Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-09-12
BACK ON HIS BEAT
Charges Against Officer
O'Brien Not Sustained.
A TILT AT THE HEARING.
Several Pstrolmsn Testified That He
Was Not Drunk.

~
OF the Board OF Aldermen was held Tor the
purpose OF given Officer O'Brien hearing
on the charge OF drunkenness preferred
against him by the chief OF police. Mayor
Tiepke was In the chair and all the MEM
bers present. City Clerk Sibley read
communication from the mayor stating
the reasons for which the meeting was
called.
Upon nomination by Mayor Tiepke
william q. Danz and James ii. Cannon
were appointed special constables.
An ordinance advocated by the wheel
men of the city In regard to regulating the
riding of bicycles was referred to the
Joint Standing Committee on Ordinances.
Clerk Sibley then read the charges
against Officer O'Brlen which have been
published in these columns and were to
the effect that he reported for duty at o
O'Clock d. M, Aug. oath, In an intoxicated
condition and UNFIT for duty.
Ex-Mayor Hugh J. Carroll appeared for
O'Brien and Capt. Rice was the tirst wit
ness. He testified that Sergeant Nicker-
son called his attention to O'Brieh when
he came into the station on the 24th.
Nickerson said, "Did you notice O'Brien;
he is drunk" O'Brien went up stairs,
changed his clothes and at roll call he
(Rice) took particular notice OF O'Brien
and saw that bis face was flushed, speech
imperfect and eyes blurred. He told him
to step out OF the line and after the men
went out he accused him OF drinking
O'Brien denied It and Rice told him he
was unfit for duty and calling him into
the Office told Sergeant Nickerson and
Officer Vananda to note his condition. In
cross examination he said O'Brien did not
stagger, but he smelled liquor on him and
that no man could 60 out OF that station
to 60 on duty who had been drinking as
half drunken man Is not proper person
&c guard the lives and property OF the peo-
ple. He thought that O'Brien might have
been able to work at some laborous task,
but he was too drunk to patrol beat. He
did not know that O'Brien was troubled
with catarrh.
Sergeant Nickerson was sworn and testi-
fed to calling the captains attention to
O'Brien's condition. He thought O'Brien
was drunk and smelled liquor on him. He
did not drink himself thereforsxC Gid de-
tect the odor easily. O'Brien did not
stagger. He was In the Office when Capt.
Rice brought q 'Brien IN; noticed then that
he had been drinking.
Officer Vananda was sworn and said his
attention was called to O'Brien by Capt.
Rice who told him to talk to aim. He said
to O'Brien, "W hats the matter JohnT'
O'Brien did not answer and Vananda
said, "You have been drinking" O'Brien
said al guess not" He smelled liquor off
him. He did not notice O'Brien until
Capt. Rice called his attention. He knew
that O'Brien often had severe tits OF
coughing which would leave him flushed,
etc. He would not haYe noticed anything
wrong IL he had met O'Brien on the
street II he had not got near enough to
smell the liquor.
He never saw O'Brien intoxicated be-
fore except one morning when he came
into the station at 2 O'Clock. This he re-
ported to his superior officers. This ended
the witnesses for the prosecution and Mr..
Carroll said O'Brien went home on the
morning OF Aug. oath and went to bed as
usual. His wife called him shortly after
5 o'clock. He is very stout man and
suffere from throat trouble. On that al
ternoon he had severe couG hing spell
and on the way down to the station he
went into X Kennedy's grocery store On the
corner OF school and Vernon streets and
got a glass of cider. He oame down
street with Andrew Coyle and was as
sober as any man.
Alderman Thomas O'Brien took the
floor and said the case was not properly
before the Board as O'Brien was suspend
ed Aug. 26rb, whach is over two weeks,
while according to the charter the Chief
only has the right to suspend an officer
for one week. He claimed the Mayor had
not suspended C'Brien. Mayor Tiepke
ruled that the case was properly before
the Board, as in his communication to
the Board at the last meeting he approved
Of the suspension OF O'Brien BY Chief
Perry.
Chief Perry arose and said that Alder
man Thomas O'Brien always made trouble
whenever the department had case be-
fore the Board. Mayor Tiepke said the
Alderman had the right to ask any ques-
tion he choose about the case.
Officer O'Brien was then sworn and said
he stayed In the station on the night OF
the Gath AZ 1t was his night In. He got
home shortly after s o'clock and had one
drink during the forenoon. He went to
bed at noon and his wife called him at
$40 O'Clock. He Is troubled with catarrh
and had severe coughing spell and ON
the way down to the station he got glass
of cider at Kennedy's grocery store. He
did not have any supper and upon ar
riving at the station ho went up stairs
and changed bis clothes. When he came
down stairs no sat down at table where
some OF the men were playing cards.
When the time for roll call arrived he got
in line between Officers Mcdonnell and
Drown. When he went to 60 out Capt.
Rice told him to step out Of line and that
he need not 90 on duty that night a. he
was not In q At condition, When the
Captain told him he was drunk he said he
was not ~ he had not drank anything
that would MAKE him drunk. He then
went home. He said he was In the habit
OF going into Kennedy's after cider a. It
was the only thing that relieved him
when he had q coughing attack.