The age-herald., 1897-09-15
THREE OFFICERS ON TRIAL
 ? Regular Monthly Meeting of the Police Commission. CASES WERE CONTINUED Patrol Driver Jones, Drunk on Duty, and Off, cers Byars and McCuIlom for Allowing Robbery Under Their Noses.

consumed in the trial of Patrol Driver J. J. Jones and Officers J. N. Byars and R. H. McCullom. The first named was charged with being intoxicated on duty and the latter were tried for alleged neg lgence of duty in connection with the McMillan-Lee robbery.
 They were given orders to watch the store and while they were supposed to be on duty the store was robbed. Pa- trol Driver Jones while driving reck- lessly ran right into the arms of Chief Mcdonald who ordered him off duty and sent another man with the patrol wagon.
 Jones admitted that he had taken whiskey on account of sickness. Wheth- CT the other officers were asleep or act ed contrary to instructions Is hard to decide. The fact remains that the Me NIillan-Lee store was robbed while off, ing 1t. From the evidence adduced the robbers could have spat in the face of McCullom had he been secreted where he was supposed to be, as they scraped the lard from the barrel. Both cases were continued until Thursday afternoon, when a special meeting will be held at o'clock.
 All of the members of the commission were present and Chairman Stevens presided.
 Chief N1cDonald was the first witness examined. He testified that he ordered Captain Weir to send Officers Byars and McCollum to watch the opening in the rear of the AIdMillan-Lee building. The store had been robbed the night beforei Captain Weir testified that he ordered Mr. McCoilum to go and watch the place until relieved at midnight by MT. Byars. Byars was sent alt P o'clock. McCol-, lum had met him, by appointment, at the Metropolitan hotel where the orders were given. He told McCollum to go to the place and use his own discretion in se- creting himself. He afterwards received a message by Joe iRencher for A1cCollum.l saying that we would be on the inside cf the building. Did not remember telling Officer Byans that McCollum might be found on the inside. NcCollum has been on the force about nine years and had a good reputation for watchfulness and obedience. The same instructions were given both officers to watch the building. Byars has been on the force about five or six years.
 Harry Proctor, bill clerk for MceIillan- Lee company, testified as to MT. McCol- lum's visiting the store early in the night. He was shown by MT. Lee a place on the inside where he could secrese himself. The front and back doors were locked and barred. The next morning it was found some lard, etc., were stolen. MT. McCollum sat within ten or twelve feet of the lard He was on the inside, concealed, at o'clock when MT. Lae and MT. Proctor left Hhe store Lard was stolen both nights. The first time finger prints were left on the bucket; the second time it was scraped out with boards. Burglars would have seen MT. NfoCollum In robbing ehe store. They could have touched MT. MoCollum, had he been there, at any time.
 Officer Oldham detailed an account of his going to the placa with Officer Byars about midnight. He examined the doors of all of the buildings and found them, locked. Saw McCullom about 2:15 o'clock as he was leaving the realr of the building. Should have left there at midnight Saw Byars about 2:45 o'clock on Morris avenue near the new bridge. He asked for McCoq- lum and said he had not seen him. The front doors were locked that night, but in the morning the upper and lower bolts of rear door had bsen found drawn.
 Albert F'asnacht testified that Mr. Nc CoIum had left a. message att the Metro politan hotel for Capt. Weir, saying that he would be on the inside of the build- ing. Several oth@r witnesses were ex- amined, but the evidence was the same.
 Officer Byars said he was ordered to go and relieve McCollum, but he could not find him. He stationed himself in a car where he could see and not be seen. About 2:30 o'clock he went around the block to look for Mr. McColium. He went back to the car and stayed there until daylight. Did not go to sleep.
 Other officers testified that they heard the orders given to the men to watch the opening in the wall of the rear of the store. Warden Walton testified that McCollum came into his office about 3 o'clock and said that he saw Byars slt- ting on pile of lumber. Byars denied being there and Collum said that he did not claim to have seen him there . He saw a man there, but was not sure 1t was Byars.
 The next trial was that of Patrol Driver Jones, with being intoxicated Chief Mcdonald said that he was on Second avenue near Twenty-second stre@t on September l. That MT. Jones drove wrecklessly by and came near running over him. He was on the very eve of running into telegraph pole on the corner of Second avenue and Twen- ty-second street and demolishing the wagon. He was afraid to leave MT. Jones in control of the wagon as he considered him under the influence of liquor, and told Officer McCollum to take charge and return to the station.
 Henry Cole said that he was on the