which caused much ex-
element, was stirred up when Commits
sioner Kelly moved that the case against
Ing be brought up. The motion was
carried, and the charges against Police
man Hunt for being drunk and striking
Policemen Murphy and Quinn, were read.
Policeman Hunt pleaded guilty to
these charges said Commissioner Van
Commissioners Of this Board. On July
H. 1890. he was fined one days pay for
being absent without leave, and on July
20 he was charged with unnecessary vio-
lence to prisoner. That charge was dis
missed, and now come these charges, and
move that he be punished to the extent
of thirty days pay with reinstatement"
PRESIDENT FEENEY INDIGNANT.
President Feeney then resigned his
chair to Commissioner Van Keuren and
said
II want to state here and now that d o
not approve OF such action as this. l will
not vote for such a motion, as In my
judgment the penalty is not severe
enough. We have established pre-
cedent in this department to dismiss from
the force any man brought up OIL these
charges. 1t all goes to show how you
stultify yourselves A few moments ago
you dismissed from this department.
Lewis Fisher, of the Fourth precinct. on
a charge of drunkenness Was his case,
just drunk, to be compared with the ex-
ploits of Policeman Hunt while drunk?
Your actions are hardly consistent. You
dismiss one and virtually let another Of
free. II we are to have any kind OF dis
cipline in This department it dsvolves
upon this Board to drive drunkenness
cut, and that is one thing we will never
be able to do, II you are going to be so
lenient with the men and make fish OF
one and flesh of another.
II want it distinctly understood that
will not tolerate drunkenness, and will
vote every time to remove the msn from
the Department who is brought up on
such charge"
sin explanation of my vote" said Com
had Hunts escapade been with anyone
but brother officer / would have voted
to dismiss him, and If he is brought be-
fore me again on similar charge ! will
vote for his dismissal. We can all fall
once, and will give him chance. did
not vote for Fishers dismissal, as still
think it was wrong to remove him."
.4 COMMISSIONER KELLY's STATEMENT.
Commissioner Kelly at this juncture
said nothing, but little later in the pro-
ceedings he spoke as follows:-'T have
been member of this Board four years.
and now l want myself put on record.
The President said / have stultif1ed my
self, and now want TO say that / know
of numerous cases equally as bad as that
of Hunts which have been suppressed
and have never come before this Board.
For instance, the case of Policeman
McAnerney, of the Fourth precinct.
MaAnerney was found drunk on his post
by Sergeant Coward, and officer
and sergeant were both suspended
blythe Superintendent. Those men are
now on duty, and The charges have never
been brought before this Board. Who
suppressed them. and why were they
suppressed? am not ashamed of the
way l vote. and want the public to
know it, Circumstances in the case of
to-day compelled me.to vote for leniency.
Favors are shown in this Board. and if
cases are to be stopped and not come be-
fore us, we can't act on them, but might
vote to remove in some OF these numerous
cases that are suppressed"
This speech created a sensation, but no
reply was made.
Lewis Fisher, of the Fourth precinct !,
who was ''broke'' was drunk and stagger
ing when caught by Sergeant Finlay
November z.
Policeman O'Donnell. of the Third
Precinct could not be found on his post
He was reprimanded.
Policeman Crawford, Of the Seventh
precinct was up on charge of not prop
erly patrolling his post, preferred by
Roundsman Richards He was fined two
days pay.
Chanceman Burns, of the First pre-
cinct, charged with being drunk. was
found guilty and fined thirty days. pay,
Mr.. Feeney voting TO dismiss.
Policeman Loomis, charged with going
to sleep in the middle of the day in Van
Worst Park. was also fined thirty days
pay, Mr.. Fe eney voting to dismiss him.
Policeman Terence Riley of the Sixth
precinct who was SO drunk that he had
TO be locked up in u cell for safe keeping
Sunday night. also got thirty days.
President Feeney suggested that he
should be promoted to the sergeancy for
having gained such distinction. Com
missioner Van Keuren WINGED under this
cut, but voted with Mr.. Kelly for the fine
of thirty days. Policeman Mckim was
also fined thirty days pay for being
drunk.
In the case Of Hugh Pendergast, who.
while drunk, forced an entrance to Mrs.
Garrity's apartments, Superintendent
Smith was directed to commence suit
against the complainants for the recovery
of the $25 penalty in refusing to appear
against the accused.
President Fe eeney called attention to
the fact that the bid of John kiernau for
the erection of the hospital extension was
in excess of the appropriation. 1t was
lecided to request the Board of Finance
10 make the necessary extra sppropria-
ton so that the building be erected at
once and in accordance with the plans as
decided upon.
HOLDERER AND B0UlGER.
Took Little Coach Ride to Snake Hill