The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-21
THINK IT WAS UNFA AIR.
Commissioners Blamed for Favor
ing Sergt Clark
The Other Dismissed Men viii
Fight for Reinstatement.
Exactly the Same Evidence of Brib-
cry Was Given Against Him.

The gallery performance" Is what an
old police official calls the police trials
now going on before the four Police Com
missioners.
The inconsistency OF the decision In
| the case Of the FIVE Fourteenth Precinct
sergeants is beginning to be appreciated
by the onlookers, and comment Is any
| thing but fattering to the Commissioners
| who convicted four sergeants and acquit-
| ted another on exactly the same testi-
mony. the only difference being that in
| the case of the acquitted sergeant the
| testimony showed that he arranged the
scheme Of bribery and shared II with
the rest.
Francis L. Wellman takes the whole
responsibility on his own shoulders. He
says he recommended that old "Hughey"
| Clark be permitted to retire on 1900
a year pension because OF his thirty
four years of service, his flfty-eight
years OF age and his twenty-eight years
of clean record without charge
| against him.
But to convict Capt Doherty, sergts.
Liebers. Jordan. McKenna and Parker
son and Ward Men Meehan and Hook,
the Commissioners had to believe Mrs.
Augusta Thurow and accept as corrob-
Grafton of her story OF bribery the sta
ton house blotter. showing the arrests
| Of the inmates of her house and the &C
ceptance of her bond by the four ser
geants and the knowledge Of the Cap
tain.
| Mrs. Thurow's testimony included
Sergt. Clark. The blotter showed that
Sergt. Clark accepted her bond, and the
| woman testified that 1t was Sergt Clark
VINO. as Acting Captain In the absence
| of Capt. Doherty made the first over
lures, told her what she had got to do"
ard that she left her s. roll on the shelf
for him as for the others.
| Another Inconsistency Is pointed out
also. The law says that when a police
officer has served twenty years. no mat
ter what his age. II he applies for re
tirement on half pay, the Board of Po-
are no charges pending against him."
But since the Lexow Committee ex-
posture Of police corruption. the. Com
tsa, they hsse every
plication of this kind. with the remark
each time, that the Board has decided
not to retire any officers until mt the trials
they shall"
sergt. Clark had refused to ask for
retirement. although advised to do so
On the morning Of the meeting a week
We're broken" scrst. Clark put in an
has the faintest Idea who told Hughey
Clark Clark, 70 Ale this application. but he
%as srS"sa 0Ry In In
face OF charges exactly like those
against the other four. and in proof O
which exactly the same Witnesses hat
Nobody wishes fine old Hughey Clark
any harm. but a lot Of people are ask.
Ing one another. Does Clark know
more than 1t would be healthy to lei
While sergt. Hugh Clark is allowed
TO- retire in the face Of charges, Sergt
William Kass. Of the Seventh Precinct
faithfully. but thirty-five years. and ha,
an unblemished record. applying fol
retirement. is told to wait. Besides, h,
sergt. Horace NJ. Wells. of the Thir
teenth Precinct, has served twenty-si,
years, but. his application for retire
%ent is also placed on tls" sergt
Detective Sergt, Edgar 8. Slawson. O
the Central Office, have been in harnes
since 1873 and 1874, respectively. ant
) Sanitary. Squad, since 1873 They hay
, cations are hung up" by the Commis
i sion, although there is no breath o
suspicion against either of them.
4, In connection II may be said that tn
: suspicion Is gaining ground that tn
. blanket verdict of guilty" rendered b
tried thus far will render 1t easy for ii
dismissed police officers to get reinstate
by the Supreme Court.
:" The Court" said Frederick b. Hous
ha a n al hav
n the highest offense charged was NJ
properly proved. we cannot tell wheth,
the officer was dismissed for the br
l. duty. and therefore 1t Is error"
e Perhaps 1t Is the assurance of his couI
e sci that he will be reinstated that keel
the reo dePosed sergeant George Lieber
n He Is quoted as saying that he WI
l. sent for by one of the Commissions
and cautioned that he must not. accel
At obeyed the warning. No charges We
lie preferred then, and had not the Lexo
E. Committee come along and stirred thin
been preferred.
At Commissioner sheehan is OF oplniC
t, that the taking Of Mrs. Thurow's bs
e, was no ofrense. that, on, the contrar
bond, no matter what her characte
n provided she was otherwise qualitie
- and that is matter OF argument.
Mr.. House argues the same way, al
D. says that II the Court so decides II W
reiHstate the four sergeants. becau
they are unable to dlssect the blank
a. verdict Of the Commissioners and 81
whether the sergcants were dismiss
nc for bribery or acts injurious TO pub
an welfare.
ng The Boari never passed resoluti
-, not to retire any officers pending tn,
ny trials" said Major Kipp to-day; "t
IT. Commissioners have informally so d
IL cided when an application has, been pI