Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-05
ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT.


were in session Monday night from 7.30
until nearly ll.30 o'clock, the greater
portion Of tho time being consumed in
hearing evidence concerning the charges
of neglect of duty, which had heen
preferred, by direction of the board,
against Captains Chambers and Kane.
At the conclusion of the hearing the
board adjourned without taking any
action in tho matter until next Thurs
day night, when IL will, in all proha-
bility, lie disposed Of. II it had not
been for the length of timo consumed
in hearing the evidence, it is likely
that the board would have considered
tho matter and probably arrived ut
decision last night
The evidence adduced was exactly
the same as that brought out at the
hearing week ago last Thursday, ex-
cept that at the first hearing Sergeant
Massey was absent on account of sick
ness, and was, present Monday. whils
Sergeant Lucas and Officers Mullin
and Burchinal, who were present at
the first hearing were absent last night.
There was very little brought out in
addition to what has been printed In
these columns.
The charges against the captains
| WHY ~ ttit oiictt bhHu hba
| neglected their duty in failing to
promptly recover tho harness stolen
from Francis r. Vincent on August
| 3lst and arrestirg the man who took
the harness, Edward Hinson. colored,
better known as Edward Winder. the
harness having been recovered on Sep
| TENDER 9th and the arrest made on the
| 18th. President Pyle explained that
| the reason for having the evidence
hoard the second time was in order
that it might be heard by the cap
tains, both of whom were present.
| The evidence of the men who testi-
| fed on the former occasion agreed with
| that which has been printed in these
columns. Sergeant Massey, who was
not at the first hearing, said he first
heard OF the complaint about the
harness on September ID, the day Mr..
Vincent placed the matter in the hands
of the police. That night search was
made among the secondhand stores
for the harness, but it was not located.
| Tho sergeant said on the following day
ho heard Mr.. Vincent give what in
formation he had at the police station
and ct his suggestion an officer was
sent out With Joshua Vincent, the son
OF the owner of the harness, TO make
an effort to capture the thief, young
Vincent having informed the captain
that he suspected Winder. Sergeant
Massey said he heard nothing more
about the matter until the following
Friday, when the harness was recovered
at a West Fourth street stable and a
warrant sworn out for the arrest of
| Wirder.
The witnesses heard we're Francis r.
Vincent, owner of the harness; Joshua
Vincent, his son; Thomas 1ohnson,
colored, who hauled the harness for
Winder from the sand Fit at Concord
avenue and Washington street to Della
ware avenue and Jefferson street |;
Sergeants Black, Bayley, WEIGH and
Massey and Officers Sheehy and Flynn.
In reply to Capt. Chambers, Mr..
Vincent said he had no complaint to
make He had recovered his harness
and the thief was serving sentence.
President Pyle explained that the
object of the hearing was to ascertain
whether the captains had been negli-
gent in informing the officers Of the
progress of tho work. Each of the
CAPTAINS made statement and each
asserted that he did what he con-
sidered his duty and gave the matter
the attention usually given to such
matters. When they were asked why
they had not made a report OF the
matter to the commissioners in their
weekly reports, they explained what
matters it was customary to report to
the commissioners. Capt. Kane said
as a rule he had been reporting matters
which had gone before the court and
had also made report Of what he con
sidered important robberies, but as
the Vincent matter had not been
cleared up did not report on it when it
first came in, although he was using
every effort TO recover the harness and
have the THIEF arrested. Capt. Cham,
bers made similar statement. The
testimony on sople minor points was
somewhat conflicting.
President of Council Alexander and
Councilmen Kane, Willis and Groves
were present during the hearing.
Charges of neglect OF duty were also
preferred against Patrolmen Davidson,
Lyons, Murphy and Ralston. Officer
minutes late in reporting from box
No. l52, over South Market street
bridge. Monday morning, and gave
as reason that he had on thin under.
clothing and as the night was cold he
went into railroad watch box and fell
asleep Officer Davidson, against whom
there was similar charge, also pleaded
guilty. He said he was with Lyons
and also fell asleep in the box. Officer
Murphy was accused of missing his
4.05 a. m. report on Thursday, and
Ralston Of being II minutes late in
making his O'Clock report and report
ing from o telephone instead of from
box II. The officers explained that
they we're watching two men they had
first seen at Lord and Pine Streets and
did not report on schedule time for
that reason. The officers stated, Incl
dentally, that the box at Eighth and
Church streets, No. Ia, is not in good
shape, so far as the catch Is concerned,
and sometimes the closing of the door
arouses people from their sleep during
tho night, and for that reason Officer
Murphy did not want to use the box
, on that occasion, as he thought the
, noise would attract the attention of the
men. they were following The chief
! was Instructed to see that the catch Of
the box is put in good order.
Officers Murphy and Ralston were
exonerated and Chief Dolan was
directed to reprimand Officers David
son and Lyons.
! The board accepted the resignation
of Patrolman Frank Mullin. Capt.
Kane, who had seen Mullin at his
residence during the day, reported that
Mullins right shoulder had been
| broken. 81
| When the matter of filling the
, vacancy was brought up by President
| Pyle Mr.. Hart objected to such action
} being taken at once unless he could
see the man it was proposed to select.