Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-05-04
Officer Rockford testified to about the


Officer Rockford testified to about the
same as above.
Officer Jeffers testified to finding Ser
geant Nickerson asleep in the big arm
chair in Chef Perry's room with his feet
up on another chair and an overcoat over
him. When he did station duty nights
for one week he isit the station at $3.50
o'clock In company with the Sergeant.
Officer Smith testified to finding Ser
geant Nickerson asleep one night at 3
o'clock last January. His business in the
Sergeant's room was to sign a warrant
and he was going to hand it to the Ser
geant but he saw he was sleeping SO he
left 1t on the Captains desk.
Officer McDun testified relative to the
hours when the station officers left duty
which was usually about $50 or earlier.
Officer Henry testified that Officer
Taber used to leave his beat at 5,20
o'clock, and, as Taber informed him, left
to relieve the.ofiicers at the station.
Detective Hsberlin testified that on two
occasions he was at the station mornings
and saw the Sergeant leave one morning
at 5 5:30 o'clock and on the other morning
at 6:10 O'Clock. In his opinion, there
should be ten men at least on the morn
ing beats and he also stated that the
police signal system in use was worthless
Special officer Donnelly testified but
his testimony was only a repetition Of
many who preceded him.
Officer Nemitz was sworn but his testi-
mony elected nothing new.
Officer McGlone testified that he never
saw anything wrong at the station.
Officer Dwyer testified that.when he was
on morning duty the Sergeant left the
station at $50 o'clock in the morning.
The prosecution here rested and recess
was taken until 1880 o'clock. Upon re-
assembling all the members were present
and His Honor Mayor Carroll presided.
The defense began by placing Chief
Perry on the stand and he said it was
customary for the Sergeant to leave from
$50 to o'clock and he did not con-
slider 1t violation of the police rules for
him to so do. Sometimes he had to re-
main after O'Clock to report matters to
either him or the Captain.
In answer to Mr.. Robinson he admitted
that it was violation of the city ordin-
ances to allow the Sergeant to leave before
6a. m. He never allowed any of his
officers the privilege of sleeping during
their hours of duty. He never heard of
them sleeping during ithe night at the
station.
Cabtain Rhodes was sworn but b testi-
mony was similar to that given by Chief
Perry. In answer to Mr.. Robinson he
said that il the officers did sleep he would
not consider them fit or proper men for
the positions. He thought they needed
more men in the department.
Sergeant Nickerson testified that he
never slept on duty; he might have "nod-
ded in the chair" however.
Mr.. Osfield, in short speech, contend
that none Of the charges were sustained.
Mr.. Robinson contended that this was
not correct and that the testimony showed
plainly that the ordinances were violated,
and that the testimony showed also that
the charges of sleeping and of certain
officers leaving their beats and no entry of
tuS ooniC DcihB haauS oh tuC DoOkS, WcIc
uncontradicted and must be considered
as proven.
Alderman O'Rielly spoke at length on
the evidence and the charges, during the
continuance Of which some sharp passages
occurred between the Fifth Ward Alder
man and Alderman Adams.
The Board at $3.50 o'clock went, into ex-
ecutive session and, on its return at $50
o'clock, it was voted that there was tech
ical breach of the ordinances and the
Mayor was asked to permit the suspended
officers to return to duty. The police
force was severely criticised for the viola
tion Of the laws, and it was ordered that
hereafter the officers remain at their posts
Of duty the full time assigned as such.
The Board further recomnen an in
crease of the force. The action of the
Board was unamious.