The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-18
THIRD edition.
TnEpoIIoE COMMISSION.

Turnkey Hickman Dismissed and Ser
seant England Suspended for Neglect
Of Duty In Allowing n Prisoner 10
Escape.
Ths regular weekly session OF the
Police Commission was held last even
Ing with all the members present.
Chief OF Police Dolan preferred
charges against Turnkey William
Hickman OF neglect of duty and in
allowing another prisoner to escape.
1t will be remembered that Hickman
had Just resumed his duties after
having been suspended for five days
for allowing three prisoners to escape
two OF whom were caught, while tho
other has still evaded tho officers.
The last escape was on Sunday
morning, when Charles McElroy, who
was in custody on a charge OF wife
beating, walked out. but was after
wards re-cnptured and sentenced yes.
terday morning.
House Sergeant Isaac England, who
was on duty with Hickman Saturday
morning. was also charged with ne
glect Of duty.
McElroy made an affidavit after DO.
ing recapturcd In which he stated that
he went into the main corridor with
other prisoners to wash. and after he
washed slipped unseon up tho back
Btairs. He stayed there nbout half an
hour and then came down. He spoke
to the prisoners in the cells and walked
through the door of the main corridor
and from the police station. He snys
that Hickman was in the station and
England was sitting leaning against
the wall OF the paint shop opposite.
This statement was corroborat ed by
IN ,,.Ig
Boyer, two prisoners who saw Noel
roy escape. They said that no went
up stairs, and after remaining some
time came down and waved his hand
to them as he passed out through the
corridor. The door OF this corridor
should have been locked. and Turnkey
Hickman In his seat just outside, but
as the prisoner went out that way, il
10 evident that the door la / been lett
unlocked. and that Hickman was not
at his place.
The commission gavo tho accused
men O chance to make a statement,
when Sergeant England said that he
and Turnkey Hickman changed the
z prisoners from ono corridor to an.
other about $40 o'clock. In accord.
ance with his duties he took the age,
color and nativity of each prisoner.
He saw McElroy aud talked with him
, but did not see him go up stairs. lie
supposed that all the prisoners were
transferred from one corridor to the
other. The sergeant supposed that
McEiroy got out after Janitor Ihomas
was let inside to clean up. There
were thirteen or fourteen prisoner.
down.stalrs at the time, and he did no
miss McEiroy until time for court
England did not think two men sum
client to handle the number of prison
ers they had in charge Sunday morn
ing.
Commissioner Lawson said TINT h,
saw both Hickman and England sit
ting In front OF the paint shop ui
Saturday night.
Turnkey Hickman said that in hi
opinion there were too many prs
oners to attend to. Captain Kan
wac up stairs at the time. Ho though
that all tho prisoners were locked il
when he got through. He thought h,
was in the water-closet when Mciilrol
got out. Jenitor Thomas got tho sei
to the main corridor from the witness
anil let himself in. Hickman wa
positive that he locked the door what
he and Engla came out.
Captain Thomas Kane who was Il
charge at the time. stated that he wa
generally present when tile prisoner
Ing was attending to Colored woina,
VINO ma been sefzcu win u nit. At III
time they were changed he was con
sulting with Matron White as to til
best course to pursue In regard to thi
woman He had never had any trou
BILE with England, hut had been obllgc
TO warn Hickman a number OF time
that he must remain at lis post an
attend to his duties
.Jnpil ~ uil, ANNA Ia I.,. -, II ,
ly after the prisoners were changed
aud tho officers had come out. he wen
Into the corridor aud tile door was no
locked. lie did not get the key from
Hickman anu did not see him In In
water closet. When lie was throuu
with his work no cams out ana lock y
the door with the spring lock. lie lI
not gee MeElroy 20 out. IAnma
said he worked faster on Sundn,
mornings, and it was suggested Tia
he did 1t in order TO get to church. n
which he laughed.
Hickman ard Engl land were recalle,
and asked number OF questions
England said that about L O'Clock Ii
was leaning against the paint shu
wall waiting to call the roll OF officer
! who came In at TINT hour. lie lil nd
notice where Hickman was when Ii
went out, or when he returned tO Iii
desll.
Tho room WINS then cleared and Iii
matter was fully discussed by Il!
com missionerS. who decided TINT n
Hickman had already been guiltyut
similar neglect OF duty lie was unilL (
hold the position, ana that he stloul
Do dismissed. the sentence to tax
effect at once. In Erglaud's case
WIS decided To suspend him seyu
days without pay. which il Il hone