The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-16
A DRUNKEN POLICEMAN.
Suspended By Captain
HaYes-Had Threatened
To Shoot His Wife.

Policeman Rottger, of the Hoboken
police department was suspended By
Captain Hayes last night for leaving his
post of duty without the consent of his
superiors. and also with being beastly
Intoxicated. His CLUB and pistol were
also taken from him. MS he had earlier in
the evening threatened to give his wife
and children dose of ''pisto." medicine
before morning.
Rottger reported for duty last evening
and went out with the five O'Clock squad.
to be on duty till midnIg 1t. About half
past seven O'Clock Mrs. Rottger, the
pollceman's wife. re ported a5 Headquarr-
ers that her husband has bsen forced to
leave his post aud return to his home on
account of sickness. Captain Hayes was
SO informed, and at ten O'Clock instructed
Police Surgeon aud City PhysIciaR
Simon to visit Rottger at his home, No. 11s
Ferry street, and learn the nature OF
his sickness. When DR.. Simon got to the
house he found deplorable state OF
affairs. The ueighborhoo1 was in an up
roar, and the neighbors of the Rottgers
in the same house were all excitement A
row was In progress in the policeman's
apartments, and they feared some one
had been killed. When the doctor went
up stairs he fouud the policeman beastly
Intoxicated aud abusing his wife aud
children, He was calling his wife foul
names, but didn't attempt to strike her.
When he saw the doctor he became
fren zied with rage. He turned on him
and wanted TO put him out. When the
doctor told him he would report the mat
te + 10 the Captain. Rottger turned on mis-
wife, aud, addressing her in German,
said, placing his hand on his pistol
pocket. that he would give her and the
children dose of medicine before morn
ing
Rottger's reputation since being ap-
pointed on the police force two years ago
| is not of the best. He is most erraLic
individual and has caused his superiors
no end of uneasiness. Previous to his
| appointment he was a ginmilt keeper,
| and tn political pull he thus secured is
| responsible for his being a police
man. As soon as he was ap-
| pointed on the force he went TO
| a dressmakers and ordered three fine
| dresses to be made for his wife. The
| dresses were made. but the dressmaker
| hadto appeal to the Police Commissions
| ers TO get her money.
| Mrs. Rotlger said last night thar for
the last thirteen years her husband had
| beat her. She got tired or this and
| last night when he attempted TO hit
| her with pitcher she went for him and
| gave him a smashing that did him good.
| After that he didn't attempt to hit her,
! but he did cali her the vilest names In
| the presence of her children.
III he attempts to hit me again, will
| train him" Said the wife.
| When Dr. Simon reported Rottger's
condition to Captain Hayes, he imme-
| diately sent an officer to the house, who
| informed Rottger ne was suspended, aud
| took hiss5adge from him. He also took
his club and pistol away from him, as it-
| was feared he would attempt 10 carry
out his threat to take the lives of mis- wife
| aud children.
He will undoubtedly be dismissed from
| the department., as Mayor Pagan is de-
| termined TO break all such persons, aud
there are about a half dozen on the force
| who act sometimes as bad as Rottger
acted last night.