Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-15
BEFORE TRIAL OFFICER.
Officer McCort ArraiEned for Alleged
DerelictiOn of Duty.

Officer McCOrt ArraiEned for Alleged
DerelictiOn of Duty.
Policeman E. F. McCort of the eighth
precinct was today arraigned before Act
ing Trial Officer A. Leftwich Sinclair.
charged with conduct unbecoming an Of
fcer. 1t was alleged that McCort left the
District of Columbia without permission,
and that on or about the 9Th day Of Au-
gust, 1899, at Cabin John Bridge Hotel, in
the state of Maryland, and other places
where liquors are sold he drank several
drinks Of intoxicating beverage, finally be-
coming intoxicated and otherwise con-
Quoting himself to the discredit and dis
grace of the metropolitan police department
of the District of Columbia.
The accused officer pleaded guilty of leav-
ing the District without permission but
not guilty of intoxicaton.
Sergeant Matthews said he was detailed
to make an investigation of McCorts al
legged conduct at Cabin John Bridge Hotel
on the date referred to- He found several
persons who at the time mentioned mad
seen McCort. One of them said McCort
was much under the influence of liquor,
and others said he was perfectly sober,
although they saw him take severa! drinks
Lieut.. John Kenny of the eighth precinct
said he not on duty in charge OF the pre-
cinct during the whole time of McCort $
absence from duty about the date referred
to in the charge. Lieut.. Kenny explained
that McCort obtained one leave of absence
on account of sickness July %. y few days
later McCort asked for second leave OF
four days, to take effect at once. This. the
lieutenant said, could not be granted be
cause of the rules of the department Inc
next he knew about the McCort matter
was the reception of a sick card. which
had the effect of relieving the officer from
duty, the same as If leave had been grant
ed by Major Sylvester, the chief of police.
Il want to say this about McCort, said
@ lieutenant:
precinct three years ago l was mounted
sergeant. and his record preceding this al
fair was first-class in every particular l
do not recolect that he was, previous to
for dereliction of duty.
Lieut.. Kenny further said that Saturday,
August 5, he received a telephone message
from Dr. Birch. the police surgeon who
had been attending McCort for illness,
stating that he thought McCort ought to
return to duty the following morning Lieut.
Kenny said he at once sent word of this
message to McCort'S house and tried to
reach him there several times during the
evening and night, but was unable to do so.
Sergt. Slattery said he took charge of the
station Sunday, August & McCort reported
the same evening and went on duty. The
following day he received a telephone mes
sage from Rock Springs Hotel. stating that
McCort had been there Saturday.
officer McCort made a statement in which
he admitted that he went to Cabin John
bridge, but thought he had a clear right to
do so. He had, he said. applied for foui
days leave of absence and was under the
impression the leave had been granted. He
told the trial officer that he entered the
Cabin John bridge hotel about / pm, wher
he ate some cracked ice smoked a cigar
read newspaper, walked around the
grounds. and had refreshments four or five
times. He said he could not recolect the
character of the refreshments he bought
He denied asking permission from hotel
keeper to sleep on bench in the grounds
on the Saturday night already mentioned.
Several other witnesses Were heard, and
the hearing closed. Mr.. Sinclair will re-
Fort his conclusions to Major Sylvester.