The morning call., 1893-12-28
NO ACTION TAKEN.
Officer Clarke's Case Was Not
Decided.


AT an adjourned meeting of the Police
Board last night Commissioners Tobin and
Alvord and Chief Crowley were present.
charges against officers.
In the case of Policeman John Mullin,
charged with reporting off duty in stale
of intOxication, Sergeant Spilane testified
that such was the fact. Captain Short,
answering President Tobin's inquiry, tes-
tilted that Mullin was known to him as a
drinking man. but never before was so in
toxicated as on the night In question.
The accused testified that he had taken
two drinks, but did not feel the effects
until he entered the warm room of the
station. He promised never TO be guilty
OF the offeDse again. The verdict was
fine of $50.
In the case of Policeman George Stew
ems, charged With refusing TO make an ar
rest and using indecent and Insulting Ian
guage. p. L. Seiig, delivery clerk of the
Southern Pacific testified that Dece mber
IA three boys stoned a Chinese on wagon
at Sixth and Townsend streets; that he
informed Stevens. who was in the flag
mans house, of the fact, and that Stevens
abused him most Violently. James Allen
and John Doyle corroboraied the same.
The accused produced Tn Omas Loosely, The
that no Chinese had been stoned. Stevens
denied the charge in toto.
The board found him guilty and his
punishment was dismissal from the force.
In the case of Policeman Philip q. Al
kinson, charged with entering the Mira
mar House, at Leavenworth and Geary
streets, and going to the room of Mrs. IL.
K. Willier, against the protests of the
daughter of the landlady and Of Mrs. Will
lier, who was confined to her bed, these
facts were sworn TO by Miss Florence
Chevalier, by the bellboy and one of the
boarders. The accused testified that on
the afternoon of December II genteel
looking old lady approached him running,
on Mission street, near Fremont. and
urged him to accompany her TO Leaven-
worth aud Geary streets, saying that
criminal operation was about to be per-
formed upon her daughter. Atkinson de-
clined to go. but she renewed her en-
treaties, saying her daughter would be
dead in fifteen minutes. S0 they boarded
car and went to the Miramar House.
After some delay be went into Mrs. Will
lier's room with the old lady. Mrs. Will
lier was in bed, and said to the policeman,
TITS all right; that's my mother" and he
took his departure.
Atkinson was represented by counsel,
who stated that he had used all diligence
to find this old lady, even to hiring II
private detective, but they could learn
neither her name, identity or address. 1t
developed in The testimony that this un-
Identified woman was demented. AT the
Miramar House some OF the boarders
believed that she was the mother of Mrs.
Willier; others did not believe II. der ac-
tons denoted partial insanity.
ii. r. Willier was called and refused TO
tell who this old lady Is, or to give her ad-
dress. Asked to give the name of his
wife's mother. he declined. The accused
produced several witnesses to show he was
sober when he entered the house.
He was fined $50.
In the case of Officer Louis G. Clarke,
who shot Miss Grace Cosgriff near Cali
Iornia and Taylor streets on the night of
the 18th inst, James McAvoy, L. CaIten,
Benjamin Simmons and Fred Kelly, tn
four boys who had the trouble with the
Chinese, testified as to coming home from
night school, to meeting the Celestial, to
the boys jostling him. to his blowing his
whistle, to the boys scattering and TO hear
Ing the shots fired.
Sergeant Houehtaling testified to having
Jumped off car at Sacramento and Tay-
lor streets and hearing an cutlery, fol-
lowed by several blows of police whistle.
He SAID to Clarke: They've stood up
another Cinnamon; run EN- down." Wit
ness instructed the accused to fire in the
air. Clarke started after two men who
were fleeing. He shouted, Halt or I'll
fire." and instantly fired, holding his hand
as high as his head The distance from
where Clarke was when he fired 10 where
Miss Cosgriff was standing Is $50 to 375
feet.
On his own behalf Officer Clarke testi-
fed to nothing not already published. re-
lterating that he fred into the air. The
trees in Mr.. Tobin's yard, on Taylor and
California. he said. formed dark back
ground and IL was i'm uossibie to see per-
sons standing where Miss Cosgriff and
party were. He was certain the bullets
went high in the air, and his theory was
that the bullet which struck Miss Cosgriff
must have hit tree and glanced The
distance from where lie stood to the SOUTH
east corner of California and Taylor
streets is fully 400 feet.
Officer Clarke was represented by rhos.
ID. Rordan, who asked The board to con-
slider his faithful services ia the past; TO
remember that he had been specially de-
tailed to protect that part OF the city
against footpads; that he had made seven
arrests, two of the criminals having re-
eeived sentence and five being bound over;
that he was obeying the orders of supe-
rior officer. and the utmost that could be
offered against him was that he committed
an error Of judgment.
August Wilson. who appeared for Miss
Cosgriff. answered briefly, saying Clarke
had been indiscreet aud had violated a
police regulation.
The case of Officer Clarke was taken
under ADJUSTMENT.