The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-22

Look out for the Xmas HtrG ON Sat
uTdGy.
Inere was special meeting Of thu
Board of Police Commissioners Yesterday
afternoon for the purpose of trying the
charges of neglect of duty preferred
against Sergeant Wohleben and PoIice-
man Louis Niebank of tha Fourth pre-
clnct. The defendants neglected, on thG
evening OF De cember 9, to search William
Slckler, prisoner, before putting him in
CELL Sickler subsequently committed
suicide by shooting himself with a re-
volVer which was left in his nos session.
The Commissioners administered ex-
ceedlngly severe punishment, Sergeanb
Nohleben being reduced to the rank OF
houndsman and Me ebank dismissed from
the force.
Sergeant Wohleben is an old officer,
ana previously had good record, Of
Wnlch The force might we'll feel proud.
Niebank has been in the dspartrneu eut
record.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
Sergeant Wohleben WAS first called
before the Board. He pleaded not guilty
and explained to the Commissioners that
station house by Niebank, be took his
pedigree and entered it upon the blotter
IN the regular form. Before he
nad time to see to it thai
the prisoner was searched, he was called
upon TO answer call in the telephonS%
room. While there he thought ne more
OF the prisoner, ana upon coming out be-
hind the desk again, passed the cell keys
to Nlebank. Niebank locked the man up
and i've minutes later he had committed
suicide. Sergeant Wohleben proved by
Justice Roe and Mr. Kingsley that he
was called away from hia desk duties by
the reporting of an officer on the ticker.
Justice Roe and Mr. Kingsley were eyes
witnesses to this.
NIEBANK's FAILURE. i.
Policeman Niebank was next called
He pleaded not guilty. Captain McKaig'
the first witness. testified that is was Gus"
tomarY for patrolmen to search every
that it should be done. whether ordered
or not. Chief Murphy testi-
fed that he had made g
thorough investigation OF the case.
He also stated that 1t was enc Of the rules
of the manual that every prisoner be
searched. He said that he he'd learned
that Sergeant Wohleben had not direct
ed Niebank to search the prisoner, bat
maintRine that this fact should have no
bearing upon Niebank's case. The Chief
then called the attention Of the Commits.
sioners to the fact that some policemen
were in the habit of not searching
prisoners arrested for minor Qtfenses.
Niebank, when put on the stand. en-
deavored to show that Captain McKaig
was not at the station house, intending 20
show neglect on the part of the Captain.
Superintendent Smith objected to any
such testimony, and ii Was rHled out.
The Commissioners went into executive
session, and in five minutes reassemb bled.
Sergeant Wohleben was first called foH
| sentence.
THE DEsIsION.
sit has been proven" said President
| Feeney, that you neglected your duty.
! To preserve discipline in the Departm enc
we must punish you. l am sorry that
you are here. But your neglect has ex-
cited comment, which has been very un-
| favorable TO the Department, So 1t Is our
duty TO act as we are doing. The decis-
| ion of the Board is that you be reduced
| to the rank Of Roundsman."
Sergeant Wohleben trembled for an
instant; his face turned pale, and bow.
ing his head, he left the meeting room.
Niebank merely Said he was sorry when
dismissed, Sergeant WohIeben has the
sympathy of his brother officers, with
whom he was popular.