The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-16
POLICE DHLINQUENTS.
Fifteen Members Of the Force
Tried by the Commissions
ers on Charges More or
Less Serious.

\ Fifteen policemen were on trial yester-
| day before the Police Board. The meet
| ing was presided over by Commissioner
West, President Abernethy being Slight
.ly 1ndisposed, although in attendance.
| With three exceptions the charges were
| all OF a trivial character. The three cases
were those of Sergeant Quinn, of the
SlAth precinct, who was charged with ab-
sentlng himself from duty without leave.
| or even giving notice OF his intention not
| 70 appear; Patrolman John Rodgers, of
the FIRST precinct, for indiScreet conduct:
and aIlel Patroiman Nicholas ,Clemence, of the
tIIth precinct, who has been before pun
lSned, had row with his wife on the
street when not on duty or in uniform,
attracting. a crowd and creating excite
his daughter to the Station with his
shield, baton, keys and bicycle, which it
was his duty to ride, and with the mes
sage that he delivered up the things be-
cause he intended to resign.
He soon changed his mind, however,
TOOK pack the equipments and forgot all
ing saved that trouble as the Board was
seriously disposed to dismiss him. He
was fined fifteen days pay and told he
had narrow escape.
Patrolman Christian Bruene, Of the
First precinct, was charged with neglect
ing to report from his signal box at the
proper time on two occasions. He plead
ed guilty to the charge, but gave the ex-
cuse that one time he was engaged in di-
recting some person to place he want
ed to find. and the other time he was es-
was unable to get there alone, being
sufferer from a we'll developed jag. He
was admonished that 1t was his duty to
cover his post, not to take home drunken
men, no matter how respectable they
might be, and If they We're not able to
get home without help to take them to
the station under arrest. For. this show
Bruene was fined two days pay
Patrolman Michael Faherty, of the
First precinct, whose trial on charge of
mitting an assault, has been laid over
from time to time for several months, on
account of the non-appearance of the
complainant and witnesses, and the Off
Ger was on hand ready to answer but
both complainant and witnesses again
failed to materialize, and on motion of
President Abernethy. the charges were
dismissed.
Patrolmen Ellis Dodson, James McCar-
thy ana Dennis Mullins. of the Second
precinct, charged with neglecting to re-
port from signal box at the proper time,
three. cahrges against each. were each
found guilty and fined three days pay.
.Patrolman Louis De Vouseney. of the
Third precinct, pleaded guilty to not re-
porting for duty at the midnight roll call
on September 5, and absenting himself
the entire tour of duty. That little di-
vergency from strict obedience to the
rules of the Department cost him three
days pay.
Patrolman George Conklin, of the
Fourth precinct, was similarly direlict
in the performance of his duty in not re-
porting at night roll call on September Is.
He pleaded guilty without murmur and
will recompense the city for Its loss of
his valuable services to the extent of one
days pay.
Patrolman John Whalen, of the Sixth
precinct, was charged with abusing citi-
zen, who, as alleged, he indiscreetly or
dered off corner, and when the latter
resented, used unnecessary force, but the
complainant did not appear and the case
was laid over.
en-. of the Seventh precinct were also be-
hind time in pulling their boxes. They
both pleaded guilty, and Reddy was fined
two days pay, and Golden, who received
the fine of one days pay.
Patrolman Frank Regan. of the Seventh
precinct, who has pretentions to knowl-
edge of the legal status of things in gen.
eral, and city ordinances in particular,
was charged by Captain Cox with neglect
of duty in not reporting of the absence of
Fairmount avenue. Regan, although ac
knowledging the fact that his Captain
called his attention especially to this
place, and ordered him to report any vio-
lation of the ordinance, contended that
there was no obstruction on the street
within the meaning of the ordinance. as
he drew the line between the sidewalk
and roadway and, therefore. according
to the result of a case tried in court, there
was no requirement for a red light and it
was not his duty to report its absence.
He claimed that only distractions on the
roadway were required to be marked
with red light, and that the obstruction
complained Of was within the line of the
sidewalk, although there Is no sidewalk
there, and the obstruction didn't amount
to much. anyway.
Captain Cox explained that the OBJ
struction consisted of tool house.
large box of mixing mortar and pile OF
bricks, quite sufficient to endanger the
limbs of pedestrians in the dark Regan.s
claim to a knowledge of the law didn't
save him from being found guilty Of. ne
glect of duty and disobedience Of orders.
for which he was fined one days pay.
Sergeant Quinn was fined six days pay
and Patrolman Rogers double the time.
He has been under suspension. Rodgers
has been on the force many years. has
aiwavs been a faithful officer this being !
the first time in all his service that any
charge d1as been made against him.
Chief Murphy announced by communi- |
cation the death OF. Patrolman Charles |
w Wolverton of the Fourth precinct. |
which was ordered entered on the min !
utes.