The Washington times., 1894-10-31
POLICEMEN WILL Be TRIED
Hearings to Be Held To-day at the
Sixth Precinct Station.
OFFICER SUTTON'S TROUBLES
Serious Charges Preferred Against Him by
Hotel-keeper Samuel Gassenheimer-A
Lottery Establishment Locatedin the Very
Shadow Of Police Station.

The police investigation, which, according
to Commissioner Truesdell, has been in
progress for several weeks, is assuming in
teresting proportions. On Monday afternoon
a conference was held between Commission
ers Ross, Truesdell and Powell. and Chief of
Police Moore. This quartette OF officials ex-
amined large number of papers, including
charges and findings of the police trial board,
but what decision they arrived at can only be
surmised. Suffice it to say that after the
conference two of the Commissioners would
not deny that dismissals and changes were to
take place.
Commencing at 80 O'Clock this forenoon,
the trial board will commence the hearing Of
a rather sensational case against Officer
Sutton, of the First precinct. The prose-
cutting witness will be Mr.. Samuel Gassen-
heimer, proprietor of the Hotel Lawrence,
No, 1929 Pennsylvania avenue northwest, who
received a summons last evening to appear
before the board at the hour named. 1t IS
understood that Mr. Gassenhemer has sum
moned for the prosecution seventeen wit
nesses, twelve of whom are policemen and ex-
policemen. Some Of the citizen witnesses, II
is said, were eye witnesses of the occurrence.
currence in the bawdy house of Nettie Rus
sell, in the Division on the night of De-
cember 2S last. The charges against Officer
Sutton allege that he figured as the Russell
woman's friend. and on the night in question
she sent for him. and after jealous quarrel
demanded that he return 10 her valuable
gold watch she had given him as present.
She finally got possession of the watch, 1t is
said, and smashed it into smithereens against
the floor He retaliated. so the complaint
reads, by throwing her diamonds IN the fire
and then assaulting her.
Nettie Russell then took glass of supposed
poison and threw herself on the floor, appar-
emily in the throes OF death. She was re-
moved to the Emergency Hospital, where the
physicians soon discovered that the woman
was shamming, and that the liquid she drank
was but n harmless decOctlon.
1t is further alleged that some of Sutton's
brother policemen were called in and carried
HIM to othestation-house, but thatthe matter was
hushed up, the only public notice Oft being
short article in city newspaper which gave
statement of the occurrence without mention
ing any names A clipping containing this
article is in possession OF Night Inspector
Pearson. who. il is said, made an inyestiga-
tion OF the scandalous transaction alleged in
the charges which will be tried to-day.
Still another matter which will he brought
before the Commissioners in the nature of a
=
statement that lottery establishment was al
lowed TO flourish within the very shadow of a
police station. This establishment was con-
Quoted almost openly in the rooms above a
small shop. on one of the principal business
thoroughfares of the city, and hundreds of
tickets were sold weekly.
Officers from another precinct were prepar-
ing TO raid the place when tip was given
the manager, and on Sunday night he quietly
vacated the rooms and moved into another
locality. The tickets sold by the manager
were received by express at a neighboring dry
goods store labeled dress goods, ''iannels,"
etc. The tickets were distributed to the con-
GERMS customers by runners, and it Is said the
lieutenant of the precinct winked at the pro-
ceeding. if he did not furnish protection.
The names of several of the patrons OF this
lottery shop are known, and the manager and
his agents will be prosecuted.
There are several other .'big things in
pickle in connection with the police investi-
CATION which are expected TO develop within
the next few days.