Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-09-14
AN FIX PARTE CASE.

AN FIX PARTE CASE. Charges Against Ofacer Allen Heard By the Police Board. The board of police commissioners met last evening to give hearing to all parties concerned in the matter of charges preferred by James J. Hurley against Officer Chester Allen. Acting Mayor Thompson presided and there were present Commissioners Kelley, Mo Donald and Cross. Attorney Holohan appeared for MT
 Hurley and stated that sufficient num-
 Der of his witnesses were present and
 that he was willing to go on. MT Allen
 was not present nor was he represented
 by the city attorney, who had told his brother attorney that he might go on
 with the case If he wished. Commissioner Kelley said the matter
 had already been postponed long
 enough.
 Commissioner Cross: "It would be a | farce to go on and try a man without we had a chance to hear both sides" Commissioner Mcdonald replied that
 it seemed to him that when an officer of l the police force was cited to appear be-
 fore the board of police commissioners
 he should do so.
 Acting Mayor Thompson thought that
 the hearing should go on and the wit nesses be dismissed. Then the commis-
 sioners might act as they saw fit after wards.
 Commissioner Cross again objected to the hearing, on the ground that Officer Aliens attorney was not present to question the witnesses.
 Attorney Holohan stated that he
 would like to have MT O'Neill heard, at
 least, as he was about to return to col lege and would not be able to attend the l next meeting of the board. Moreover, MT Hurley is a poor man and cannot afford to be paying witnesses for coming
 here so often. We do not press the
 board to make any decision.
 Commissioner Kelley: "I don't like the action of the officer. He was cited to appear here and think it disrespect- full to the police board. I believe that the board should go ahead and hear the charges; our time is worth something and the police board should not be made a laughing stock by any officer"
 MT Allen, it came out in the discussion that followed, had gone on his vacation and let the board wait until he would get back, when they might try him.
 Commissioner McDonald: "Oficer
 Allen showed disrespect to the board
 and I am opposed to any officer dis regarding the orders of the police com missioners. Chief Egan was right in giving the officer his vacation; that did not necessitate his absenting himself
 from this meeting, and I think he
 showed little judgment in not appearing
 here when asked"
 Commissioner Cross: "I don't think
 this matter should go before the public 7 in such shape and under such circum- , stances"
 Commissioner Kelley: ''It is his fault, } not ours. think the matter should be ! decided tonight" He then moved that ) the board proceed with the hearing and the motion was carried.
 The charges preferred by James J.
 Hurley against Officer Allen were then , read by City Clerk Kilduff, and the wit nesses being all sworn, MT Hurley testi- I fled that on Saturday afternoon, July } 16, he had taken a seat on one of the benches on the green when Officer Allen came along and said:
 , "Gol darn your soul, what you doing here?'
 , Hurley replied, asking Allen what } kind of a soul he had and said he was a } sit there. The officer walked away 8
 short distance, turned back quickly and arrested him. He was charged with breach of the peace and on Monday morning was discharged by the court. Commissioner Cross: "Now, your
 honor and commissioners, think Allen should come in right here." Commissioner McDonald: "I agree F with the commissioner. He should f come in here, but he has gone on his ! vacation"
 1I P. H. Lunny: 'I was sitting in front , of the Scovil house. I saw a man
 sitting in back reading a novel. Officer
 Allen snatched the book away from him and drove him off the green. Saw l him come along and speak to Hurley walk on fifteen or twenty paces, turn 5 back and arrest him.
 Frank Pagan: ''I was standing in the door of the barber shop and I saw g ] RTn Puriey and M1n arrest him" In answer e tc I a question as to whether the officer , struck his prisoner, MT Pagan said: 'l s should judge that the officer attempted . to strike him, from his actions. I die not know the man, but thought from :, the way the arrest was made, that the officer was looking for him for some
 reason or another" s Joseph O'Neill: ''I was standing ir a front of the Scovill house and saw thu e officer put some little fellow off thu y grass and start towards Exchange place Turley came along and sat on bench y The officer looked around and saw him f came back and said something to hin # and again turned towards the center d When he had gone short distance h' r came back and arrested him." # Commissioner Cross: ''I think this r. all right as far as it goes, but I believ d we should hear from Officer Allen." a Commissioner Kelley: tI think thi y matter should be discussed in executiv l. session and I move that the board g t. into executive session." The motion
 was carried. After the doors wer
 opened again it was learned that it ha'
 been decided to lay the matter over un
 til next Tuesday evening when Chic l., Egan, Officer Allen and witnesses woul