The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-18
POLICE D%[L|NQUENIS.
One on Trial for Acting as
Scout for a Damage
Case Lawyer.

AT the s~emi-monthIy meeting OF the
Board of Police Commissioners, yester-
day, nine policemen were on trial on
charges, some of a serious character, but
the majority for trifing violations OF the
of the department. PatrolInan Rob
ert Pritchard of the First precinct was
arraigned on two charges of not report
ing at the proper times from signal
boxes, on October 7. He pleaded guilty
and was fined six days pay.
Patrolman Edward Coughlin, First pre-
cinct. was charged with discharging his
revolver on Varick street, near Grand, in
a reckless Manner, endangering human
life. on September II Coughlin. having a
warrant for the arrest of James Grainey,
met him on the street and told him ne
had a warrant for him, when Grainey
ran towards the canal. Coughlfn pur-
sued and discharged his revolver once.
Grainey, who made the complaint, says
he fired three times and that the bullets
came very near him, compelling him 10
plunge into the canal to save himself
from being shot. Grainey's testimony
was not corroborated and the charge was
dismissed.
Patrolman James Coolahan, Third pre-
cinct, pleaded guilty to not reporting from
signal boy at the proper time and was
fined two days pay.
Patroiman Henry Eliot, First precinct,
was charged with abusing and ill-treating
Frederick Atkins on the dock at the root
Of Morris street, on the return OF 81
Joseph's Church excursion in August.
Atkins said he went to the dock to meet
his wife. when Eliot, who had been on
the excursion, left the boat and pushed
back the people crowdipg about the emo
of the pier. Atkins started to leave Wnen
Eliot punched and kicked him, andYWhen
he asked him for his number replied that
if he didn't get away he would NUMBER
him. Joseph McCabe .swore that ne saw
Eliot strike Atkins, but the Commission
ers evidently thought that no undue vio-
lence was used, as they pronounced MIN
not guilty. Counsellor Goldenhorn APP
peared for Elliott.
Patrolman George Conklin, Fourth pre-
cinct. was arraigned on three charges
the first for using unnecessary violence
to George Watkins, a young coiored man.
the second. fop- being off his post Whlle
on duty for fifteen minutes in the liquor
saloon Of John Kenny, on West SIDE ave-
nue.. and the third for being twenty-seven
minutes late in sending in his report from
4 signal box. Watkins testified and had
several witnesses to fully corroborate his
testimony. that on October 4, while on
his way home from his work, Conklin,
at the corner of West Side and Hatch
avenues. called to him to stop. but he
took no notice of him. He was carrying
a bundle and Conklin followed him
10 paner store, where he
stopped daily to get papers, and on his
coming out roughly seized him by the
collar. dragged him off the stoop ano
across the street and then tore the paper
off his bundle. which contained nothing
but a head of cabbage. Mr.. Prior. a
the colored man was all right and ne
would vouch for him.. yet Conklin lisiStea
upon arresting him because as he said Il
was none Of his id business Wnat rs
Mrs. Saunders, who keeps the paper
store. appeared as Witnesses for the
colored man and gave MN a goea cnaf-
acter. 1t was also in evidence that II is
a well known fact that the latter never
uses Rrofane language. Conkiln was
found guilty on all three charges ana
was dismissed from the department
Patrolman Francis Kelly. Fourth pre-
was charged with being IN a
saloon on Grand street while on auly-
He had his coat off. was in company WITH
two women and was playing pool. His
defence was that he went into the saloon
and changed clothes With a man IN the
place in order to disguise himself TO eaten
some disorderly persons on the street.
Lawyer Simpson appeared fon Kelly. put
could not convince the Board that he had
not violated the rules OF the department
no matter for what reason he went into
the saloon. He was fined twelve days
pay.
Sergeant John ]. Quinn, Sixth precinct,
was fined ten days pay, he having plead
ed guilty to being absent without leave
and without giving notice.
Patrolman Siller, Fourth Precinct, was
found guilty of leaving the city without
leave on August Is, and going to Bay
onne. 1t is understood. although it did
not come out in the testimony, that Siller
went to Bayonne to see a Jewish fanlly
in the interest of a law firm, having a
suit against the Consolidation Traction
Company. Counsellor Dixon. who appear
ed for Siller. insisted that a policeman
was free to go wherever he pleased when
not on duty. Inspector Lange contend
ed that a policeman is always on gritty.
and must always be available to be called
upon unless he has obtained leave of abb
sence. The Counsellor wanted the IN
spector 10 say what particular day II was
that Siller went to Bayonne. Inspector
Lange replied thai he (the COUNSEL ought
to know. as he went with him. This was
not relished by Mr.. Dixon, who said,
sharply don't You mix me up in this.
/ won't have If" The Inspector. as holly
reioined. II don't care anything for you
or the Traction Company" The case was
finally again laid over to the next meet
ing. Siller, by advice of his counsel, re-
fused to be sworn.
Patrol Driver Philip Hilger, Third Pre-
cinct, was fined two days pay for using
disrespectful language to Sergeant
O,Brien. while responding to an alarm.,of
fire. from box AZ. on October 8. The Ser
geant ordered Hilger to drive faster
when, as charged. he said he would take
no orders from the Sergeant, as he re-
ceived them only from Headquarters
AN INcoRRIGIBlE