Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-17
WANT OF GOOD JUDGMENT
Major Sylvester's Decision Regarding Lewis
Yeagers Escape.
The Affair May Result in the Retire.
ment of Lieut.. Kelly and
Policeman Oliver,

Major Sylvester, the chief of police, after
making investigation of the escape of
Louis j. Yeager from the sixth police pre-
cinct early on the morning Of the 4th in
slant, has Informed the District Commits
sioners that there has been shown to him
want of good judgment on the part of
the officers in charge of the precinct in the
care of the prisoner.
1t appears from the investigation made by
Major Sylvester that Yeager, who had been
arrested for the alleged assault on young
girl, was turned over by Inspector Board
man, of the detective corps, to Policeman
Philip Mansfield of the sixth precinct
Mansfield, Upon asking if the prisoner
should be placed in the witness room of
the station, was told by Inspector Board
man: NO; unless he is placed in charge
OF an officer" The man was taken to the
station, and having told officer Mansfield
that he was unwell. was placed in the wit
ness room Lieut.. Kelly, in charge of the
SKIN precinct, so it appears, was informed
or this, and when Mansfield went off duty
at = oclock the evening of the day of the
arrest the Sd instant, the lieutenant direct
ed Policeman Elias Oliver, who took Mans
fields place, to Look out for that man
and see that he does not get away"
Specific Instructions Were Not Given.
Between midnight and 1 o'clock am of
the 4th 1eager escaped from the room in
which he had been placed by climbing
through the transom over the door Of the
room. 1t does not appear that he was
placed in charge of an officer as Inspector
Boardman advised, and Maj Sylvester in
his report to the Commissioners holds that
Lieut.. Kelly should have been specific in
giving directions as to the care of the
prisoner to the extent of placing a man on
guard over him. he also should have
known Maj. Sylvester says of the I'M
barred tfansom and of the inability of
oihcer Oilver to perform the double duty
'o1 attending to the patrol wagon and look
ing out for Yeager. The major also thinks
mat the sergeant in charge of the precinct
should have been informed of the matter,
winch does not appear to have been done.
What the Majors AIlusion Means.
fhere was shown want of good judg-
ment,' says Major Sylvester, "in the care
OF the prisoner, after the warning from In
spector Boardman AS the penalties in this
case involve consideration by the pension
board the proceedings in that respect will
be forwarded hereafter"
In view of Major Sylvester's alluslon to
the pension boards consideration of penal
ties in the case it is believed by those ia
millar with police matters that the major 5
investigation of Yeager'S escape will re-
suit in the retirement of one or more of The
officers held to be involved. Policeman
oliver is said to be entitled to retirement
on pension, and a rumor prevalent some
time ago to the retirement of Ijeuten-
ant Kelly has been revived by Major SyI-
westerns report in the Yeager case There
fore 1t is believed that the majors conclu-
sion that the penalties in the case involve
the consideration of the pension board
means that the retirement of Policeman Oil
yer and Lieutenant Kelly is being consid-
ered by him and the Commissioners.