Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-09
SEVERAL POLICEMEN
Testify That Lieut.. Gessford Was Under the
Influence of Liquor.

Testify That Lieut. Ges.ford Was Under the
Influence of Liquor.
Yesterday afternoon in Judge Miller's court
when The STARS report closed in the trial of
the case of Sergt. John c. Daley for alleged per-
jury in swearing that Lieut.. Gessford was in
toxicated on the 4th of March, Sergt. Lombardy
was on the stand. The witness on duty in
the sth precinct under Lieut. Gessford and had
done duty there for long time prior to this
trouble His direct testimony was printed in
yesterdays STAR
on DISCRIMINATION
Witness was cross-examined at length by Mr..
Jeffords. and he said of his own personal knowl-
edge he could not say that the lieutenant called
the roll in any other than in the regular wav
He did not hear the lieutenant use any profane
language. Concerning the roll call by Sergt
Daley, witness SAID he could not saw that the
latter was not calling the names of those who
had responded after the regular hour
Witness made a lengthy explanation of the
trouble between the lieutenant and himself
and concluded by saving he had been suspected
Of being in plot to down his superior officer,
.'And want to saw right here" he said 80
help me God. on the grave of nv mother,
have never been engaged in plot to down
Lieut. Gessford-"
Witness said he never had any conversation
about the case until Lieut.. Pearson sent for
him. with the exception of a chat he had with
Sergt Daley on their way to the station on the
day Of the alleged intoxication.
BEVERLY R. MORTIMER.
Beverly r. Mortimer was special police
man during the Inauguration He testified
that he reached the eighth precinct station
about $50 o'clock the evening OF the Attn.
Witness told of the confusion in the station In
answer to Judge Weeds inquiry witness said,
Il couldn't say the lieutenant was drunk and
couldn't say he was sober. The iieutenant,
he said. was pretty lively, but he could not say
he (witness) came to the conclusion that the
lieutenant was intoxicated
Lieut. Gessford was talking to Masters and
heard him say something about his being mt
subject for a hospital. He heard no profane
language. When there was so much confusion
about the roll call witness went out on the side
walk and afterward returned to the station
Witness met the lieutenant in a saloon that
day and saw him take a drink. but he could
not saw whether il was coffee or something else.
What did he call for?' asked counsel.
whisky cocktail or whisky" answered wit
ness, Il can't say exactly which"
SPECIAL OFFICER METZ.
VIM Metz, another special officer. testified
that he returned to the station in the patrol
wagon on the evening in question. The lieu
tenant was in the wagon and witness thought
he was a little out of the way. He explained
that ne thought the heutenant was under the
influence of liquor.
Il looked at him right hard" said witness,
''and he asked me what IN the h you're look
ing at?'
Witness said he would not say a man was in
toxicated unless he saw him drink
Policeman H. Z. Barney was next sworn. He
had been told something of the lieutenant and
he purpOsely avoided him afterward. On one
occasion he saw the lieutenant reel. but could
not say whether it was from fatigue or not
and Daley had talked over the case He did
not hear the lieutenant use any abusive Ian
guaSe toward Ofhcer Masters
Station Keeper A. b. Conrad stated he was
at the station house March 4. between and 2
p m He noticed that Lieut.. Gessford was
acting a little unusual His opinion at the
time was that the heu.enant's manner was due
to the use Of intoxicating liquors.
On cross-examination. the witness stated that
he was OF the same opinion now.
To Judge Miller the witness stated that he
had had trouble with the lieutenant. He did
not like him very much, but he appeared at the
trial an unwilling witness.