Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-13
OFFICER LAID OFF.
Patrolman Lamson Suspended
on Serious Charges.
His Housekseper Sues Him for Breach OF
Promise After He Marrles Roch-
ester Woman.

Patrolman Daniel L. Lamson of the
Worcester police department, married
Ida Thompson of Rochester, N. Y,
Tuesday, at Millbury, and Wednesday
he received AN unwelcome wedding gift
in the shape Of an order from Chief of
Police brennan, suspending him from
duty upon charges of gross immoral
conduct and neglect of duty. The charg-
es of gross immoral conduct are pre-
ferred by Miss Hannah Donahue, and
the charges of neglect of duty, which,
beside the others, sink into insignifi-
canoe, are made by Chief brennan. The
order ouspending Lamson was sent to
him Wednesday afternoon, and was as
follows;
Department of Police.
Worcester, Mass, JAN II, 1898.
Daniel L. Lamson, patrolman:-
Sir,-You are hereby suspended from
duty, as a police officer of the city of
Worcester until further orders. Charges
and specifications will be preferred
against you for gross immoral conduct
and for neglect of duty. And you will
be notified of the time and place of the
hearing before the board of aldermen
in due season. Respectfully yours,
James NJ. brennan,
Chief of Police.
The suspension of the patrolman upon
such serious charges so soon after his
marriage, created a big sensation in
police circles. The marriage was per-
formed in Millbury Tuesday, by Rev.
George P. Eastman of the Second Con-
gregational Church, the ceremony tax
ing place in the rectory. The couple
were about Millbury for some time,
looking for a justice Of the peace, and,
failing to locate one, went to the home
of the clergyman. So far as the bride
is concerned, there is nothing unusual
about the marriage, but the marriage
is alleged to be the occasion for filing
the charges of immoral conduct.
About two years ago Lamson secured
a divorce from his wife, on the grounds
of adultery, and Immediately engaged
Miss Hannah Donahue as a housekeep-
er. According to the woman, he prom
lsed to marry her as soon as the divorce
was absolute, which would be six
months after the granting Of the de-
cree. At that time Maj. E. T. Raymond
was chief of police, and he spoke to
Lamson of the improperly of having
the woman diving in the same house
with him, and to Maj. Raymond Lam
son declared he was going to marry the
Donahue girl. According to her story,
related to Chief brennan, when she
learned of Lamson's intention to marry
Miss Thompson, she demonstrated with
him, asking him not to throw her over,
now that he had ruined her life He
paid no heed to her appeals, and she
left the house on Grove street about
two weeks ago. She waited until Lam
son had carried out his idea of mar
lying Miss Thompson, and then made
her charges to Chief brennan. There
are many specifications, which will not
be made known until the hearing before
the board of aldermen
In relation to the charges of neglect
of duty, Chief brennan viii endeavor
to show, through subordinate officers,
that Lamson has been guilty of leaving
his beat upon number of occasions and
passing the time lettering about a num-
Der Of places.
Lamson was appointed a member of
the police department by Mayor F. A.
Harrington, in 1890, when he was en-
ployed as driver by A H. Sears &
Co., ice dealers. Until 1892 he was at
tadhed to Station 2, and then trans
ferred to Station l. He was attached
to Sergt. McMurray's relief and patroled
the beat from Central street to Lincoln
square on the easterly side of Main
street.
Later in the day Wednesday, Hannah
NJ, Donahue, through her counsel, Sui
Ivan & O'Connell, brought suit in an
action of tort against Officer Lamson
with an ad damnum laid in the sum of
$4,000. The property of the defendant
was attached by Deputy Sheriff David
H. Hayter, the writ being returnable
the first Monday in February. The suit
is brought for alleged breach Of promise
Lawyer David F. O'Connell was seen
in regard to the case Wednesday night,
but said he could not discuss it, as de-
velopments are expected, pending the
charges preferred against the defendant
by the plaintiff before the chief of
police