The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-16
ALLEGED LAX
OF DUTY.
Investigation by Police
Commission OF the Vim.
cent Harness Case.

There was special meeting Of the Po-
lice Commission held last evening to con-
slider tho complaint that Edward Hinson,
ulias Winder. had no5 been arrested for
the larceny Of harness from Frank Vincent
Of the Ninth Ward on August 81. Mr..
Pyle stated the object of .he meeting to
be to find out who was responsible for the
lax duty. The first witness called was
Francis Vincent who testified that u SGT Of
lead harness was stolen from him. On
Sntur day September 9 he reported the loss
Of the harness to Captain Kane.
He and his sons huntel up some clues
On Sunday morning one OF the district
officers called at his residence for inforna-
ton. He was informed that Mrs. Logue
and hor son had seen colored boy pass
with hprhess on his shoulder. He was
further informed that another colored
man had hauled the harness from tho
sand pit to tho junction OF Delaware Ave-
nuo and Eleventh street. His son dis
covered tho whereabouts 0f The man and
on Sunday he So informed Captain Kane.
Ho also took All officer later to Sixth and
Urion and tho western part of tho ci:y,
but could not find the man. 1t was officer
Massey who accompanied his sou. Later
In the week lie learned OF tho whereabouts
OF his harness. ue then came to the hall
aud he secured information in the rear Of
No. 1881 West Second street that color
ed carter had his harness Then he came
back to tho hall and Officer Massey ac-
companiod him to tho cartor's stable. A
search warrant was secured and the har-
ness was recovered.
The man that had the tho harness paid
s. 50 to the man that stole II. His son had
given The name Of the colored man to Cap
tain Kane on Sunday afternoon Tho
name given was Edward Windor. When
his sou and colored mar met tho thief
at Sixth and Union he was accused of tho
larceny Of the harness. This hedcoicl
ard stated he got tho harness In Tyrc's
quarry. He was sure that the harness WAS
not taken on August s6 or as.
Captain Thomas kane was the noxt wit
ness He said that on September > he re-
received the ,mplhint The next day Mr..
Vincent came again. The complaint was
read to tho thi ru section man on Saturday
Ho did no. remember giving the complaint
to any officer and read the complaint
again on tho third to tho first section men
The complaint was on the board so that
sections would DO no iiicd. o. Sunday
the third he did not remember having
road the complaint 10 the first and second
section men and did not know it was on
tho beard. That afcrnoun Mr.. Vincent
sad he unders: ood his harness had been
taken by u colored man at Sixth and Lin
coin STREETS. Vincent objected to cor DIN
officers acting and officer J. II. Massey
was detailed on tho case. IIo returned
anu stated he could not find the man. VIM
cent had given the Information about the
colored man having tho harness. Young
Vincent then said that he thought the
man was named Winder md lived at No.
6o3 Lincoln stroot. Whom Vincent lodge Il
tho complaint hs statcl that tho harnoss
was taken August 2j ORB Massey said
he thought he knew Windor.
He gave tho complaint he believed on
Sunday afternoon to the Ten'h District
ofllcor. The complaint was next scon by
him on Friday September & Vincent
called at that time and stated lie had lc-
cated tho harness.
MIR. Pyle. Captain is it customary to
allow complaint of this kiud to remain
out for five days with tho information in
your possession?
Captain Kanc. that dcpcnds upon tho
circumstances. The men know that tho
suspect was Windcr, Tho officers were no.
titled to notify the pawn officers and junk
shops. He had never asked them If thcy
had done so. This complaint was not OIL
the board. He presumed that the distri-
ct officer had tho complaint. The COM
paint was never returned by any officers
to him.
He suggested to Mr.. Vincent to got out
a warrant on Friday last after the man
had told be bought tho harness from Win
der. He gave tho mon tho Information
that Winder was suspected. Vincent in.
formed him that Mr. Loguo saw coiorel
man with the harness, lIo did not send
tho district officer to LoEuo as he Instruct.
ell them that Winher was tho man want
ell. He thought that he informed Captain
Chambers on Sunday night September 3
that Windcr was .uspcioned OF having
stoon tho harness.
Chief DDlan hero stated that tbs only
time tho day officers could got tho the
complaint was on Sunday morning.
Officer Burchinnl deposed that OH Sat
urday night lie heard Captain Chambers
road the complaint to tho Fourth Section
men. Hn called upon Mr.. Vincent that
evening. Ho failed to got any information
and on tho ncxs evening Sunday evening,
he called again. He then learned about
Ioguc having soen a colored man with
n harness. llo also learned that johnson
hauled the harness and told him that the
alleged thief was Edward Widener. 10
made report of this and gave it to Ser
geant Welsh lie could not say that Cap
tain Chambers had any conversation
with him until September . when tho
Captain gave him tho complaint. He
turned In the complaint on Thursday or
Friday, Sergean, Welsh had stated 1t was
useless to give tho complaint to tho night
man. Chief Dolnn acqruesced in the state
ment at tho time Sergeant Black deposed
that no knew the complaint was lodged
on Saturday. 1t was handed to him Oh
Sunday morning by Captain Kane. He
gave it to Officer Sheehey He learned
from Sheohey that the harness had been
hauled away by colored man named
johnson. lie was at the hall when Vim
cent called and gave the Information ro.
garding meeting the colorcd man at Sixth