The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-11
Gar TRUN'
Down.
Abernethy's Dismissal Of
Watson Was Not
Upheld.
RETIRED ON HALF PAY
Graham's Appointment Over
ridden Rules Suspended
to Give It to McComb.

Aleck Watson. the aged prison keeper,
who was three weeks ago dismissed from
the police department by the votes OF Re
publican Commissioners West and Aber-
nethy, and was later reinstated, only to
have charges of incapability preferred
against him, was retired on half pay at
special meeting of the Board last night.
the opinion of Counselor Corbin, which
was substituted at the last meeting, IN
place of that of Corporation Counsel Nc
Dermott, was withdrawn, because 1T was
not complete
Counselor Mulvaney who had Watson s
side of the case consulted Mr.. CorDln on
the opinion he rendered, and that gentle
man said he had formed his ruling IN the
case hastily, and that he had not con-
suited the law of 1889. Mr.. Corbin, VINO
was present, asked for copy OF the law,
and said that he would make report on
the matter and submit it to the board IN
the shape of communication.
AS was expected by all present, Abec-
nethy took, sides against the retirement OF
Watson, and openly recommended inat
Watson be dismissed from the department.
and be compelled to resort to the courts
for reinstatement. He did not consEier
the opinion of the Corporation Counsei
worthy of consideration, and in CONFORM
ity with the wishes of the patronage
committee of the Republican County Com
mittee.
Counselor Mulvaney asked the board to
reconsider its intentions and retire MS
client ON half pay. He added should the
members insist on disnissing watson ne
would certainly take the matter to court.
Mr.. MuIvaney said retirement on max
nav would save trouble and expense.
After a lengthy conference between
west and Abernethy, those gentlemen
saw that it would be useless to under
take the dismissal of Watson, so reso-
luton retiring him on half pay was drawn
up by the clerk, read and UNANIMOUSLY
passed.
The resolution, said President Aber-
nethy. was passed on the advice OF the
medical examiners, who adjudged wat
son totally unfit for duty. At the re-
Quest of Counsellor Mulyaney the reso-
luton as read was amended SO as 70
read. from disease contracted while IN
service
Thug Graham, as he has been familiar
ly called of late, who was appointed 10
succeed Watson several weeks ago, was
not SO successful last night The pa
tronage committee of the Republican
County Committee decided that as the
appointment of Graham did not meet
with public approval, it would be fool
hardy for the members to again appoint
the man.
The representatives of the Patronage
Committee in the Board of Police COM
missioners appointed ex-Freeholder JOS
McComb of the Ninth ward, who is al
most sixty years of age. The appoint
ment takes effect Immediately.
AS McComb has passed the age eligible
for appointment to the force, the rules
had to be suspended before the man could
be appointed.
Commissioner Walters objected to the
suspension of the rules. He said:-Ihe
Board has no right to suspend rules
whenever it sees fit.
President Abernethy replied:-"As the
Board made the rules it has a perfect
right to, suspend them.
Patrolman George Van Vechten, of the
Gregory street station, then came before
the board for trial on two charges. The
first, of failing to report from signal pox,
at 2:10 A. M, April s, and not reporting
until 2:29, nineteen minutes late. Ihe
second, of not discovering on the same
morning, a light of glass broken IN the
window of a tailor store, owned by Ellas
Copenino No. 6S Newark avenue. The
store had been entered by thef gy
these means and a considerable amount of
clothing was stolen.
Van Vechten explained to the Commits
sioners that on the morning in question,
he had heard the burglar alarm, IN
Wolff's store, on Newark avenue, go OH
and that he ran around to Railroad ave-
nue. to see if any thing was wrong. me
evidence, which was against the accused
officer. showed that within six minutes OF
the time he was supposed to SEND IN ms
report he was but few feet away from
his signal box conversing with protner
officer He left his comrade and forgot
to pull the box.
To the second charge Van Vechten
swore that he had tried the door of
store six time on this night
and he had found nothing wrong. The
thief. he said, who was arrested by
Patrolman Connell at the Pavonia ferry
were stolen about two hours before the
arrest had been made.
"At that time said Van Vechten, II
was In front of the store and ! heard no
Ven vechten was found guilty on both |
charges and was fined five days pay.
A communication from the Board Of
Finance, inquiring the amount Of the ap-
needed for the erection of a |
new police station for the Sixth precinct, |
was read and referred to the Committee
IF the Whole.
Captain McKaig, the acting inspector. /
who applied for permanent appointment |
It the last meeting of the Board, with /
lrew his application. He gave as his 7
'easen that the Veteran act entitled him
% the appointment.
After the resignation of Chaneeman
Rubatky Of the First precinct had been
,ead the Board adjourned.
COURT CALENDARS