The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-30
WHITEWA
Captain Kelly on Trial for
Not Raiding a Gambling
Den in His Precinct.
SAID He DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT
His Henchman Clark Scored and
Notwithstanding Ignorance
en- the Part of Policemen.
SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT

Swallowed in 1.-The Jersey City News
yesterday, was a lively one. Police Cap
tain John F. Kelly was up on charges
for falling to discover and report the
existence of Eugene Sullivanfs pool
room in the Eagle Hotel. on Pavonia
avenue, which was raided by Head
quarters detectives under command OF
Sergeant Archibald.
Captain Kelly is the first captain put
on trial since Captain. now Inspector,
LANCE was before the board because or
a dispute with the Salvation Army.
Captain Kelly, like Captain Lange, es-
capped without punishment. In fact the
charges against him were dismissed,
and he was practically honorably dis
charged. The Commissioners We're not
long in arriving at a conclusion in his
case.
Detective Michael Clark. the captains
precinct man, did not escape so luckily.
He was fined ten days pay and sub
tected to a strong rebuke from President
Abernethy.
at has been shown here" the Presi-
dent said, 'that you are intimately ac-
= cuainted with Eugene Sullivan, the pro-
prietor that pool room. You have or
ders to watch him. He has been an
eEeSOIG 10 lAc Va DRIo AHCA
cause of his pool rooms; but you have
never been able to find him. 1t is your
business to find him and the places
where he operates. If you don't, you
are not fit for the business that is as
signed you"
The sentence was a severe one, con-
sidering that Clark has never been be-
fore the board, but he felt the rebuke
moro keenly than the fine,
Policeman Harrington, who was also
charged with failing to know of the ex-
istence of the pool room, rendered his
resignation. This scrape and several
others prompted him, it is said. to retire
from the department. His resignation
was accepted.
Charges of a like character against
Policemen O'Rourke. Alonzo Tier and
McDermott were dismissed. They pa
trolled the post on which the pool room
was located, but failed to learn, or, at
least. report. its existence.
In the case against Captain Kelly,
Chief Murphy was the first witness.
After explaining why he sent the captain
before the board he declared that he
had frequently warned Captains Farrier
and Kelly TO exercise more than usual
vigilance and keep pool rooms out of
the city. The Chief testified that he
learned of the pool room through a
reporter.
OH. CERTAINLY, HE WOULD!
'If you had known of the pool room
you would have raided it. wouldn't your
asked one OF the commissioners of Cap
tain Kelly.
Il would have. gladly" replied the
Captain.
mo information was given you that
the room was IN operation, was there?''
mo. sir
If the Chief had sent you to make
the raid, you would have done 500"
You had no idea that detectives were
going to raid a pool room when you
leaned that they a gone to Pavonia
= had not, was the reply.
IF you didn't know of the pool room.
you couldn't report its existence. could
Not very we'll replied the Captain.
Captain Kelly testified in his own be-
consultations with the Chief on the pool
room question, and declared he had al
ways done all il his power to prevent
their operation. He said he knew Eugene
Sullivan and had been credibly informed
and had read that he operated a pool
room. For that reason he had caused
Sullivan and his saloon on Pavonia ave-
nue. to be Swallowed by Detective Clark.
He had directed the latter to make a
pay Ii Tx SaIOOh pun lOOIl. II pOSS1DIC,
50 as to get evidence against Proprietor
Sullivan. He had, he asserted, detailed
men 10 watch the saloon.
KELLY'S BLISSFUL IGNORANCE.
I su stleai fan p Pa9. room in H ssn
Abernethy.
I read that the place was open for
one day." replied the Captain.
Didn't he, always have a crowd OF
Spectators there"
Not that 1 know Of
M was to that effect"
yam has been a source of great trouble.
Justice Lippincott spoke of him from the
bench, and / have ordered the captains
to be vigilant."
isn't this man Sullivan notorious. from
a pool room point of view?" demanded
President Abernethy.
j have read a great deal about him.
answered the Captain.
Then why didn't you have him watch
ed and prevent him from opening pool
rooms rather than waiting. for a news
paper to locate the place for your"
The Captain a no reply and re-
]. A; Dear. a reporter, testified to hav-
ing, placed 81 on a horse in the hotel
pool room.
testified that he rented the rooms where
the alleged pool room was found to
Engene Sullivan for $50 a month. He
Sergeant Archibald testified to having
made the raid.
Captain Kelly was given an oppor-
out in citizens clothes and had sent
officers out similarly attired from other
precincts with instructions to make bets
in places where he heard pool rooms
elad been opened. He also said that he
had seen Eugene Sullivan at Payonia
avenue and Grove street fifteen minutes
before the raid.
REMARKABLE DETECTIVE WORK.
Detective Clark was put under a not
fire. He admitted he knew Eugene Sulli-
van intimately; had tried to play the
horses in the alleged pool room in the
saloon He also had seen Sullivan the
afternoon of the raid and had been talk
ing to him. He said, acting under in
structions from Captain Farr7er, he had
Patrolmen McDermott. Ra,,rka and
Tier were hauled over the Goals in great
shape. They testified thai the Captain
had ordered them to be on the lookout
for pool rooms. They had lone SO, but
never suspected that Sullivan was; oper-
ating in the Eagle Hotel.
Policeman O,Rourke had never seen a
pool room and declared he wouldn't
know the paraphernalia even If il was
being used on the street.
Don't you know the difference be-
tween sporty men and regulars ?"i asked
President Abernethy.
Before Rourke could answer Commits
sioner Feeney informed him that the diff
ference would be clear by loo king at
the President and then himself CEeeney).
The laugh for a. few minutes was on the
president; Al during the tedionsi exami,
nation Mr.. Feeney amused him self and
the audience by poking fun at th,s serious
presiding officer.
Policeman John 6. Murnhv mrsnt in a