Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-12-07

Capt. Robert W. Chambers was dis
missed from the police force. on We'd
nesday week by the Board of Police
Commissioners, the Republican mem
bers. President Py le and MIR. Clarkson,
deciding, after lengthy trial, that the
charges that he was unit for duty on
the night of October 10th aud the
morning of the 18th had been sustained.
Mr.. Hart, the Democratic member of
the board dissented. The commission
is to hold n special meeting this even
ing to fill the vacancy. IL is said the
names of Sergeant Evans and Sergeant
Black are being considered, Both are
Republicans. Chambers is Demo
crat.
The charges against Capt. Chambers
were that on the night of October 10th
and the morning of the 18th he was in.
toXicated and during the evening used
improper language toward man named
Ross, who was at the stationhouse on
business, and also swore at Officer Bur.
chinal. The hearing took place in the
office OF the Board of Police Commits
sioners, which was scarcely Large
enough to accommodate tine people
who were present either on business or
as spectators. The hearing took place
before full board, President Pyle pre-
siding and conducting the mayor por-
tion of the examination. The captain
was present with his attorney, James
W. Ponder. Chief of Police Dolan,
secretary of the board; William Schell,
the chiefs clerk: Simon p. Doherty, a
former clerk; Chairman Monaghan of
the police committee of City Council,
Councilmen Stewart, Groves, Healey.
Smith and Willis, former Councilman
l.eary, Clerk of Council MORRISON,
Deputy Sheriff Bradley, Superintendent
Nandegrift of the Wilmington City
Railway Go. w. S. Quigley and several
others were. also present. Many wit
nesses were heard.
House Sergeant Durney, who was on
duty on the night of October 10th, said
he considered Capt. Chambers under
the influence of liquor. He said the
captain slept in his chair early in the
evening and later in the Municipal
Court room, and at about .. 30 O'Clock
in the morning witness went to the
court toom and awoke him. During
the evening, while the captain was
talking with man in the station
house, witness heard the lie passed, but
did not know exactly what was said.
Operator Haiklns, who was also on
duty. considered the CAPTAIN under the
influence of liquor. His testimony in
the main was the same as that of Ser
geant Dnrney. Witness heard the cap.
tain call man a liar or d. liar
Sergeant Evans saw Capt Chambers
at O'Clock in the evening and thought
he was under the influence of liquor.
lie saw Chambers again between IL
and Il O'Clock. AT that time the cap
tain had his head on his desk and an.
Feared to be asleep. The sergeant was
in the statjonhouse about % minutes
and during that time did not see the
? captain raise his head.
Sergeant Bayley testified that when
he was in the statIonhouse about Z. II
e.pxock he did not consider Chambers
,ndsr the influence of liquor. Witress
ms Shere again between 10 o'clock and
1O.{ when the captain appeared to be
y Sergeant WEIGH said he did not
notice anything unusual about the
captain.
Turnkey Medley thought Capt. Cham
hers was under the influence Of LIQUOR.
He was drowsy during the night On
cross examination witness said the car
tain did not tell him where he was
going when he went upstairs.
Patrolman Burchinai said at 7 O'Clock
the captain spoke to him about wagon
being burned in Brandywine Village
aud said it was d. strange he bur.
chinall did not find out who did it.
Driver Purcell of the patrol service,
who was in the stationhouse early jr
the evening, said he heard the captain
while talking to man in the room
say: Officer Lyons says You are d
liar" or "a d. liar Later in the
evening witness looked in the door ant
saw Chambers in his chair, apparentl,
asleep.
William Scheil, Chief Dolan's clerk
said the captain had the appearance o.
man who had been drinking. He wa.
rambling in his speech and his tongue
was thick.
Several of the witnesses, upon BEN,
ross-examined, said it was not an un
common thing for an officer on duty
the stationhouse at night to doze whei
there was nothing stirring. Commits
sioners Pyle and Clarkson tool. occasion
to remark, when this was brought out
that policeman should never sleel
when on duty. At the conclusion O
Schell's testimony Attorney Ponde
said, although the testimony for tn
complainant was all in, he did not con
slider that u case had been made on
witnesses had said they saw uothin
wrong with Capt. Chambers ON th
night in question, Mr.. Ponder said b
desired to make motion similar +
that for nor suit before the court
and II his motion was agreeable to th
commissioners would not nut In an
testimony for the defence. Mr.. PVT
said if the defence did not want to nu
in any testimony the board would no
object. Mr.. Ponder understood th
commissioner to mean that he did no
care whether he heard any further tes
timony, which resulted in a tilt be
tween the commissioner and the attor
rey, which ended when Mr.. Pyle OK
planned that he meant he did not wan
to hear any further testimony if tn
defence did not want to put any in
Mr.. Clarkson said he thought Their
had been enough evidence to 90 befor
jury and the hearing proceeded.
Attorney Ponder called Chief Dolan
who said he did not know anythin
about the matter of his own know
edge. He saw Capt. Chambers 70
about q minute about 6 O'Clock i
the evening, when the CAPTAIN wa
going on duty, and the captain ar
peared to be all right at that time
Capt Chambers was called next b
Mr.. Ponder. After detailing the arres
OF two young men for stealing a teal
III Chester on the night before the on
on which he was charged with bein
unit foi duty, he said on the followin
day, October 10th, when an officer cam
down from Chester after the men h
mate remark that there was a stanC
ing reward in Chester for the capsur
oil horse thieves ard thought he woul