The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-08-01
PATR0LMEN FOUND GUILTY
NOT OF DRINKING LIQUOR, BUT OF
LEAVING THEIR BEATS.

A special meeting Of the board of
police commissioners was held last
evening for the purpose of consider
ing the charges of drinking intoxicating
liquors while ON duty preferred against
Patrolmen William M. Collett and
Michael Cooney preferred by Sergeant
Crocker. The latter was the only wit
ness against the accused, while the
witnesses for the latter were Commits
sioner James E. Mccain, George Bren-
nan, the bartender at McGann's saloon,
and John McCran.
Sergeant Crocker testified that he
saw Patrolman Collett off his beat
and walk up to the side door of Nc
Cams saloon, where the bartender
was standing with his apron on. The
officer said something to the bartender,
who disappeared into the saloon and
Immediately returned with a glass in
one hand. The sergeant, however, said
he did not see Patrolman Collett drink
anything.
In reference to Patrolman Cooney
Sergeant Crocker stated that on July 20
he saw Cooney cross the street and go
to the back door of McGann's saloon,
speak to the bartender who came out
with a glass and again disappear with
it. He did not actually see officer
Cooney drink the contents of the glass.
James E. McGann testified that Pa
trolman Collett had been at the side
door of his saloon looking for some one
about II o'clock on the night of July 10.
Continuing, he said: I'm reference to
the drinking, l never allow my bar
tenders to give any patrolman on duty
any liquor. obey the law and run my
business Independently, giving no liquid
favors to any policeman. In reference
to Cooney, / will say that there Is a
house of questionable repute on Hill
street. A night or two before July 20
saw policeman go by and I called
to him, but he made no answer. 1t
was Sergeant Orr. A few minutes
later patrolman came along. 1t was
Cooney. l never knew and l wouldn't
allow any policeman on duty to obtain
| a drink from either one of my bar
tenders.
George Brennan, the bartender at Nc
Cams, testified that Collett had come
| to him and asked him about some man,
but denied that he (the bartender) had
a glass in his hand, or that he gave
either of the officers anything to drink.
John McCran, who was in the saloon
| at the time in question, corroborated
| the latter witness.
| In his own defense Patrolman Collett
stated that two nights before the oc-
curence complaint had been made to
him that someone had got into MOZART
| lands cellar and tried to burst open
| the trap door. II saw strange man
standing in that locality, and when he
went into McGann's saloon l followed
| him to the side door and asked the
/ bartender who he was. / took no
| drink
| Patrolman Cooney testified that he
went to the rear door of the saloon
in question to inquire about disreput-
able house which had been complained
of. He denied that he had drank any
thing, or that any liquor had been
| given.
Both officers acknowledged that they
| had not made any note of the occur
rences in their books as required by the
rules, as they did not think them of
sufficient Importance In executive ses-
sion the commissioners found that both
patrolmen were guilty of violating the
rules in leaving their respective beats
1 and not making a record of it, and
voted that each officer should be public
jly reprimanded before the squad to
| which he belongs. 1t was also voted
to commend Sergeant Crocker for his
vigilance in the matter and instruct
the superintendent to promulgate an
order in reference to the carrying out
Of the rules about officers leaving their
beats and to the sergeants to see that
they are rigidly enforced.
The board also instructed the super
| intendent to appoint someone to per-
form the duties of clerk of the de-
partment until the next meeting Of the
board.
DESTRUCTIVE ELM TREE BEETLE
The destructive elm tree beetle was
again the principal subject of consider
| dtlOI dl Llie lileetiHS VI the UOdTu Oh
public works last evening. All the
members of the board were present, and
in the absence of the mayor, Commits
| sioner Johnson presided Park Inspec-
tor Kelly submitted his report of the
work accomplished so far in destroying
the beetle. The report was accepted
and ordered printed, and the board vot-
| ed to petition the court of common
council to reimburse the road depart
ment to the amount Of $1,000, which had
been expended from the funds Of the
department to meet the present emer-
gency.
The report in full is as follows: 'Tn
compliance with the vote of the board
of public works passed July II, have
employed thirty extra men to work on
the elm trees, and have treated about
$500 trees with the emulsion recon-
mended by the United States agricul-
tural department. Five hundred and
thirty gallons of kerosene and 13C
pounds of soap have been used in the
manufacture of the emulsion, making
when ready for use about 1850 gallons
one-quarter of which has been used by
private citizens, who have taken ad-
vantage of the offer of the department
to furnish the emulsion free.
1.-THE work of individuals in the city
has been more effective than that per
formed by this department, for the
|