Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-24
poLIoD COMMISSIONERS MEET.
Charges Against Police Officers Investi-
gated Monday Night--Permission to Play
Baseball Refused.

ChargeS Against POltce OHlcers lnVeRtf-
gated Monday yNight--Permission to Play
Baseball Refused.
The Board of Police Commissioners
Monday night took up the charges pre-
ferred against Officer james II. Scott for
dereliction of duty in not reporting to
police headquarters the fact that sus.
picious characters were seen in the
neighborhood of Second and Tatnall
streets week ago, after he had been
informed of their mysterious conduct,
the burglars having on the night in
question robbed the hardware store of
George L. Norris of small sum OF
money. The officer was suspended for
one day. The charge preferred against
Patrolman James Quinn, was the infer
ence in the Sunday Star a week ago
that he was under tile influence of
liquor while on duty. Chief Dolan said
he had investigated the case and found
that G. w. Cook of South Wilmington
had furnished the paper the informa-
ton on which the newspaper artice was
based, and that Cook declared person
whom he supposed to be an officer was
his informant. The charge was not sub
stantiated, and resolution was passed
exonerating Officer Quinn from the im-
putations cast upon his sobriety by the
South Side resident in the Sunday Star.
Chief Dolan said that complaint had
been made to him by Patrick Fitzgerald,
an engineman on the Delaware railroad,
and father of Daniel Fitzgerald, who
died from the effects of laudanum poison
administered by his own hand, to the
effect that the boy had not been properly
treated while at the police station. Chief
Dolan stated that he learned from Mr..
Fitzgerald that his informant was Will
liam T. Tull, who was formerly grocer,
and that Tull happened to be in the
police station when Fitzgerald was
brought in Monday evening, August
14th, having made an unsuccessful at
tempt to collect bill from the Board
of Police Commissioners. Failing in his
attempts to collect the money, it is said
he told Mr.. Fitzgerald that his son was
not properly treated while at the police
station. DR.. M. j. Hughes stated TO the
board that he had attended Fitzgerald
previous to his removal to the hospital,
and as soon as be was summoned on the
case he administered an emetic and gave
Fitzgerald an antidote. The young man
acknowledged that he had more whisky
in him than laudanum.
Turnkey Little was summoned before
the board and stated that he had done
all in his power for the young man and
had treated him as though he had been
his own son. He said no one thought
Fitzgerald was going to die. Turnkey
Little said he walked the boy up and
down the corridor of the city hall, and
that Fitzgerald smoked cigar, seemed
cheerful and showed no signs of death.
II the young man had been walked all
night he said it might have relieved
him of the stupor. He didn't know
where he lived.
Police Captain Chambers said the
young man had been given the best of
treatment. The friends Of the deceased
had promised to notify the parents of
the matter, but they failed to keep their
promise. Besides Fitzgerald said he had
had trouble with his parents and was
unwilling to go home.
Wagonman Andrew Harkins said that
while Fitzgerald was on the way to the
hospital he became stupid, but after
wards rallied, and was able to walk into
the hospital and was perfectly con-
scious. He asked Fitzgerald where he
lived and the suicide told him.
There seemed to be no foundation for
the statement that Fitzgerald was not
properly treated, but the complaint
made by the father was that the family
was not notified of the young mans
condition in order that priest might
| have been summoned to administer to
his dying wants. Turnkey Little's ex-
planation was that he did not know
Fitzgerald was going to die. Presi-
dent Lawson was under the impress
| sion that the young mans parents
might have been notified of the matter,
and in order to ascertain just what mott.
| fication they had received, the case was
postponed for one week.
AT the request of Ohio Nowland of
the Equitable Guarantee & Trust Com
pany, the board decided to commission
Henry Hamilton, special watchman at
the Equitable building, and commits
sion was issued to John w. Lober as a
watchman on the west side of Market
street above Front.
The request Of the police officers for
permission to play game of baseball
! for the relief of the families of deceased
officers was refused by the board owing
to the fact that it was violation of rule
6S of the board, which prohibited the
police officers collecting money.
A bill of $40 was received from James
Mahan for rent of the city pound. The
board seemed TO think that City Council
should pay the bill in view of the fact
that the dog-catcher was no longer under
the control of the Police Commissioners.
Payment was deferred.