Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-06
ON TRIAL Fuii SERJURY.
The Case of SerGt. Daley-Lieut. Gessford
Admits Having Taken Two Drinks.

The Case OF SerCt. Daley-Lieut. GessfOrd
Admits Having Taken Two Drinks.
Yesterday afternoon in the Police Court in
the case OF Police Sergt John c. Daley. charged
by Lieut.. Gessford with perjury, Mr.. J. Arthur
Kemp was the first witness sworn He pro-
duced copy Of the proceedings. the testimony
showing that the defendant Daley had testified
that Lieut.. Gessford was under the influence of
liquor on the 4th Of March and that he used
profane language i'll the station toward Police
man Masters and Special Officer Parrish.
The legality of the organization of the trial
committee was questioned. but counsel said he
would admit that the committee was properly
constituted, as he desired to have all the facts
come out and have full and free hearing of
the facts.
On cross-examination witness said that por-
tions OF the testimony given at the hearing we're.
eliminated from the record by direction OF
members of the trial committee.
Witness could not tell what was eliminated
from Sergt. Daley's testimony. The sergeant.
he thought. did not have an opportunity Of
reading over his testimony after it was copied
on the typewriter.
LIEUT.. GEssFoRDs EVIDENCE
Lieut.. Gessford was next sworn and he said
he was the person mentioned in the written
charges as read by the preceding witness. Wit
ness denied that he was intoxicated on the 4th
day of March and said that the evidence gwen
by Sergt. Daley WAS untrue. Witness also de-
MED that he abused or swore at Special Officer
Parrish or Officer Masters as sworn to by Daley
before the trial committee.
On cross-examnation witness said he had
been lieutenant for twenty-seven years. Dur
ing the past eighteen months witness ha, been
on dutyi in the eighth precinct, and Sergt Daley
has been under him all that tins. On one
occasion there was n dispute between witness
n nd defendant and the lattar triad fnr II
and acquitted
How many glasses of intoxicating liquors
did you drink on the 4th OF March?' asked
Judge Weed
Il decline to answer" replied witness.
HE TOOK TWO DRINKS.
The court ruled that the witness must an
swer, and he said, II took two drinks of intoxi-
eating liquors that day
Witness was asked if he took drink with
Special Officer Mortimer. or in the presence of
the special officer, and he replied that he did
not.
When further questioned witness recolected
that he took one drink with Officer Mcnamara
i'll Werners saloon, but he was not in a saloon
kept by a man named McGrann. Witness said
that on the day charged ne was on duty on
Pennsylvania avenue. He said he had bsen
charged with intoxication during election times
years ago. The charges were always made by
the powers that DO. and on elch occasion he
was acquitted. Witness said he had been in
the habit of taking a drink almost every dly,
and to that he attributed his good health.
I'm afraid you attribute your good health
to the wrong cause" remarked Judge Weed.
Counsel then examined witness concerning
other matters, but nothing new was ELECTED.
PRIVATE SMITHS TESTIMONY.
Private John Jacob Smith was the next wit
ness. He saw Lieut. Gessford during the day
charged and he appeared perfectly sober. The
lieutenant called the roll at the station that
evening and attended to bushes, as usual
Sergt. Daley he said had called his attention TO
the lieutenant during the day and asked if h.
did not think the latter was intoxicated, but
witness did not think he WAS.
This closed the testimony for the day and
the cour. adjourned until this morning.