Evening star., 1899-02-09
POLICEMAN LEWIS ON TRIAL
Accused of Intoxication and of Conduct Un-
becoming an Officer.
Ordered n Raid ON the Slater House,
and the Hearing Today
is the Result.

Special Policeman F. P. Lewis, who does
duty at the intersection Of New York ave-
nue. and 14th street, was called upon today
to answer charges of intoxication and con-
duct unbecoming officer. Trial Officer
Pugh heard the evidence. Attorney John
L. McNally appeared as the officers coun-
sci.
This is the case which resulted from the
raid made on the Slater House one Sunday
night in December. At that time It was al
legged that the special officer was under the
influence of liquor. Since then the officers s
conduct has been under investigation. and
the charges filed against him today con-
tained four Specifications
In addition to the general charge of in
texication and disorderly conduct in con-
nection with the raid. it was alleged that
he had been intoxicated at divers times
while on duty.
Policeman Charles Turner was the first
of about fifty witnesses in the case to be
examined. He testified that the night of
the raid on the Slater House his attention
was attracted to the defendant by hearing
a man tell him, You'll be sorry for this"
Officer Lewis, he said, then introduced
himself as Policeman Lewis of the first
precinct" and said he had papers and nee
essary evidence, and was going to raid the
Slater House. The patrol wagon soon re-
sponded. and witness went with him 20 the
Slater House. A man whom he Uewis)
met in thu hotel he began shaking, and wit
| ness told him that he (witness) knew the
man. Special Officer Lewis had several
men put in the wagon.
What was Lewis condition that night?'
asked Trial Officer Pugh
1t was not that of a sober and consider
ate man., the witness answered.
The special officer, he said was very
much excited during the raid, and his
actions were those of an intoxicated man.
witness was questioned by Attorney Sill
iers. who represented the complainants He
said he knew that Lewis went upstairs in
the hotel.
Lewis Prefers Charge.
witness said he was aware that there Is
a charge now pending in the Police Court
against Mrs. Hughes, owner Of the hotel
This charge was preferred by Lewis. The
night of the Slater House raid witness said
ne saw the neck of a bottle protruding
from Lewis pocket. Lewis did not show
the papers he said he had.
Policeman Mansfield, who was in charge
of the sixth precinct patrol wagon the
night OF the raid, testified that he received
call that night from the box at Penn
sylVania avenue and 1st street. He did not
recognize the voice, and when he asked
who was at the telephone the answer
came: Mr.. Lewis from No. 1. Send me
two good men,
Witness responded to the CALL and said
he was satisfied that Lewis had been drink
ing Lewis, he said afterward came fo the
station. He had some beer in his pocket.
which he claimed he had bought at the
Slater House. That night there was no.
BODY arrested on charge of selling liquor
and the people who were arrested the spe-
cial officer said. he wanted locked up as
witnesses.
Sergt, Falvey of the sixth precinct tes-
tified that when he saw Special Officer
Lewis at the station after the raid had
been made he was very much excited and
appeared to be under the influence of
liquor.
Appeared to BE intoxicated
Policeman Muller testified that the de-
fendant appeared to be drunk on the night
of the Slater house iaid- He wanted wit
ness to break down one of the doors in
the hotel. but he refused to do so.
Policeman Stang also gave testimony.
Mrs. Emma Horning. living at 40 B
street, testified that Special officer Lewis
had occupied room in her house since
April One night she said he went out
without his Overcoat, and later he returned
to the house with Policeman Turner Wit
when she went to the window Policeman
Turner told her that Alr. Lewis wanted
his oYercoat
Then what happened?" she was asked
Witness said she took the ovarcoat to the
door She took with her potato masher
and If there had been any trouble she
would have used it on them. She had never
seen Mr.. Lewis drunk, but she knew he
drank beer.
Policeman Newkirk testified that about
two hours after the raid the defendant
came to him and wanted him to raid the
Slater House again. That night he said
Lewis was und2r the influence of liquor
On the 11th of January he saw him under
the influence of liquor.
Saloon Keeper Thomas ]. McHugh testf-
fed that the night of January 10 he was in
the fremont House barber shop when
I.e"is came in to get shaved. He heard
Lewis tell the barber he would shoot him
II he didn't give him good shave.
Lewis came over to witness and asked:
Who in the h are you?"
witness declined to tell him, and later
that night Lewis came to his place. He
staggered in, said witness, and wanted
something to drink. Witness refused 10
serve him because of his condition. and
after using profane language he left the
place, saying he would catch witness the
following Sunday.
Common Occurrence.
Counsel asked witness if it was not a
common occurrence for a man to make
remark about shooting barber
Il don't dispute that" answered AIr. Nc
Hugh, but it's not a pleasant thing to
hear, for you can't always tell whether a
man means it or not
John II. Logan, the barber testified that
Lewis is always lively when he comes in
inc shop. NilfitsS nad Deen shaving Mr..
Lewis for long time and it was a COM
mon occurrence for him to run on with his
fooiishness.
Did you get frightened when Mr.. Lewis
said he would shoot your
No. indeed, he answered, no more
than l am Of this boy here" pointing to
the stenographer
Charles Eisnger testified that he saw the
defendant in saloon on Pennsylyania ave-
nue. January lO. Lewis, he said, was intox-
icated as was man who was with him.
r p Berger testified to the defendant
conduct in McHughs saloon as told by the
proprietor OF the place. Other witnesses
re examined, and the case was continued