The Jersey City news., 1899-12-16
POLICEMEN TRIED
Byrne's Resignation Was
Accepted Special Police
Power Asked.

At the meeting Of the Police Board,
held at Police Headquarters last night,
/ Policeman John Byrne, Of the Gregory
street station, who was brought into the
/ station Intoxicated on the morning Of
December H. rendered his resignation.
In accepting the resignation Commis
sioner McGill said
II am exceedingly sorry for Patrolman
Byrne, as he has proved himself a good
officer The board however. wishes 1t to
be understood that into4ication of police
officers in fun uniform while on duty
will not be tolerated Any officer who is
guilty of intemperance or taking liquor
while on duty will be Immediately dis
missed from the force. In future he viii
know the penalty. This board has en-
phasized this fact at least ten times
since it came into power and st seems
strange after such warnings that police
officers should repeat the offense."
Immediately after the resignation had
been accepted a communication from
Garretson e, Donaldson, pFoprietors og
the Imperial Music Hall, on Newark ave-
nue., asked the board to confer special
police power upon Byrne, who had been
employed by them to act as special ofia-
Ger In the hall On a motion Of Com
missioner West. the matter was referred
to Chief Of Police Murphy with power.
Patrolman Louis BeItiger, of the
Seventh street station. was the first Off
Ger called for trial. He was charged with
absenting himself from duty without the
proper authority, on the night of Decem-
Der 5. Bettiger pleaded guilty to the
charge He said
Il thought the night in question was
my night on. About $50 p NJ I met
Policeman Van Buren at the corner of
Newark avenue and Erie street, and so in
formed him. I met him two hours later
and he told me that I must have been
mistaken as to my time Off, as my name
had been called at the o'clock roll call.
I was surprised to learn that fact and
hurried to the station. / told the officers
In charge including Captain Kelly. Of
my mistake. Captain Kelly told me then
charges against me-
Policeman Van Buren, was called to the |
stand. He corroborated the testimony
five days pay upon Bettiger, President
AIcGill said
I'VE have investigated your case
thoroughly. The Board finds that your
offense is not a serious one, but it won't |
do to repeat it too often. Your record |
shows that you have been before the
board six times in as many years If |
you continue in your present ways you
will get careless and in consequence will !
be retired to private life We think you |
have told the truth in this matter, but |
suppose every man in your section did |
the same tlains? We would have no /
policemen to do duty. If your memory |
is bad keep a memorandum book. We I
find you guilty and sentence you to pay
a fine of FIVE days pay. We hope this
viii act as a warning to you."
Policeman Benjamin Winters. of the |
Webster avenue station was the next
man called. He plead guilty to a charge /
of being off post on the morning Of De-
cenlber s. in company with Policeman
Curry. on the latter's posi- In Winters
case President McGill said
The remarks made in the Bettiger case
can apply to you. You have been on
the force three years and you have been
before the board three time. II you had
been a soldier and found off post you
would have been shot. The Board has
come OF the conclusion, since you have
pieod guilty to fine you five days pay
Bicycle Policeman John s Murphy
was charged with riding his bicycle over
pavement stones, which broke the rim Of
the first wheel. Murphy pleaded not
guilty He said
Il was going after the driver OF
heavy wagon. who was some blocks away.
I was riding at about three minute
gait, when I struck stone. The tire
came Off and before I could stop the rim
split
Inspector Archibald who reported the
matter said:-'sAll know is that the
wheel was broken. Bicycle Repalrer
Dugan. to whom the whel was taken in
formed me that the tire had not been
up properly
The Board dismissed the charges
against Murphy and declared the matter
an accident.
rn,Inn. nn.n anrwn-r~