Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-02
BAKER is CLEARED.
COMMISSIONERS DISMISS OFFICER
n.ury,s CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
j. s. AUTHORITIES INTERESTED.
uotb Men Claim to Have Tn*en "e-
scrfcr Turman In Chnrge-"e nv
for The Arrcsf-Lieutennn
uu,cr TcstjGcs for the Defendant.

The charges preferred against Police
man Baker by Policeman Bailey po'h OF
the Second District. were venuia'eu oS
the Board OF Police Commissioners Iis'
evening. and were dismissed.
The meeting was held, as Is the custom
Of the commissioners. behind closed doors'
The complainant and defendant were al
mitted and some fourteen witnesses were
heard. among the number police oilcia'S'
United States Commissioners Flegen-
helme-. Deputy Marshal Peasants ana
Lieutenant Miller and Sergeant Beikhap'
Of the United States Recruiting STATION
WHAT BAILEY'S SIDE WAS.
The witnesses for Bailey were heard
first. Their testimony went to show that
on the night of November 18th the TWO
officers were on the Main-street beats
Bailey on the south end Baker on the
north side. When Bailey reached the
Lexington he crossed the street to READ
the bulletins on the Dispatch board, ana
while he was so engaged Furman nap
pened to come along. He was consider-
ably under the influence of liquor anu
accosting the policeman, asked him IL ne
would like to make SEQ. Bailey did not
reply to the question, but placed the man
under arrest for being drunk. lie teie-
phoned for the patrol-wagon, ana whhe
he was waiting for it Furman assured
him that he was not joking as TO his S6o
proposition. and that the officer could
get that sum from the United States au-
thorities. as he Furman) was a deserter
from the army, and wanted to get back
again. About this time Policeman Baker
came along, and the two officers turned
Furman over 10 Policeman Finegan, who
came In charge Of the ambulance, Police
man Bailey telling him to prefer charges
of drunkenness and Of being a deserter
from the United States army. When the
case came up i'm the Police Court next
morning Bailey appeared against Fur
man. Justice Crutchfeid fined the prison.
err $3.50 for being drunk. and held him for
the United States authorities. At the re-
quest of Bailey, the fine was RENTED
upon consideration Of the fact that the
military authorities would deal with the
case in its more important phase.
DIVIDED THE SMALL REWARD.
Furman was given into the custody Of
Deputy-Marshal Peasants, and was sent
TO Fort Monroe 10y Lieutenant Miller, Of
the recruiting station, charged with being
a deserter Baileys name appearing as
having made the arrest
The usual reward of $40 was paid TO
Bailey. who gave Baker g Of the amount,
in consideration of the arrest having been
made on his beat, and the ethics in such
cases demanding a division Of the spOls.
When Furman was arraigned before the
court-martial and the charge was read
to him. he denied it. declaring that he
gave himself up of his own yOlitiOn. and
that he was not arrested as a deserter
The trial was Adjourned, and Leuten-
ant Miller was asked to make inyestiga-
TONS That officer went TO the Second
Police Station to make inquiry. and while
he was making known the object Of his
visit TO the desk-sergeant. Policeman
Baker, who was standing by, interpOsed.
saying that he was thoroughly acquainted
with all the details of the case, as ur-
man had given himself into his Baker 81
custody, and that the soldier was not ar
rested.
Bakers statement put a very different
complexion on the case If a soldier de-
serts, and then gives himself up, the po-
lice officer or other person into whose GUS
tody he gives himself Is not entitled to a
reward, and, further. his voluntary act
mitigates his punishment by reducing the
time Of his imprisonment to less than
twelve months.
Baker was summoned to appear before
the cOurt-martial and did so. testifyng
q 10. IsI III n i'm
self The mileage and other fees for the
witness amounted to 5000, and Baker did
not share his profits.
BROUGHT TO AN ISSUE.
After the court-martial it was rumored
that the District Attorney would be in
structed TO proceed against Bailey for ac-
cepting from the United States the so re-
ceived for arresting Furman as a deserter.
The report reached Policeman Bailey, and
he determined to bring the matter TO a
speedy issue, so he preferred the charge
against Baker that he had wilfully and
maliciously misrepresented him and had
tried to work him serious injury.
The principal witness for Baker was
Lieutenant Miller, who, with others Of his
staff. inclined TO the belief that Furman
had surrendered himself to Baker.
After hearing all the evidence IN the
case the cndIEtS were uiSliliSStu NilhOul
further discussion.
1t was said last night that the hearing
before the Police Board was merely pre-
liminary 10 more serious steps which are
contemplated by the United States au-
thorities. Lieutenant Miller said that the
matter would not be allowed to rest. The
fact that charges were made I'm such a
manner as to lay Furman liable to term
OF imprisonment longer by twelve months
than would have been the case If the
charge had been properly represented. was
considered very serious in military circles.