The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-06

more Charges..Cause of Charges.
A bit or realistic burlesque il the
words can be used in such a case was
enacted before the police committee of
select council in Mayor Bailey's office
last night. The occasion was the hear
ing of evidence on the charge of drunk
enness made against Patrolman Joseph
Block by Select Councilman John Il
Roche. of the Seventh ward.
Mr. Roche's witnesses were his cous-
in, John c. Roche, and his brother, Den
mis- Roche They testified that at II
o'clock on the night of the recent severe
hail and wind storm, July 10, they had
seen Patroman Block perform an i'm
modest act while standing on Gibson
street ten or fifteen feet east of Ca
pouse avenue
Councilman Roche and his two wit
nesses left after presenting this evi-
dence. There was a disposition
on the part of the committee
to terminate the case and ig-
more the charge without hearing the
evidence for the accused. Several de-
fense witnesses were examined, how
ever, and a few moments later a de-
cision was reached which relieves the
patrolman from suspicion even.
CAUSE OF THE CHARGES.
To an impassioned speech of
Select Councilman John T.. Roche.
Democratic member from the Seventh
ward. during the councilmanic session
of Thursday, July 16, may be attributed
the allegation which led to the in
vestigation. That night John c. Roche.
the councilman's cousin, and Frederick
Karius We're to have been named by
Mayor Bailey for patrolmen. A caucus
of the Republican members had decided
to confirm Karius' appointment. but not
that of Roche. Councilman Roche
learned of this and what followed In
that nights session was reported as fol-
lows in The Tribune the next day:
When Clerk Lavelle had finished read
ing the minutes, Mr.. Roche arose and an
nounced that he had a communication
which the mayor had asked him to pre-
sent under certain contingencies. These
| contingencies having arisen, he said, he
would present the communication at that
| time If there was no objection. There be-
ing none he handed up the following which
the clerk read:
"To the Honorable the Select Council,
City of Scranton:
"Gentlemen-At the request of the appli-
cant / hereby withdraw from your con-
sideration the name of John c. Roche for
the position of patrolman.
James G. Bailey, Mayor"
On motion of Mr.. Chittenden the nomi-
nation was returned to the mayor. min
ute later. when the police committee
was making its report, Mr.. Roche arose
| and said:
81 wish to call the attention of the COM
| mittee to the fact that one of their Repub-
publican patrolmen. Joseph Block, was
drunk and exposed his person on Capouse
avenue, the night of the storm"
MADE 1T AS A CHARGE.
''Do you make that in the shape Of n
charger" asked Chairman Sanderson.
Yes, / lay it before the police commit
tee." answered Mr.. Roche.
Mr.. Chittenden moved that the clerk
make a minute of the charge and notify
the police committee of It, The motion
prevailed.
The police committee requested Mayor
Bailey to attend public investigation
Of the charge. The result was the pro-
ceedings of last night
The hearing began at $50 O'Clock.
Aside from the committee, city officials,
a dozen or more of Blocks witnesses
and reporters, there We're In the room
perhaps score of men, some attracted
by curiosity and some out of interest
in the principals in the case. Grouped
about a large table at the east end of
the room We're Block and his attorney,
George NJ Watson; Councilman Roche,
Mayor Bailey, Chief of Police Robling,
Stenographer c. A. Battenberg. of the
| city solicitors office, and the following
members Of select councils police COM
mittee: Wade NJ. Finn. Charles T..
| Chittenden, Charles +. Wagner. II. ].
Coyne and J. ]. McAndrew. Others in
the room were Street Commissioner
Kinsley. and Select Counclmen Schroe-
| der and Durr.
MAYOR SWORE WITNESSES.
Mayor Bailey took no part in the
business of the investigation beyond
administering the oath to the wit
| nesses.
Assistant City Clerk Evan Morris
read that portion of the council minutes
containing Mr.. Roche's charge.
John c. Roche was the first witness
He was questioned by his cousin. and
on cross-eXamination by Mr.. Watson
and several Of the committee. He had
little to tell beyond his having seen
Block in an indecent act on the night
| in question. He knew nothing about
Block being intoxicated, but had heard
| so. There were no women in the vicin-
| ity. Block was about seventy five feet
away.
Dennis Roche, the second and last
witness for the councilman, testified to
| the Datrolman's indecency, but he had
no conversation with him and didn't
know whether he was sober or not.
Councilman Roche arose on the con-
clusion of Dennis Roche's testimony and
said that was all the evidence he had
to offer. OF the charge of drunkenness
he remarked that its correctness could
be inferred from the evidence offered by
his two illnesses. That would be q
charitable way of viewing the officers
conduct.
Mr.. Chittenden and Mr.. Finn insisted
that Mr.. Roche remain until the con-
clusion of the hearing. They indicated
to him that the evidence he had offered
had no bearing on the intoxication phase
of the case
II am through" said Mr. Roche. You
can infer the rest. ! said would prove
he (Block) was drunk and I think I
| have done so If not you can infer it,"
Then followed brief consultation of
the committeeman, in which they were
| of opinion that there was no necessity
| for hearing other witnesses. They de-
cided, however, to continue as a matter
of form.
PATROLMAN JONES SWORN.
Patrolman George Jones testified that