Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-28
GRAVE CHARGE FILED
Police Sergeant McNeely Accused of
Soliciting a Bride.
KEEPS APPOINTMENT TO GET MONEY
Alleges That He is Victim of a
Conspiracy.
SUSPENDED AND ARRESTED

Kelly in the sixth precinct, was placed I'M
der arrest late yesterday afternoon on
charge of accepting a bride. At the same
time he was suspended from the force and
was directed to surrender his equipments
He was unable to comply at once with the
latter order, for he was then at police mead
quarters and his revolver, club, badge and
other equipments had been left at the sixth
precinct station, which place, 1t is thought
he visited only short time before he called
on Major Sylvester. This is the arrest that
the police expected to make in an alleged
bribery investigation that had been started
as was published in yesterdays Star.
Sergeant McNeelys arrest is not due to
the action of Inspector Pearson and Ser
geant Duvall, also detailed as inspector.
These officers were sent out to follow up
charges which had been made by Attorney
w Calvin Chase and William II. Lee, rs
stated yesterday, and although they were
within reaching distance Of the sergeant a
few seconds after they saw him accept me
alleged bribe they let him get away.
When William H. Lee. the colored Keeper
of a pool room and shooting gallery re
ported to Mr.. Chase, his c0unsei. that d
bride had been asked of him by the ponce
the latter insisted that his client should 90
something to expose the alleged bribers.
Lee stated that East Capitol ana li'h
streets was the place selected by the officer
for him to meet him, at ; O'Clock yesterday
afternoon, and hand him over Sl'o'
The Appointment kept.
INSPECTOR Pearson and Sergt- DuFai were
on hand before the appointed hour' anu
NcNeeIv was there on time Lee was a
little late. but the sergeant awaited MS ar
rival. The men met almost directly in
front of the Chinese laundry near the in
~, Of '..*sachusetts avenue with
nth street After spending snort time IN
conversation Lee handed over an envelope.
,....~-. .JeIst. ----N> S49 'ISceI'tt"' " ~.
he did not seem in a hurry TO put III MS
pocket The two officers who We're watch,
ing had been standing at the East Nap!toi
street corner of the little frame puidihs
watching the proceedings. Their posiioli
vas such conspicuous one tlla . a on
OF persons stopped and watched them, GU
rious to know what was going TO happen,
While Sergt McNeely and Lee were sun
convers!ng, Inspector Pearson ana SeTs',
Duvall left their place OF hialhe anu NJ
to the from: of the Chinese Laundry. NC
Neeiy did not see them until they reached
him. When Inspector PEARSON auuitsse..
him. saying, Il want you, the seLscalit
stenDed tack from the Curbstone as trough
he intended to cross 11th street IN the dl-
rection of Lincc-n Park. Instead OF turn
ing to run. he backed clear across tie
street. with his hand in his pocket giving
the impression that he was going 10 utd"
his revolver. He said: .
Don't touch me- and Don't put your
hands on me-"
In this way the inspector and the ser
geant crossed 18th street, and, although
the time consumed was short, NUMBER OF
people gathered to witness the proceedings.
Lookout shouted one bystander ne
going TO shoot
The officers acted as if they believed he
would use his revolver and soon gave up
the pursuit. SeTgt. McNeely kept looking
around to see if he was being pursued until
he reached a vacant lot near 18th street,
when he ceased turning and ran as fast as
he could. Inspector Pearson and Sergeant
Duvau. who had given up the chase; re
turned to police headquarters. and Major
Sylvester and Inspector Boardman then
learned of the incident which had amused
the spectators gathered on 18th street.
Lee steps Aside.
When William H. Lee saw Inspector
Pearson and Sergeant Duvall approach
Sergt McNeely and himself he withdrew
and gave the officers every opportunity to
make the arrest. He expressed surprise
that the officers had permitted the sergeant
to run away. When a Star reporter met
him Just after the affair was over he said
he could hardly realize that the two Off
GERS had let the one man escape Speaking
of the circumstances leading up to yester-
days event he told of the raid that was
made his place of business Saturday
night, the 18th of this month He said he
was standing In his place when an officer
approached him and said:
You are under arrest.
He told the officer that he had done moth
ing The house he then learned was sur
rounded and the policemen entered and
made Il thorough search for liquor. He
told them he had not been in the liquor bus
mess for two years. They found only four
bottles of beer he said, In the room of one
of the dodgers.
Five different members of the police
| force, he declares. approached him and
wanted money. The money they told him,
according to his story. was to get him out
of his trouble. and a so to protect him.
When the raid was made. he said, Nc
Nicely told him it would cost him 81 900 to
| get out of the trouble. One of the men
| whom he says made a demand for 500 told
| him that McNCelY was angry with him,
and would push him. ne tMcNeely) had
| been told that he had talked about him.
| More than one Of them, he said, told him
! not to tell Attorney Chase about the affair.
| Last Saturday, continued Lee, Sergt. Nc
| RELY Gale on him and said he wanted to
| see him about the neighhorhood of 3D. and
| f streets on business. He says he walked
| around on I'd street and then it was that
| McNeey made him the offer to clear him
| and give him police protection.
Warns Lee Against the Others
These people trying to do YOU" Lee
| says he was tod by the sergeant They
! cant reach me. I'm not in this business
| for the love of it, but for what money there
! is in it and I'm not cheap man. Deal
| direct with me and I'll guarantee you will
| not be bothered"
Lee says that Sergt. McNeely told him
| Lieut.. Kelly was mere fgurehead so far
as the precinct work is concerned and
| that Sergts Cross and Byrnes were not 20
| be feared The sergeant, Lee said, told him
| that he tMcNeely) was running the pre-
| cinct, and that in less than two years he
| would he lieutenant When Lee said he
| could not raise $500, but could raise $50
| by Monday, the sergeant agreed Lee saws
! to meet him at 3 O'Clock in the afternoon
| at the place designated. AS soon as ne had
| turned over the envelope, he alleges, Sergt
| McNeely told him to claim he was sick to-
morrow morning and fail to appear in court
| He added Lee says that he should say
| nothing to his counsel or anybody else.
just then the conversation was ended by
| the appearance of the officers who had been
| sent out by Maj. Sylvester.
| About o'clock Mai Sylvester received a
| message over wire that Sergt. McNeely was
| on his way to headquarters, and half an
| hour later the latter arrived. Maj. Sylves-
| ter received him in his Office and held a
| short conversation with him.