The Washington times., 1894-09-07
In The TOLLS
Testimony in the Thompson Case Said
to Involve a Dozen Of Them.
GRAVE CHARGES AGAINST SOME
Officer Gordon, Of the Seventh, Will Probably
Be Tried for Intoxieation on the Day Of the
coxey Parads-J. J. Smith. Of ths Sixth,
Correspondent in a Divorce Suit.

Testimony before the trial board in the case
Of Policeman August Thompson, Of the Eighth
precinct, on the charge Of being intoxicated
while on duty On March 4, 1893. is all in, and
as soon az the stenographer can transeribe
his notes and Major Moore can formulate his
recommendation it viii be laid before the
District Commissioners. The police depart
ment was represented at the hearing by s. T..
Thomas, attorney for the District, assisted by
sergt. John C. Daley. and the defense by
Col. W. W. Dudley, ex-Commissioner Of PEN
sions.
1t is rumored that in the hearing some evi-
dence of an extremely spicy character was
brought out, and as a result several officers,
something like twelve in number, whose
names have heretofore escaped connection
with the police scandal, will have 70 appear
shortly before the trial board
Every person connected with the trial has
been pledged to secrecy, and when Attorney
Thomas was asked yesterday II he would ap-
pear as counsel Tor the Commissioners Ia the
coming trials OF officers affected by the testi-
mony in the Thompson case. he went no f1r-
ther than 10 say that he did not know that he
would Mr. Thomas did not DENY that sons
OF the evidence offered reflected seriously on
several members OF the ponce department.,
and added that had itnOt been for the extreme
latitude allowed counsel in the examination
Of Witnesses the testimony referred 70 would
not have been brought out be declined 10
say what this testimony was because the trial
was secret and the matter was one requiring
the attention OF the Commissioners befors
reaching the public.
DALEY WAS UNCOEl5IUSICATIvE.
sergt Daley, Mr. Thomas assistant, was
more uncommuuicative even than lIr.
Thomas He would not tell who had ap-
peared as witnesses for either the prosecution
or defense, nor would he give any intimation
as TO the ehara ter Of the testimony that was
brought out Al the examination The other
gentlemen named could not be found az their
places Of business.
Il has been learned. however. that growing
olt OF the evidence at the Thompson trial will
probably be a charge Of intoxicauon against
Policeman Gordon. Of the Sixth precinct. u
i+aleged tEat OF May l. the day Of the COXey
parade. he was 30 much under the influence
OF i,guor that he had TO Do sent home in q
carriage.
Policeman J. J. Smith. of the Sixth, il 10
said will also come in for al investigation.
He hes been charged by a cOlOred man. VINO
was recently divorced from ms wife, with De-
ing the cause Of the mans domestic unhappi-
ness aud was named in the divorce papers as
~
been seen in company With the coiored
woman and IL such public places as TO cause
much uulavorHble comment.
There we're more than twenty Witnesses be-
fore The trial board, aud in many instances,
Y here questions involving their morality
were 3ked, the person asked declined or re-
fused - answer on the ground thar Dy doing
So ne might crimInRte himself
Inc urcision OF the Commissioners Is not
hkeiy 20 be promulgated FOR several weeks,
though they may take summary action after
Commissioner Truesdeu has read the entire
evidence.
sEEGr. SMITHS CASE.
The charges filed with the District Commis-
sioners against Sergt. Smith. OF the Fourth
precinct. by an anOnym Gus writer, several
weeks ago. were upon their receipt referred
10 Major Moore for Investigation. The ale
CATIONS made were that the sergeant, accom-
panied by Prlyates Crowne and Knupfsr, ar
rested Private sanford. Of the force, and
baker named William Bauf. while both were
intoxicated. and driving at race-horse speed
through the streets, and because Of his dispo-
sition 10 favor sanford, permitted him TO give
a fictitious name and deposit 50 collateral,
very much less than the usual sum enacted
for such OiTsn=es, and that neither Of shs
prisoners were required 70 appear in court.
The correspondent also accused smith Of
appropriatinG TO his own use one Of a num-
Der OF newspapers purchased by the men,
and the suggestion was volunteered thar
Smith Is privileged character. comes and
goes at VIII. and ''actS Lieutenant while his
superior officer Is AZ headquarters or at MS
home in the country Then comes the grave
accusation that ths sergeant frequents no.
tOriOus house, kept by Madame White. at No.
3l6 street southwest, which accounts for
the house not being raided; that while the
lieutenant is al his home II the country for
the night, Smith details a private 20 take
charge of the station, thus taking patrol
man of the beat and depriving the public OF
his services, while Smith goes ''froliekinS
around"
1t is also cited that Smith was once before
the trial board on the charge Of cowardlce,
but was acquitted because the witnesses were
all policemen and were afraid to testify. Now
that priyates are shown more consideration
than formerly. the hearing will bring out the
truth as to Smiths cOwardice.
JUSTIFIED An ExAMISATIoN.
The officials considered that the eommuni-
cation was Of sufficient Importance to justify
an examination OF the charges, and the cass
was put in Capt NJ A. Austin's hands. Tho
captain submitted his report yesterday, in
which he says that while private in the
fourth precinct Sanford was arrested while IN
toxicated. during leave OF absence, but that
SergJ- Smith did not accompany him 70 the
station, delsgating that duty to Private
Crowne: that Smith knew nothing Of what
was done at the station house until next day,
when he narrated the facts TO his heutenaDt.
II was not a serious case, nor was anyones
life endangered by Sanford The station
keeper did not know that Sanford was IN
I der arrest, but supposed that he was report
| ing cases made during the day.
The newspaper story Is denied by Smith,
! and Capt Austin says the statiOnkeeper often
/ puts papers in the Sergeants room, bur every
I body connected with the station has the use
of both room and papers at will. Capt Aus
/ tin saws of the more serious accusation:
/ In regard TO Sergt. Smith visiting ths
| house of Madame White, he says hewas never
/ there except on official business, and that
| was to notify her TO move from the neighbor-
/ hood. as instructed by his lieutenant. Being
| the senior sergeant 1t is incumbent on Smith
| at any time when the lieutenant is absent,
/ from any cause. to act In that capacity"
| Lieut.. Vernon being sick, Capt. Austin
/ could get no information from him concern
| ing the statement that Sanford was allowed
| to give fictitious name. The rest Of the let
/ ter the captain regards as too ridiculous to
| notice, as the sergeant could hardly be held
| responsible for the action of his superior.
/ -&S p--