The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-30
THE POLICE CRIME
Great Indignation Over the
Substitution Of TACK"
Graham For Keep
er Watson.
CAREERS IN CONTRAST
Republicans Utterly Disguised
-Certiorari Suit In Pros
pect Tardy Re-
pentance.

Aleck Watson's dismissal as prison
keeper in the First precinct police sta
tion has been the cause of no end Of
comment since the notorious meeting OF
the Republican Board of Police Commits
sioners, held at Police Headquarters,
Tuesday evening. The Police Commits
sioners, who were responsible for the out
rage committed, have themselves realized
that they have made gross mistake
and they are now willing to make
amends.
During Watson's career as prison.
keeper, the jail has been kept in an ad-
mirable condition, and frequently the
Commissioners themselves have passed
favorable comment upon the work per-
formed by this faithful servant. That
they should have rewarded such man
with dismissal has found for them many
enemies in the party that placed them IN
power. Not only has the exodus OF
Aleck as he is Familiarity called, put the
Commissioners in disfavor, but the ap-
pointment of their man Friday. for Gra-
ham has for years acted as such, has
put them deeper in the mire.
Graham is a Republican heeler of the
most despised type. He is man who
| is willing to take any chances to do his
masters bidding. He has been placed
| in a good fat position for his dirty work,
| in spite of the protests of such men as
Frank O. Cole and other Republican lead
| ers, who were decidedly against such an
| appointment.
| The matter is not to rest at this point.
Another month will see new police
| board in power, composed of Democrats,
who believe in lrewarding faithful SER
want Watson, who for the past elgn-
| teen years has served the city to the
| detriment of his health, has many friends
| in the Democratic party, who Will see
that the aged prison-keeper is properly
| cared for.
| 1.-THE position from which he has been
! deposed will probably be returned to hm
or abolished altogether was the state
ment of prominent Democrat this morn
| ing. 'sIn case the latter course is resorted
| to, another position, with lighter work,
| will be given to Mr.. Watson
| Many friends of Mr.. Watson have taken
up the fight and declare the dismissal
Illegal. They threaten to bring the mat
| ter before the Supreme Court to have the
Commissioners unjust ruling set aside
| 1t is also claimed by many well known
| LAWYERS who have been interviewed on
| the subject, that Watson should have had
a hearing on charges preferred against
| him in order that physicians who have
examined him could bear testimony In his
| favor. to offset that of the committee ap-
pointed by the Republican Czars of the
Police Board. This privilege was not ac-
! corded to the dismissed officer and he was
uneeremoniously dropped from service.
This course is not in accordance with
Section s26 of the law, which reads as
| follows:-
.sThat no person whether officer or em-
pioye in the Police Deparement of any
city, shall be removed from office or en-
| ployment therein except for just cause,
as provided in the first section of this act,
1 then only after written charge or charges
| of the cause or causes of complaint shall
have been preferred against any such
| officer or employe, signed by the person
or persons king such charge or charges
| and filed in the office of the municipal
officer, officers or board having charge
/ of the department in which the complaint
| arises and after the said charge or
| charges have been publicly examined into
officer or authority upon such reasonable
notice to the person charged and in such
i manner of examination as the rules and
regulations governing the same may pre-
| scribe. it being the intent of the act to
| give every person against whom charges
1 have been preferred under this act fair
| trial upon said charges and every reason-
1 able opportunity to make his defense"
/ In accordance with this law, Captain
/ Thomas F,dmonston, who at one time had
iscommand of the Second precinct police,
/ was charged by the Board of Police COM
| missioners with being physically unable
| to perform police duty. Captain Edmori-
! ston. under the law, was given the right
/ TO have counsel and several expert ply
| sicians to testify in his behalf. The testi-
| monv against the Captain, however, was
| so ponderous that he was dismissed from
! the service.
| In the case of Patrolman John Nc
/ Gratn. the same procedure was adopted.
1 He however, like Captain Edmon-
ston won his case, and the charges were
| dismissed.
! There are several other instances where
/ charges of incapability have been pre-
ferred against officers but in each case
! they have been given chance to defend
themselves. Watson had no say in his
| dismissal.
Counselor John J. Mulvaney has been
1 retained by Aleck Watson to certiorari the
action Of the Police Board in dismissing
i him. The law governing removals from
the police department specifies very CLEAR
i " that in the case of incapacIty the BOARD
| Shall appoint physicians 70 make an tA-
/ animation of the person afflicted II reai-
4 ,frifa fad nhNSipianS
i Inc Board and then some authorized pei
/ son has to frame charges.
i THE accused is then entitled TO trial,
4 the same as a man accused OF any o1Ience.
4 Watson was not given hearing. but was
4 nuf ont practically without notice, 70
4 make room for Graham. The appoint
4 ,nent of Graham has caused old party
men 10 declare they will never support
i their party again so long as Graham Is
| kept in an office.
Graham is beyond doubt the most I'M
/ popular and despised man IN the city On
i fhfs other hand SAleck Watson demon
sfrafed the fact very clearly that he was
i The most popular man in the whole police
department. He was the winner of The
4 Jersey City News popularity contest and
was sent to the Worlds Fair by the
4 paper He was q consistent Republican,
i hui at the same time he had and still has
i as many if not more friends in the Demo
| cratic party than insthe one he has always
been loyal to.
Spring tiredness is due to an Impoverished
sIsconlItion Of the blood and Is cured by Hood q
i sarsaparilla. which enriches the blood.