The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-02
IT DROPPED O'CONNOR
SAFETY BOARD FINDS
STORY OF HI OUTRAGE CORRECT.
PatrOIman BoIen Acquitted on Charge
Exercising Right of Free peech

At a prolonged session, last night, the
Board of Public Safety heard charges pre-
ferred against Timothy O'Connor and
Frank Bolen, members of the police force.
O'Connor, accused of drunkenness and I'M
becoming conduct, was found guilty and
dismissed from the force. Bolen was exon
Grated Of the charge of interrupting a pub
lie meeting made against him by Harrison
Ogborn, chairman of the Populistic county
committee
Bolen's case was heard first. Harrison
Ogborn testified that he was making a
public address last Saturday night on the
street near the corner of Washington and
Meridian streets, when he was interrupted
by Bolen, who ordered him TO stop speak
ing. He complained against the 1nterfer-
ence as being an attempt to override his
constitutional right of free speech. Og-
born admitted, and other witnesses testi-
fed, that the sidewalk was almost COM
pletely blockaded.
On his own behalf Bolen declared that he
had received orders by telephone from the
police station to go to the corner and dis
perse the crowd. He said that he went to
Ogborn and told him that he was blockad-
ing the sidewalk and would have to move
out in the middle of the street. Ogborn,
Bolen testified, was on the l.. h.
Morrison, proprietor of a store, said that
he kept open Saturday night, and that It
was almost impossible for his customers
to get in and out of his store, and that he
appealed to the corner man, patrolman Ly-
ons, to clear the sidewalk. This Lyons
tried to do two or three times, without
much apparent success, when Morrison tel
ephoned to the police station and asked
that officers be sent to clear the ldeWalk
After hearing a number OF witnesses the
board retired for consultation ana Hldue
the following finding:
The board finds the officer not guilty of
an attempt TO interfere with free speech,
and. while it is not the intention of the
department to interfere with free speech,
the board would suggest that inasmuch
as merchants have made serious Complaint,
that public speakers refrain from occupy
ing the sidewalk"
Last Tuesday morning the journal con-
! tanned an account of an outrageous at
tack patrolman Tim O'Connor made on
John S. m Sunday morning while
the officer was badly intoxicated. But Tor
the publication of the story II Is prooaoie
that O'Connor's actions would never nave
been known, as Leammah, at the request
of O'Connor's friends, agreed to keep quiet.
Leamanan and his wife both testlhed last
| night to the facts as published Tuesday.
Mr.. Leamman's story was fully corrobo-
! rated bv his wife, who said O'Connor
| struck at her with his mace. Sergeant
Lowe told of making a visit to OConnors
house Tuesday afternoon at the direction
| of the superintendent, who wished an IN
yestigation of the story published in the
pretty badly dishgured, explained his con-
dition by saying that he tried TO carry a
trunk upstairs and fell down with it. Aft
err the sergeant told him that the story
was out Tim said, Well, to tell 90
the truth, 1 ran against a snag-'
A number of witnesses who were called
in O'Connor's behalf, testified to having
seen him at various times Sunday morn
ing as late as 8 o'clock, and they all de-
clared that The didn't seem drunk to me-"
Lawrence Hanlon, the patrolman VINO sep
arated O'Connor and SAID that
O'Connor did not appear drunk, although
he walked home with him. He was ques-
toned rather closely by the board as to
why it was necessary to walk home with
O'Connor. He replied that he went home
with O'Connor to learn what the trouble
was all about.
O'Connor himself said he was not drunk
and gave an altogether different version
of the affair. He said that he saw Learn
man standing in front of his gate ana
casually remarked that it was a bad morn
ing, when the latter made some insulting
he said. that he undertook to arrest h1m.
He declared that he had not drunk any-
thing that night except a half glass of sour
wine when he went to a room over the
N~ickel-plate saloon to borrow an umbrella.
as it was raining that morning. One of the
witnesses had previously testified that
O'Connor drank a small portion of wine
in his room that morning when he called
to get an umbrella He declared that it
was his intention TO arrest Leamman, but
that he got the worst of it. and that he
would have sworn out a warrant for his
"Why was it." asked Commissioned
Morse, that you walked away without ar
resting that man after ne had cursed you,
knocked you down and kicked you in the
face? You had another officer to back you
in making. the arrest"
He made an evasive answer, hut insisted
that it was his intention to have sworn cut
a warrant. He said that he was not sure
that the rules required him to make a re-
port of the case to headquarters.
After q few moments consultation the
board announced its decision. President
Mcguire said that it was the unanimous
opinion of the board that the charges were
sustained and that no course was left the
board but to dismiss O'Connor from the
force. O'ConnoI seemed considerably af-
fected and made a faint attempt to argue,
referring to the large number of witnesses
that had testified to seeing him sober but
a few moments before the trouble. Presi-
dent Mcguire intimated that there was
some question as TO the credibility of some
of the witnesses and said that the board
could not reverse its decision. Although he
regretted such a course was necessary, the
dignity of the department must be main
tanned, he said O'Connor assured the
board that he cherished no i'll will and babe
everybody a hearty goodbye.
On the written request of DR.. Ferguson,
secretary of the Board of Health, Jerry
Collins was last night appointed sanitary
inEnactor vice William e Jones who re-