New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-13
THE TESTIMONY or POLICEMEN.


THERE MAY BIZ CASES ~ WHICH IT I, NOT TO
BE RELIED on ABSOLUTELY.
People who visit The criminal courts inirequ"ntly
might believe that there II something peculiarly sacred
and inyiolae about the testimony Of policeman
The remark Is sometimes heard That witocs' is lying
The policeman SwOre 10 Just The opposite one
who spends much time about the police courts ana
General sessions and IS oiservant will soon begin
10 think that policemen are human Ike the rest Of
mankind To be- present on a few Wednesdays IN
Police Headquarters when the Commissioners are lis
tcning 10 the complaint, against patrolmcn and rounds
mcn would also tend TO deepen this conviction
The trial Of Roundsman Matthew F. Dlicy IN
General sessions brought 10 the fore the subject oil
polce testimony. He vas acquitted OF the charge
n ASSEMBLING a sixteen ycsr-old girl account Of the
aIi6 sworn to BY seve.a brother officers. In 1888
p.corder SMITH sentenced Sergeant David II. Crowley
"a seventeen years aud half In State prison Tor
80, cutting Maggie Morris. The evidence against
DALEY was unqucstiOnably strong. The statements
NJ his associates alone saved him from conviction
some judges are Inclined 10 Wow much police
testimony with suspicion Judge Benedict, who ior
many wears has sat on the bench Of the cr1mihui
r-onch Of the United States Circuit Court. has the
,enutatlon Of catechsing Government detective Win
great severity The Court OF Appeals not long ago
oot , sweeping declaration OF disrust OF the te>t-
many of prlvat, detectives in divorce cases Juries
have more than once acquitted men when the cN'
dence WAS such that they must have gwen inc
DICT on the theory that the policeman gave false
testimony. ,,o
nonc. Tore, are dis.ni rested witnesses. Ihey are
40, co d..,ly concerned in the verdict As the deieno
, I'm, are nevertheless anxious to secur, the con
.,,or ~ IN, men whom they arrest. The nuhl"r
-, irn,ls An officer sends 10 sing sing Il p'rhals
,h ,uos generally accepted test oi ms 'l"'''hc'
rho person who Is TO win fame ana promotion ny
,,,o inrie, bring in verdict OF giIY cannot 'aS''
-, absolutely impartial IN tc tf'nf' one o"c''
who Is no longer ON The iorr"' hau 'ne 'r"'',''"
-a.-,oo every time he took the witness stand lAa'
the prisoner had c"h's>" hiS BUM "
+. of course al isolated case
t,rv Wednesday The Police COMMISSIONERS PR
,1 a from slaiy TO 100 trials 81 policemen VINO "''
cA,rr.d with in'racuons o. Tie rh's' IH' '''''
rloint +. always brought hy superior "I"h''
r'''" ",r,o In nearly half The case, there Is AZ
absolute conirudclOa between Tie "N' h''", "
'no mo, g. the statements are made under oalH'
81, oib.r person j, committing perjury.
I-,iv m. CANINE sion,D decide In favor 81 I'D"
nan 81 m. higher rama. L ia" .cre'aAis oF rouhu'
nan. anlmus against the patrolman j "''""' me
practice Is reversed , ,
OF course It l. to the lnt"Te,; OF me h'c"'ru ma"
D.. cnnvirc. t,o.c sitting III judgment that j" j. IN
nocent. Their" j. motive To s'r'oH "'' "''-' ~.
fine same time the complainant may not b" 'nuF'y
r.,,,d;. 81 rouAt suldI!. 10y an un"Tlit'u law, j.
,xtn.;,d 10 make fifteen complaints !''. arnns,
Wv, 10 has MOI been diir,ui. and re i hkIy 10 I'
transferred deerd.cd en-" Of lHc'r o.'I, W., 80
t,,"rv.rpoufh he Incurred tic hearty 'unltN 81 w.
men Of hi, precinct md the '"mms'i1n'fs ~, ,1'rI
believed mat Ar Aad not ohhe.t7l l" ulr T"'.
- acel,~,,y 80 h. wa sent 20 another station.
snria rorulsn.i have been known 10 better ,A,' 1,
rrcorl, hy bringing 'ulse chars" Tor rival
oe.nrc AGAINST one 81 Their m'i. hc '".-'hbht u"
admit hI, .ult as a favor - u superior .
II f. therefore certain that among The "'.oo mem
- ., "a. forc. flore ar, some who under 'lf',.
81 ..lf Interest would not si.'S 20 Vie iiU'l' VI
cnurs. the same would Dee i-ur OF any o'I'i "'uN
81 men Of thc same Size.