The Washington times., 1894-08-28
SHAKING UP OF DRY BONES
Commissioner TruesdelI Is Causing 1t
in the Police Department.
OLD CHARGES TO BE REVIEWED
Policeman Thompson to Be Tried for Having
Been, It Is Alleged, Helplessly Intoxi-
cated-Lieut. Gessford and sergt. slattery
to Explain Why They Accepted Presents.

Charges affecting the conduct of several police
ofIicers-one OF them lieutenant-which
based upon events alleged 10 have occurred
more than year ago, are about 10 undergo in
yestigation before the trial board.
Policeman Augustus Thompson, of the Eighth
precinct, appeared before the board yesterday
at the Sixth precinct station TO answer the
charge Of ''being heIplessly intoxicated" in the
Eighth precinct station on March 4 1898, the
day OF the second Inauguration of President
Cleveland. At Oflcer ThOmpson's request the
case was continued until Saturday next
IL is understood that Lieut. GessfOrd, who,
with Thompson, was charged with being intoXi-
Gated on the same day, will come IN for u second
investigation as II viii be impossible, II IS said,
on account Of the close connection of tho alleged
otfense with which Thompson is charged ana
that Tor which Lieut. GessfoId was acquitted, 10
try the former without affecting the latter 10 a
greater or less degree.
The trial OF Thompson was ordered by Major
Moore at the same time that Lieut. Gessford's
was directed 10 be held, and il was understood
thar the same evidence which was produced for
the prosecution in the Gessford case would be
urged against Thompson, but as Gesstord was
acquitted the charge against Thompson was
quietly pigeon-holed
Within the last few weeks, OF. speaking more
exactly, since THE TEfEs has been publishing
accounts OF the remarkable transactions which
have sometimes occurred in the police court, in
which policemen and various court officials have
been the active participants, rumors have been
circulating that the manner in which the af-
cavits which secured the lieutenant's acquittal
were obtained were questionable, and Com
missioner Truesdell, who Tor some time has
been pursuing a quiet investigation OF police
matters in general has determined to probe the
conduct Of The affairs Of the department 10 the
bottom.
CHARGED WITH BEING HELPLEssIY INTOXICATED
The first step TO be taken in this direction is
the arraignment of Policeman Thompson on tho
charge OF being 'helplessly intoxicated" on the
occasion referred to
The records OF the police department show
that report on the Thompson case was made
10y Sergt Daley 10 Inspector Pierson Immediately
after the alleged Jiense was committed, and
Lieut. Gessford was, il Is said, ordered TO prefer
charges against the officer. As Lieut.. Gessford
was charged with similar o1ense and on the
same occasion, the latter hesitated TO bring his
subordinate 10 task Then higher authority took
up the case, and the trial of Thompson was Or
dered, but Lieut. Gessford was acquitted, the
case against Thompson was, Tor the reasons
above stated. dropped.
Connected with the investigation Of the Cess
ford charge OF March !, 1888, some remarkable
statements have been made by responsible
parties Ii is said that when Sergt. Daleys re-
port, relative To the alleged intoxication of Po-
lceman Thompson, was made 10 Inspector Pier
son, Lieut. Gessford, who knew that the report
had been made, got number Of his officers who
enjoyed soft snaps 10 make afndayit that the
lieutenant was not intoxicated alleged in
rumOrs current at the time
After the lieutenant had secured the affidayits
he became very defiant and dared any one 10
charge him with being drunk
Later there were rumors that some Of the men
making the afldayits eXoneratinC LIEUT.. Cess
ford, intended TO 20 before the trial board and
make clean breast OF the whole affair, and TO
confess that in the first instance they had
sworn 10 what was false. Leiut. Gessford heard
Of what was said 20 be contemplated by the men
and rising before the men while in line at the
station and about 10 20 out duty, and shaking
the Hnldavits which he held in his hand above
his head said in the mos; tragic manner
LIEUT.. GEssFoRD's DRAMATIC SPEECH.
"Men, hear that you arc going back on your
anldayits. ! dare yoa TO do so. and if you do
viii send every one that is implicated TO the
penitentary."
This speech had the desired effect The men
/ went before the trial board and there repeated
! what they had previously sworn to. The ac-
quittal OF Lieut. Gessford followed.
it is understood that Lieut. Gessford will not
! again be tried on the charge for which he was
acquitted, but that he viii be given an opportu-
nifty 10 explain 10 the trial board and possibly 10
/ the District Commissioners why in defiance of
1 HE police regulations, which forbids the ac-
ceptance of a present by a superior officer from
a subordinate, he accepted the gift of q folding
bed for his personal use
] This bed, il is said, cost $50 and was pur-
chased by means OF "a contribution Of 81 each
from equal number OF policemen One or
/ two OF the men demurred 10 giving the dollar
asked, but Tor fear that they would be placed
under the ban Of condemnation of tho officers in
charge Of the precinct, handed in their dollar
along with the rest
Lieut. Gessford will also be asked 10 explain
why he allowed n CrayCn picture of himself 10 be
purchased at a cost OF S50-cOntributions 81
/ each-and presented 10 him. There were sew
eral quiet protests by the policemen against
/ giving toward the portrait, but only one man
/ expressed his opinion freely. That was omcer
/ Crawford.
But Lieut. Gessford ''got his Work in" on Po-
/ Iceman Crawford, for in less than a week he
/ had his subordinate transferred 10 the Third
! precinct. little later the Commissioners pro-
NOTED OGicer Crawford 10 the mounted force
! and sent him back 10 the Eighth precinct,
/ whore he now Is. Since Crawford return Lieut..
] tIessiord has not spoken 20 lin, and all orders
/ for Crawford have 10 20 through a sergeant
sERGT. sLATTERYs CASE.
II Is not unlikely that Mounted Sergt Slattery
viii also come IN Tor investigation, as he, it is
alleged, accepted presents of fine dishes from
the members of his squad at the same time that
| Lieut. Gessford accepted either the folding bed
| or the picture, and that in order TO raise the
money the mounted men were assessed twice as
! much as were the members Of the foot force
The case Of Policeman Curry, who IS charged
/ with shooting at Policeman Pearce on Thursday,
| published in THE TINES last week. was
also before the board, but their verdict will moi
| be known for several days.
| SerEL Smith, of the Fourth precinct, who fire.
/ quenJy acts as lieutenant in the absence OF
Lieut.. Vernon, Is also to be Investigated. 1t is
! alleged that OF the officers in the
precinct was arrested for being drunk
| and disOrderly, and that he permitted 10
give fictitious name and forfeit collateral
without any report being made TO headquarters
II is said that Sergt Smith does not deny the
| charge, and that the matter viii be investi.
| gated solely for the purpose OF determining the
degree of responsibility
Several other officers were before the board or
minor cases