New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-27
POLITICS IN THIS CHARGE,
a UNION HILL POLICEMAN HEAVILY
FINED FOR BEING A REPUBLICAN.
HIS ACcUsERs EXONERATE HIM. But THE DEMO-
CRATIC COUNCIL FINDS HIM GUILTY OF
INSULTING C1TIZENs-THE CASE
COURTS FOR REVISION.


LIKELY TO GO TO THE
COURTS FOR REVISION
Owen Sheehan is a Union Hill Republican
Republicans are few and far between in Union
Hin. and, 10 add 20 the wonder in Sheehan's
case he is a policeman. Tie Police Board IS
Democratic. On Thursday night. after a hear
ing before the Council. Sheehan was fired sxty
days pay. During the hearing the witnesses
for the prosecution swore that Sheehan did not
do what he charged with dorg, and II is
generally conceded that the officers politics IS
the real cause of the trouble. The case will
doubtless 60 to the courts on appeal.
Sheehan was charged with using insulting and
threatening language to Frederick KraeIner and
John Magai. The Council Chamber was crowded
Town Attorney Heppenheimer appeared 70 prose-
cute for the committee, and had as an assistant
Robert Carey. George Ryerson appeared for the
defendant, and a special stenographer was en-
gagged. Counsel for the defence said afterward
that he was glad there was a stenographic re-
port.
Kraemer keeps a saloon at Lewis-st. and Hud-
son boulevard. Two months ago Sheehan. with
SPECIAL Officer O'Neil. entered the saloon one
Sunday. and after tasting what they say they
was being served 10 customers. pronounced
it beer, and 90 reported it to their superiors
1t was n week later that the occurrence on
which the charge against the officer was based
took place Magai. one Of the men whom the
officer accused OF insulting. went on the
stand to tell what occurred. He stated that he.
Kraemer and Gustave Kaiser standing
the corner near the saloon kept by Kraemer
They were talking In German and Kracmcr
telling them how the officers had obtained the
evidence against him. While he doing
,1,1
was close to them and apparently about TO
pass. Kraemer turned, and. speaking in English.
said:
THAT Is the man who reported me. am go
ing TO see Puster and ask him whether an officer
has a right to enter my saloon as this one did"
Continuing his testimony. Magai said
Then the officer told US TO move on He
threatened TO arrest US If we used disrespectful
language. The officer did not use insulting or
threatening language"
Sheehan's friends smiled at this for they
thought the bottom had dropped out OF the prose-
cutions case. They smiled more broadly when,
a few minutes later. Kraemer took the stand ana
told Of the occurrence Just as his friend had. and
wound up by saying the officer was neither in
sulting nor threatening. Gustave Kaiser tod
the same story. and oxonerate1 the officer. THIS
closed the case for the prosecution.
Sheehan, the stand. told about the same
story. except that he claimed kraemer used
profane expression in saying he would see Pus-
ter about officer entering his place He or
dered them TO move on and threatened them
with arrest While he was talking TO the three
men he saw people leave the saloon within Few
feet OF HIM carrying beer in cans and pitchers.
He did threaten Kraemer with arrest II this
was not stopped. He denied he used any i'm
proper language
John smith Of Homestead swore he pass
Ing the corner when the conversation took place,
and heard Kraemer threaten 10 fix Sheehan.
Mrs Smith with her husband at the time.
The counsel for the accused officer did not take
much time TO sum up the evidence. as he sup
rosed there could be little doubt about the re-
sujt in view of the testimony. The Council then
retired and spent a long time In deliberation.
shortly before / o'clock on Friday morning II
came il with the verdict.
The BOARD also ordered Sheehan. who has been
under SUSPENSION on the charge for five weeks,
to report Yesterday morning He did so. The
loss Of pay while under Suspension. II the next
sixty DAYS pAy is withheld would mean q hns,
all told. OF about 500.