The record-union., 1893-08-15
WILL RETAIN His STAR.
Police Officer Talbot Adjudged by the
Commissioners Not Guilty.
Judge Buckley. However. Read the
Riot Act to the Officer and
Declared Him Guilty.

All three Commissioners-Poli Judge
Buckley, Mayor Steinman and Chief of
Police Rodgers-werep present. The broth
ers Hart were also present, General Hart
representing Talbot and Senator E. c.
Hart appearing for Driscoll.
DR.. G. B. Nichols was called by the
prosecution. He said he was summoned
to DriscolPs bedside at the Golden State
Hotel shortly after the alleged beating.
He said he found two slight bruises on
the head, two black eyes and several con-
tusions about the face. Driscoll also COM
plained of pains in his right side, but the
doctor could find no bruises or discolora-
ton indicating that his body had been in
Jured. The doctor advised Driscoli to go
to the County Hospital, but he refused to
go. The doctor then prescribed for him,
but it was not filled.
WAS there anything to show how he
came by these bruises?" asked General
Hart, Talbots attorney.
mo; they might have been made by
boot-jack or a locomotive" replied the
doctor.
They could have been made by falling
on the cobbles, couldn't they ?''
"Yes. SIR" The doctor also said that
from the odor in the room he judged that
Drlscoll had been drinking. DriscolI eX-
perforated a little blood, but the doctor
could not say whether this was caused by
internal injuries or not.
THE DEFENSE RESUMES.
The defense then resumed it's case. and
called George Johnson, barkeeper in
Trapp's saloon, at Eighth and X streets
He said he knew Driscoll by sight and
remem bered having seen him on the
night of his arrest. Driscoll took three or
four glasses of beer in Trapp's place that
night and was under the influence of
liquor. lie was not very drunk, and be-
haved himself while in the saloon. The
witness heard the row outside, but did
not go out. Driscoll was quite talkative
while In the saloon, but was not abusive.
Officer Talbot resumed the stand for
further examination. He said Driscoll
was asleep when he found him. He had
to shake him several times before he
awoke. Regarding DriscolPs cries of
murder and ''help," Talbot said there
were no cries at all until after Driscoll
was handcutfed. He then began to
make great hullabaloo so as to attract
attention. The officer said Chief Rodgers
had told him and other officers to keep a
lookout in the neighborhood of Eighth
and X, as notorious safe-cracker known
as ''Sheet-iron Jack" was in town, and it
was ascertained that Hotfelter's safe was
to be cracked" Naturally when he
saw man sitting on the edge OF the
sidewalk in particularly dark spot, he
Investigated. He said he had no idea who
DriscOll was when he awakened him.
Ex-Police Captain Bradley took the
witness-stand to testify as TO Officer Tai
bots reputation as an officer, but the
Commissioners said they were Just as
capable of judging as to that as was Brad
ley, and they refused to hear him.
wILKIE INTERVIEWED HIM.
Wilkie Collins, the well-known re-
porter, was the last witness. He testified
that the day after DriscolPs arrest he in
terviewed DriScoll in the latter's room.
Driscoll said he had been beaten and
kicked by Talbot and another man. He
also said that Talbot had struck him with
a revolver. Driscoll told him he was sit
ting quietly on the sidewalk smoking his
pipe when he was seized from behind by
the officers and beaten.
Senator Hart wanted to know if Dris-
coll was IN condition to know what he
was talking about, and the witness re-
piled that he considered the man was all
right mentally, but he was in a bad fix
physically.
This closed the testimony, and the at
torneys Hart argued. Senator Hart com
plmented Talbot on his ability as an Off
Ger and detective, characterizing him as
being courageous, discreet and honorable
But, he said, that had nothing to do with
the present investigation. The best officer
in the world was liable to commit an act
for which he should be expelled from the
force. The only question before the COM
mission was whether or not Talbot was
guilty on this occasion of conduct unbe-
coming an officer. The Senator's argu-
ment briefly summed up was that Talbot
was guilty.
THE GENERAL CHARGES CONSPIRACY,
General Hart prefaced his arguments
for the defense by saying that he thought
when he first came before the com
mission he smelled politics, and when
he noticed certain faces around the
prosecuting attorney, he could see poll
ties unaer the noses OF the Commission
ers. Then when he heard the testimony
of the prosecution, he had conclusive evil
dence that politics surrounded the whole
case. To cap the climax, said the General.
he was called to account on the public
streets by Frank Daroux for declaring
that Driscoll had no general reputation
and was threatened with political annihil-
alton. He said that he suspected that the
whole thing was conspiracy. 81 am not
a candidate for political Office" said the
General, land no threats will deter me
from doing my duty for a client.p
The General then referred to the testi-
mony, and argued that it all showed that
Driscon was fighting drunk" and Tai
bot did nothing more than his duty in
subduing him.
In replying to the General, Senator
Hart said that the formers charges Of
conspiracy, politics, ETC., were uncalled
for and unwarranted. He considered that
he had been included In the Generals
wrath. on account of representing Dris-
coll. The Senator said he had been en-
ployed by Driscoll's friends, and no
mo hQrG of rnnlitioa1 ~, L.,
suited him about the case. He then re-
iterated his argument that Talbot was
guilty.
The case was submitted, but before
consulting with his colleagues Mayor
Steinman took occasion to Jump Off
GERS Ahern and Franks for sitting in the
courtroom. You both ought to be on
your BEATS" he said. Ahern replied that
he was subpenaed as witness, so his case
was excusable. Both officers then left
the room.
COMMISSIONERS OPINIONS.
After the Commissioners had consulted
for some moments Judge Buckley sup-
gested that they vote on the question
of guilty or not guilty.
Mayor. Steinman said he did not think
that Talbot should be dismissed, but he
thought he had used more force than
necessary, and should be reprimanded.
He knew Driscoll well, and knew him to
be peaceable and quiet hard-working
man. Officers were not hired to beat citi-
zens, he said.
Chief Rodgers said he knew Driscoll.
too. He was "a hard-working man, but
was abusive when drinking. The Chief
told OF having seen Driscoll at picnic
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