The times., 1899-06-16
PETTY JBALOUSIES
AMONG THE POLICE
The Story of a Recent In
vestigatiOn.
Trouble Growing Out of the Over
pOwering of Dock NJ. Tharpe.
Sergeant kraemer and Detective
Cochran Both Claim Credit
for the Arrest.

since the killing of Aaron Bishop, an
immune. by Dock NJ. Tharpe also an i'm
mune, at the Pennsylvania Railroad sta
tion some time ago. the police have been
busy obtaining facts in the case. The
main object, of course is that the wit
nesses for the prosecution shall be a unit
or as near a unit as possible in their tes-
timony. This will naturally strengthen
the case against the prisoner. Tharpe has
been indicted for murder, and though the
opinion is expressed that he will not be
convicted of the charge, such an opinion
has no influence over those who will con-
duct the prosecution. Tharpe will be put
on trial for his life on the 26th day of the
present month.
The difficulty which now confronts the
prosecution is the wide variance of the
statements made by the policemen pres
ent at the station at the time OF the shoot
ing. There were two policemen, one SER
geant, and a detective on duty there when
Tharpe killed Bishop. The policemen were
Payne and Joseph Acton, who was shot
by Tharpe The sergeant was Kreamer,
and the detective Cochran. The state
ments of these men did not agree at the
coroner's Inquest held at the Sixth pre-
cinct station house two days after the
tragedy.
The wide variance in the statements of
the officers cannot be accounted for unless
81 is that the jealousy which has long been
felt in the department, particularly be-
tween detectives and policemen, is again
asserting itself to a pronounced and obnox-
ious degree. Some one is not telling the
truth, either by design or accident. When
the evidence was submitted at the coro-
ner's inquest Detective Cochran claimed
that be grabbed Tharpe after the shooting,
together with Policeman Payne, and that
they wrestled with the man until Cochran
secured possession Of the smoking revolver.
In order to obtain the revolver Cochran
claimed that it was necessary for him TO
wrest the weapon from the mans hand.
Sergeant Kreamsr in his testimony
stated that when the first shot was fred,
which struck Policeman Acton, that officer
fell, knocking Kreamer down, which fact
Rreamer claims prevented himself from
being hit by a bullet, as one struck in the
wall where he had been standing He
claimed that Acton fell on him, but that
he quickly recovered himself, and, getting
on his feet, took hold OF Tharpe's right
hand, which held the revolver. He struck
the man on the hand with his club and Sc
cured possession of the revolver. Kreamer
stated that he and Policeman Payne then
took the prisoner through the crowd to the
street, where Cochran came up and placed
his ''nippers" on the man. Kreamer then
ordered the officers to take the man to the
station. During his testimony Kreamer
frequently contradicted or corrected him
self, and appeared much confused over the
questions asked hkm by Attorney Campbell
Darlington. who appeared for Tharpe.
Policeman Payne testified that he grabbed
Tharpe on the left side Immediately after
the shooting began. He had occasion to
strike the man on the head with his club
because of his h@hting humor. He stated
that later he and Detective Cochran took
Tbarpe to the patrol box. His testimony
was practically In substantiation of that
given by Sergeant Kreamer.
II Is understood that after the inquest
Sergeant Krasnsr visited Major Sylvester
and claimed tba credit for overpowering
Tharpe. 1t ss snid that he also claimed
other things which SO attracted the atten-
tion OF Major Sylvester that he instructed
the sergeant 70 the effect that It would be
better to put his statement in writing.
This Kreamcr Is alleged TO have done.
When Major Sylvester looked into the mat
ter he is said to have been so impressed
with the differences in the statements re-
garding the AFFAIR that he ordered an in
vestigation in order to get at the truth of
the matter.
The investigation was held before Trial
Officer Pugh and Captain Austin at Police
Headquarters Monday afternoon. Several
witnesses were examined. among them be-
Ing persons who were not present at the
railroad station at the time Of the shooting
and who knew nothing of the affair until
&{ter Tharpe had been brought TO the sta
tionhouse. This was significant and con-
veyed the impression that other things had
occurred and had been said that were not
brought out IN the testimony at the in
quest. AS the investigation was not public
Il was with difficulty that the facts in the
case were learned. Major Sylvester. when
seen In relation TO II, declined to discuss
It, saying that It would not be made public.
He stated that the investigation was held
for the purpose OF discipline. II was un-
derstood from good authority that some one
had misrepresented affairs TO the Major and
he was endeavoring to get at the facts.
Since the investigation, though the mat
ter was supposed TO have been kept quiet,
81 has become public property and has
been generally discussed by members OF
the department and others. The general
impression prevails that the affair is the
result OF Jealousy. 1t appears that what is
claimed by both Cochran and Kraemer is
the credit for disarming Tharpe. Kraemel
claims, II is said, and he is alleged 10 have
was on the right OF Tharpe and that Coch-
ran was on the left. This is in direct con-
tradiction of what he stated at the in
quest, when he claimed that Payne was
on the left Of the soldier. He also is SAID
70 have claimed that he took the revolyel
from Tharpe and then TO have given II tC
Cochran with the instruction that he was
TO turn II in at the station. Cochran IL
said 10 have denied the statement, claim
ing that he took the revolver from tbs
prisoner and put II IN his pocket.
Cochran is said TO have claimed that a
the stationhouse he was asked by Kraemei
II he did not have the revolver and tha
when he replied that he had Kraenel
asked him what right ne had 10 IT, Coch
ran is then said TO have replied that h'
was an officer of the law as well as Rrae
mer. At this Kraefner Is said TO have ex
pressed surprise and to have enQuired o.
Cochran his name. Kraemer In his testi
mony at the investigation is said to hay'
denied the statement OF Cochran He 1:
said to have claimed that he knew WHIT
Cochran was when he gave him the re-
volver. He stated further, II is said, tha
in conversation with Cochran at the sta
tionhouse he remarked, You know tina
when / gave you that revolver / told yol
10 turn II In here"
Stationkeeper Garner and Patrol ofice
Oliver. Of the Sixth precinct. were wit
nesses at the Investigation. They arr
said to have testified that they heard
conversation between Cochran and Ser
Eeant Kraemer, but as they were busl
they paid little attention TO IL. II is al
legged that neither could recall hearing
Kraemer say what he is said TO hay
claimed. Sergeant Falvey also testified
but to what effect is not known. Police