The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-01
QUEER POLICE
Union Townships Force
Looked On While a Riot
Was in Progress.
a SHOT TO END THE LANcERs
Court Amazed By The Incidental
Developments Of a Trial
for Assault.

SrIdi VI Fdlrlck rams ana Wlllldm
Taylor in the General Sessions Court yes
terday afternoon on a charge of assault
and battery on Frederick Muller, dis
closed a remarkable and disgraceful con-
dition of affairs among the police authori-
ties of Union Township and the Town of
Union respectively.
On Saturday, May "a, there was a pic
mic in the Hudson County Park, which is
located in the Township of Union, just
beyond the dividing line. Shortly after
midnight it developed into a riot.
Frederick Muller, the complaining wit
ness, told his story first. He is one of
twenfty-six special policemen who are sup
posed to preserve the peace of the Town
of Union.
"On that night he said, 1--WE were in
a saloon in Humboldt street, Union Hill.
up to twelve o'clock. Then the proprietor
ordered us out because he wanted to close
up. It was suggested that we go down
to the picnic and we went. When we got
into the park Special Policeman William
Ganley told me that there was a fight
going on and asked me to give him a
hand We tried to stop the fight, but
couldn't, and then / suggested that we
l sup Liz luuSic. HIlGl the music CedS6o
Wallis asked me what the HI 1 meant
by stopping the music. A crowd got
around me and l ran Upon the platform
to escape. / made up my mind that it
was getting too hot for me and decided
to get out Of the park if l could. AS I
crossed over the platform, Wallis, who
was dancing with a lady, dropped her
and came oyer and punched me. Then
he ripped my coat up the back. I was
trying to get away when the crowd began
to fire bottles and stones at me. I held
up a chair to protect myself and the
bottles and stones came rafting on it
like hailstones. / finally got away with
the assistance of Policeman Owen Sheehan
of Union Hill. I don't know what became
of Ganley.
Ganley was the next witness. His tes-
timony showed that after getting Muller
into the mess he took the wise precaution
to get out of 1t himself. He testified that
ne saw four lights going on, but he saw
What asked Prosecutor Winfield in
amusement, -four fights and no blows
struck?,
Yes. sir" Ganley, not a bit
disturbed by the Prosecutors evident in
credulity
What kind of fights do you have in the
1OWlSulp CT Union I
Different kinds"
We'll, what are they?,
Sometimes they fight with their tongues
and more times with their fists"
Ganley went on to testify that after the
music was stopped in order to stop the
fights he left Muller to his fate. He
didn't see any one strike him nor any
beer glasses or stones thrown.
Charles Resler, who is evidently a picnic
spieler, testified that he saw Wallis strike
Muller and tear his coat. DE oder fell
low" said the witness. pulled a bannister
stomik wild it."
Policeman owen Sheehan testified that
he and five other Union Hill policemen
stood near the dividing line and watched
the fights going on in the park and
thought there was a riot there. Fhey did
not attempt to interfere.
What exclaimed Prosecutor Win
field, you stood locking at a. riot and
wouldn't iEterfere?"
"Roundsman Feeney wouldn't let US"
answered the witness.
.'Roundsman Feeney wouldn't let your
No, sir. l asked him to let us go into
the park and stop the riot as somebody
might he killed, but he said no, it was
not in our jurisdiction. I asked him two
or three times, but he wouldn't let us go
in"
DO 1 understand" asked Judge Hud-
speth severely, that the whole police
and wouldn't interfere to prevent possible
MURDER"
'Roundsman Feeney wouldn't let u.s."
answered the witness.
That is a remarkable and disgraceful
condition of affairs" commented Judge
Hudspeth.
Special ai i. ofi Se1, e Ca svas,. recalled aenea.,,
asked the Prosecutor.
Eyes, sir"
.special for what purpose, to do moth
No, sir; we do duty when we are paid"
Then o would look at a riot going
on and wouldn't interfere unless you were
paid and had made a contract before
The witness hesitated and muttered
something inaudible.
How many policemen have you in the
township of Union?" asked the Prosecu-
The witness made a mental calculation
and answered twenty-sfx.
Are they all as good as your"
II suppose so.''
We'll the township of Union must be
fearfully and wonderfully protected"
Judge Huospeth said he would like to
as Ganley the townships had, and ex-
pressed his opinion about policemen who
Would look on at a riot and do nothing
During the proceedings Taylor seemed
to be very mulch amused. He slapped his
hat and leaned back in his chair and
laughed. EiyaHy Judge Hudspeth pulled
ann up WITH a round turn.
D you know where you are, young
mann he asked in a severe tone. you
want to behave yourself
Taylor subsidized. 1t came out in the evil
dence that a shot was fired while the
lighting was going on. Taylor explained
this in his testimony.
You see" he said, "a shot is always
fired after the lancers. If you've ever
been to a ball, Judge, you know that af-
ter the last figure in the lancer.i a shot
is fired and that shows that it is all over.,'
Wallis and Taylor both denied that they
had assaulted Muler. They were convict
ed of simple assault.
WILLIAM THOMPSON IN HOBOKEN
William Radcliff Thompson, whose vari-
GUS marital entanglements were aired in