The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-09
CHARGES SIT TED.
Chief Murphy Making
Thorough Investigation
Today.
POLICE DENY DRINKING
Rev. Mr.. Mayham Backs Up
Mr.. Thompson and Con-
tradicts Maxwell.

Chief Murphy will conduct, this after
noon, an investigation into the charges
made by the Rev. A. N. Thompson, of
the Westminster Presbyterian Church,
that at least one policeman in charge OF
the Bergen Division of the Sunday School
parade was drunk. Mr.. Thompson was
at Police Headquarters early this morn
ing and he was closeted with Chief Muir
ply for half an hour. What transpired
at that conference has not been made
public as it was simply preliminary
talk to the investigation this afternoon.
The charges made will be thoroughly in
vestigated and Chief Murphy promises
full punishment in case the guilt of any
officer is proven.
Captain Cox, who was in command OF
the officers accused by Mr.. Thompson,
said that morning that he was thoroughly
convinced that a serious mistake had been
made somewhere. He refused to say more
in view of the fact shat the matter had
been placed in the hands of the Chief.
Chief aIcKaig, under whose command
Patrolman Eldott, the accused man, is
said this morning that Eldott was most
reputable officer and that his record for
sobriety was excellent.
EICOlL Is DlS ISu-ldNSO man. 7eAAS
Captain McKaig. when he marches for
a few blocks he perspires very freely and
this in addition to his color is apt to mis-
lead one to believe that he is drinking
man. I never knew him to be under the
influence of liquor"
All the hearing this afternoon Eldott and
a number of other patrolmen will be pres
ent to listen to the remarks of Mr.. Thomp-
son. Captain Cox and Captain McKaig
will also be questioned in the case. There
are numerous persons who are willing to
testify in favor of the officers. Only the
pastor who made the charges and the
Rev. T. c. Mayham, of Grace Methodist
Church on Tonnele avenue. charge any OF
the men with intemperance.
Patrolrnan Maxwell whom Mr..
Thompson asked if he were drunk when
tile two were standing beside the grand
stand. was interviewed by a reporter OF
"The News last evening on the matter
Maxwell stated that Mr.. Thompson
spoke to him, asked him if he were drunk,
and then referred to the men in the
parade as being disgustingly drunk.
Thompson came up to me- said Max
we'll, Cooked in my face and asked If
was drunk I replied that I was not
drunk and had no time to be drunk. The
pastor replied that there were lots of in
toxicated policemen about. [ told him
that 1 had not seen them and was glad
that 1 was not among them.
'.Mr. Thompson said that he did not
mean that the men were rolling about.
He added that it was shame and
disgrace that such men were allowed to
parade with children. Mr. Thompson
+bar +,,rr N fo another rninjsfar,s (t1nie
was the Rev. Mr.. Mayham) land asked
him how his man was. This person re-
piled that his policeman was just as bad"
Maxwell reported the matter to Captain
Cox. The Captain began an investiga-
tion Immediately. Patrolmar Kaustan of
the Montgomery street station happened
to be with Mr.. Mayham's Sunday-school.
1t was inferred from Mr.. Mayhams re-
marks that he considered that Kaustan
was drunk too. This the officer posi-
lively denies. Maxwell also denied any
charge of drunkenness.
The Rev. Mr.. Mayham was seen by
$ reporter last evening. When asked if
he had seen any patrolmen drunk, he
said
Eyes, I did see one, but I do not wish
to give his name for fear of imperiling
his position" The pastor stated that ne
saw no use for the police in the parade
and that the children could have march
ed along perfectly without the police
force to assist. He also stated that he
did not wish to get into any trouble with
the police or have the department down
on him, and therefore refused to give
the name of the man he claims was un-
der the influence of liquor.
Mr.. Mayham's statements are at var
lance with what Maxwell says Mr.. May
ham says that he was with Mr.. Thompson
all of the time and that he heard no such
sweeping statements as are credited to
Mr. Thompson.
Maxwell says that Mr.. Mayham also re-
marked that the breaths of some of the
men were enough to knock man down.
Mr.. Thompson had a long talk with cap
tain Cox at the latter's house last evening,
but the outcome of the interview could
not be learned.
Captain McKaig of the Oakland avenue
station, says that he knew of no man pc
ing drunk Sergeant Reardon denies that
the accused men were under the influence
of liquor