The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-02
CHRIS9IE'S REPORT.
Mayor Wanser's Complaint
Against Two Policemen
Investigated.
BE WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHITE.
Rotbeman Wouldn't Press His Conn
plaint--A Number of Blue
Goa S Fined.

When Mayor Wanser called the attsn.
tion OF Superintendent Smith to the
alleged misbshavior OF Policemen
DouGherty and Flanagan on election
day he stirred up the liveliest kind of
time Superintendent Smith had issued
| a general order the day prior to the cleo
tion warning the uniformed men to be
exceedingly careful OF what they did,
and AS result was In a situation to make
good defence. The Mayor called upon
tie Superintendent TO make an
investigation OF a charge against Odlcer
Flanagan for failing to arrest an alleged
Illegal voter. and OHicsr Dougnerty fog
his peculiar course ia arrestirg ex-
Policeman Harrison White, after he had
| been assaulted by man named Ssanlan.
The Superintendent. this morning, sent
the following communication to Mayor
Wanser. repor ing what action he had
taken in response to the Mayors request
| for an investigation.
CHRIsTIE's LETTER
Your communication of the 18th inst has been
duly received and contents noted While no
complaint has been made to the propsr author
| ty. viz. the Board OF Police Commissioners,
| still, as YOU request it. I will make screening
investigation ia both cases. cannot. OF course,
| act exclusively on your opinion. which seems
to be based on ex parte statements
| will hear both sides and then determine what
course 10 pursue. In the of Ofic4r Fiana-
gan it will be necessary for Mr.. Jonn Rother-
| man. the complainant, To put his complaint in
| writing and make affidavit to it. Tais ia the
| course required by the rules Of the department
| Ia the case of Ofieer Doughsrty I an free to
| T0uld no faoi al in rafa
| charges on the affidavit of Harrison White
| much less on his unsupported statement. You
| are PROBABLY aware that Harrison White was
| dismissed from the department. on very serious
| charges. While he was a member of the de-
| pRrtment, the late Justice Stilsing never per
mitted him to be swern when he appeared
| investigation, however, and It there is any
4 testimony against the officer from
| reputable source will promptly prefer charges.
| No one can be more anxious than TO keep the
| police force from political influence or to prs-
| vent the members OF it flom interesting g in
| politics.
beg to call your attention to general orders
| issued the day before election. With great
| c. r SMITH. Superintendent.
1 REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONERS
On the same subject the Sup.r1nten-
| dent made report 10 the Police Com
missioners, This is wnat ne said:--
Herewith submit the result of an investiga-
ton made at the request Of Mayor Wanser.
John Dougherty had misbshaved himself at the
| polls on election day and inIerfered with a
voter, and that officer Flanagan Of
I the second precinct refused To arrest an
1 alleged illegal voter requested
| TO do SO by citizsu. Captain Farrier inquired
| into the case OF Dougnerty and reports that
| there is no evidencs whatever to support
charge against him. He merely assisted
Officer Smith in the arrest of two men who
were fighting All the eye witnesses of the
| occurrence agree in their statements to Cap
| tain Farrier that the officer did nothing but his
duty.
| In the case of Onicer Flanagan. Mr.. John
Rotherman. the gentleman VINO made the com
plant to Mayor Wanser, has been reQue it I'd
several times to come to Police Headquarters
| in order that his complaint might bs put in
proper form, but up to the present time he mas
failed to respond Very respectfully,
c. P. SNIT Il. Supt.
1t is highly probable now tna5 Mayor
Wanser will see to it that proper charges
are made, and the matter brought up for
Investigation.
POLICEMEN FINED.
| The Police Commissioners held q coma
| sultation yesterday afternoon aud de-
cided upon the sentences for the delin-
quent bluecosts who were tried more
| than q month age.
Jacob Bergman failed to report for
duty. He was fined one days pay
| James keilt. John j. Murphy, Joseph
Nevins and Hugh PendsrzasJ wsrs each
| iued one days pay for similar offense.
FOR ueEleC6 OF uLGY IN tue matter OF
| falling to report from the alarm boxes,
! Johu Dougberty, Thomas Cannon,
| Thomas Donegan, David Hennessey,
Albert J. Cummings, A. Crawford and
Alex. Gallagher were each fined one
days pay. Michael Faherty
absented himself without leave
and was fined five days pay. For
! a similar offeose he was hned one day,
and aeglect of duty one day.
| john Smith failed TO patrol hIs post
properly ana was fined two days pay.
James Fallon was absent without leave.
He will pay days fine into the Sinking
| Fund. Charles Council was fiued one
days pay for the same offenss.
! - was also William Conuors'
The charge against Frank McGurk for
| conduct unbecomiug an officer was dis.
missed. The case of John O'Rourke,
| charged with drunkenness, was laid over
| William Hsnbury, charged with intoxl>
cation, escaped with a fne of thirty days
| pay.
| The Commissioners threaten TO bs
| moro severe with the coDpers in future.
as OF late too large a proportion os the
| force has been before the board oR
| charges.