The times., 1899-07-15
POLICEMEN ExoNERATED.
Charges Against HoIIinEbcrgcr and
Sullivan Dismissed.

The District Commissioners have dis
charged as groundless the charges which
were recently made by Chrstena Pollard
against Lieut.. l.. H. Hollingberger and
Policeman Sullivan. of the Fourth police
precinct, in South Washington. Sullivan
was alleged TO have visited the Pollard
home, at 126 Second Street southwest,
dragged her daughter out of bed. cursed
and struck her, and hauled her to the
police station in an almost nude condition.
The incident is alleged to have occurred
about 1870 o'clock Sunday morning. June
25, when, it is stated, the policeman en-
tered the house of Mrs. Pollard without
provocation. The specific charges made
against the police lieutenant is that he
branded her thief. when she visited the
police station, with clothes for her daugh-
ter. The woman complained also that the
lieutenant accused members of her family
with stealing and said urcompromising
things about them.
These gross charges were referred by
the District Commissioners to Major Syl-
vester for investigation. Subsequently
Lieutenant Hoilingberger asked to
make a written explanation. which he did
several days ago. That explanation reached
the Commissioners yesterday. 1t tends to
show that the Pollard woman has a bad
character. The allegations made by her
are denied and the statement made that
the Pollard woman entered complaint
against the interested policeman for pur-
poses of intimidation and in order to pre-
vent police Interference with her and her
family
Lieutenant Hollingberger explains that
the trouble grew out Of complaint made
by Mrs Mary Holden. of 421 Second Street,
southwest. to the effect that she had given
two fve-dollar gold pieces to Henry Pol
lard, a huckster. through mistake. She
was under the impression at the time that
she had handed him two five-cent pieces
When she discovered her error she went
to Pollard's house and found he was not
at home after which she placed the mat
ter in the hands of Policeman Kemp.
When Policeman Kemp was relieved OF
duty at midnight he transferred the case
to Policeman Sullivan. who visited the
Pollard house in search of the huckster.
The man was not at home. Sullivan
claims that Mary Pollard, the daughter.
put her head out the front window and be-
gan to use indecent language, whereupon
he entered the house and arrested her. He
claims that she was intoxicated. The case
was tried in the Police Court June 26 and
the girl fined s..
Regarding the complaint against him.
self, Lieutenant Hollingberger states that
when the Pollard woman visited the Fourth
precinct police station the morning fol ow
ing the arrest she began TO abuse Police
man Sullivan in particular and the entire
police precinct in general. Lieutenant Hol-
Nngberger alleges that the whole fami is
composed of hard" characters. He states
! that she keeps fence" or repository for
stolen goods; that her house was searched
1 for stolen goods in 1893, at which time her
son was convicted for buying stolen oats;
that the Pollard woman is now suspected
OF running ''speak-easy;" that it is diff
cult to secure evidence against her. and
that she brings charges against policemen
for the purpose OF intimidating them.
IF such characters as these are permit
| ted to bring charges against police OFF,
GERS" states Lieutenant Hollingberger in
conclusion, "it would soon destroy the ef-
fciency OF the force. knowing as they do
| that this class OF people will swear to any
| thing in order to accomplish their pur-
pose"
The Commissioners decided TO take no
action in the matter.