Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-06
EVIDENCE FOR DEFENSE
Continuation of Hearing in Case of Sergeant
McNeely.
Witnesses Testify Today to Defend
ants ReputatiOn-His Evidence
in His Own Behalf.


Pugh this morning Mr.. Smith called Dr..
Mayfield, one of the police surgeons, as the
first witness. Attorney Chase, for the
prosecution. objected to the testimony Of
the doctor. He complained that many wit
nesses had been examined on the part of
the defense as an attack upon William H.
Lee. the prosecuting witness. and this tes-
timony, he said, has no bearing on the case
at issue. Counsel read the charges against
the officer and said he expected to prove
that some of the testimony given against
Lee had been manufactured.
DIR. Mayfield testified that Sergeant Nc
Nicely had consulted him several times
about his nervous condition. He said the
sergeant is man of nervous temperament.
Attorney Chase asked the doctor if he
thought the sergeant was too nervous to
accept a brlbe. Inc doctor answered that
the acceptance of a bride was the last
thing he would attribute to the accused
In answer to another question by Attorney
Chase the doctor said the acceptance OF
bride. he thought, would make him nervous
Detective Parham testified that he had
known the defendant for long time, and
regarded him as a man of nervous tenn
permanent. Witness had always found Ser
geant McNeely an honest, upright and
jealous officer. He said every officer has
good reputation until he is detected doing
something wrong.
Attorney chase TOOK occasion curing the
examination to refer to Detective Parham
a man with an excellent reputation and
an efficient officer.
lone honest officer" remarked Mr.. Smith
jokingly
There are hundreds of them" added At
torney Chase.
In His Own Behalf.
Sergeant McNeely was sworn in his own
behalf. He testified that he is thirty-six
old "a a wife and children.
Nearly ten years ago he was appointed
member of the police force. For nearly
nine years he did duty in the third precinct.
serving in ''Foggy Bottom for nearly
three years. During this time he was In
court almost every day with a case. he
contracted malaria and was reduced In flesh
about thirty-five pounds. This decrease he
attributed to hard work.
When he was assigned to duty in the
sixth precinct ne found a bad condition OF
affairs existing.
He proceeded to make liquor and bawdy
house raids, he said. and had just got to
work when this affair happened. While off
duty. he said. he had lost considerable rest
and had smoked many cigars, as he found
that smoking had a tendency to keep him
awake. AT times, when he should have
been in bed. he said, he was out at work,
seeking police informa ton. All this strain.
he said. had the effect of stringing his
nerves up to the highest tension.
When he met Lee opposite Lincoln Park,
he said. he had lost a great amount of
sleep and he was in a nervous condition.
Because of this. he said, he had asked for
a detail in order to recuperate.
The sergeant said there had been no I'M
usual demand made on him recently for
money. He was in no monetary troubles
at the time of the meeting with Lee. De-
PENDANT said he did not owe SO in the
world outside of the trust on his house.
Lieut. Kelly. he said. had been a
father to him, and he characterized as
false Lees charge that he had made I'M
complimentary remarks about Lieut.. KEEL
Il would rather cut mans throat than
say anything derogatory about Lieut.. KEEL
ly, said the sergeant
He also denied that he had made de-
rogatory statements against Sergeants
Byrnes and Goss and others.
No Business TransactIons.
The defendant said he had never had
any business transactions with Lee prior to
the raid He received several messages
from Lee, generally through a colored man
called Sam who works at Lees. De-
PENDANT told of Sans" calls on him and
of the messages II received. Each time,
he said, he was told that Mr. Bill Lee
wanted to see him. He always told the col
ored man that he would not see Lee
Sam what?'' inquired Mr.. Smith
sam cooper, answered the colored man,
Who was in the audience.
Sergt. McNeely stepped aside in order
that Dr. ]. P. Burrill of 9O4 18th street
northwest might be heard, as he was
anxious to get away. The doctor said he
is president Of an examining board of sur
geons for the pension office
Mr.. Smith stated a hypothetical case COW
ering the sergeant's condition and his con-
duct on 18th street. and asked the doctor
what would be the cause of his conduct.
Mr. Chase objected and Trial Officer Pugh
overruled his objection
The doctor thought the person mentioned
might lose his head and do something for
which he would probably not be respon-
slble. The officers conduct might be con-
sistent with innocence.
Resumes His Statement.
After recess Sergt. McNeely resumed the
stand. He said he visited Lee Saturday,
the 18th of November, two days before the
raid was made. On that occasion he went
there to see what Lee wanted. He met
him in the hall leading to the shooting
gallery and the latter wanted to know why
he (McNeely) had 1t in for him Lee, he
said, told him he had not had any trouble
before he (McNeely) had come to that pre-
cinct. and other people were doing worse
than he had ever done.
Later in the afternoon he met Lee on the
street, when the conversation was renewed
and Lee then told him of the Information
he could give him. Sergt- McNeely said he
objected to transacting business with Lee
until he could see Nal Sylvester and get
his advice. Lee mentioned several places
where they might meet and finally Lee
asked him where he lived and which way
he went home
Defendant finally told Lee he would prob
ably go home about o'clock Monday af-
ternoon and If he dee) happened to be out
there he would talk to him. Lee. the ser
geant said was very much worked I'D over
the raid. and he said his wife was almost
crazy.
An explanation was made by the sergeant
OF his movements Monday before he met
Lee.
The case was still undetermined when
this report closed.