Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-27
POLICEMAN ON TRIAL.
Sergeant Lucas and Patrolman Welsh
Charged With Conduct Unbecoming an
Ofiicer-Decision Reserved,

Ofticer--Decision Reserved,
On charges of conduct unhecomiug an
officer' and conduct injurious to the
public peace and welfare. y Sergeant George
S. Lucas and Patrolnan John II. Welsh
were arraigned before the Board of Police
Commissioners on Saturday afternoon.
President Pyle presided and Commissioner
GARRISON and Chief of Police Massey were
in attendance. but Commissioner Hart was
sick and unable to BIO present. The testi..
mony was taken by stenographer and will
be submitted to MIR. Hart before the board
takes any action in the matter.
Sergeant Lucas and Patronan Welsh, |
while Off duty last Monday morning. met
in William O. Smiths saloon, at Third and |
Pine streets, and got into an argument, |
which terminated in fight, in which both |
men received wounds The charges we're |
the result of the fight. patromen Harry |
b. Freeman and simon Moran, who We're
also oil duty, were in the saloon at the time
| of the fight, but they did what they could to |
| prevent fight and stop it after it started.
/ President Pyle of the Police Board, in
speaking of the trouble after the hearing,
said 1t was altogether likely that charges
/ would be brought against others besides
| Sergeant Lucas and Officer Welsh but did
not specify by mentioning names. He has
been making a personal investigation OF
the trouble. Sergeant Lucas and PATROL
men Welsh aud Moran are Democrats and
/ Patrulman Freeman is Republican.
The charges against Sergeant Lucas and
| Officer Welsh are contained in the following
official communication
Wilmington, Del, Dec. 10, 19O0.-Hon.
Board OF Police Commissioners--Gentle
men: I hereby prefer charges of conduct
unbeconiing an officer. and of conduct in
furious to the public peace and welfare,
against Sergeant George 8. Lucas and
Patrolman John r. Welsh, they having been
engaged in a disgraceful fight in the saloon
at Third and Pine streets, on the morning
of December 18th, 1900. Respectfully yours,
Eugene Massey, Chief of Police y
At the hearing on Saturday afternoon the
accused were called separately, but after
each had given his testimony both were
permitted to remain in the room while
other witnesses were being heard
! Sergeant Lucas was called first. After the
charges had been read to him by President
Pyle the sergeant said he entered the saloon
at 7d0 O'Clock and had enc drink. he was
accompanied by Patroman Moran. shortly
! after O'Clock Patrolmen Welsh and Free
man entered. More drinks followed. Later
in the morning, while at the saloon, he
: said, Officer Welsh asked him why he did
not treat him as he did other officers and as
] he did not tell him about his arrangements
for meeting him on the preceding Saturday
9 night, and while they were talking about
the matter Welsh struck him. The next
4 thing he knew he was knocked down and
: Welsh continued the assault. The sergeant
said he had had about six mixed drinks. He
$ also SAID Welsh said something and he re-
marked that that was lie, which evidently
]. provoked the assault, and after he had been
o struck he called Welsh harsh name. The
sergeant said while he was down Officer
: Moran separated him and Welsh. Lucas
IS saw his blackjack on the floor and attempted
to strike Welsh with it. He said he had nc
knowledge of alternating to use his revolver.
In reply to MIR. GARRISON, Sergeant Lucas
n admitted that an officer is always on duty
e and should not get into an alteration with
Il fellow officer OF anybody else, whether or
h or off duty.
Il Patrolman Welsh was next called. He
r | said he entered the saloon in company witt
70 Officer Freeman, both men having taker
ii their wives to the steamboat wharf. The.
d entered the saloon at his suggestion, sayini
ar he was chilly. having been out all night ant
Thought drink would not hurt them. Ill
10 had drink of whisky and two glasses o
O. beer. Sergeant Lucas, he said, was havinl
Of some words with man named North. TIL
sergeant appeared intoxicated and it looke'
in as IL he would have trouble with North
went out. Witness thought he was force
out. He returned and the controversy wa
renewed. North went out again and Wells
went back of the bar, fearing Lucas woul
want TO talk to him. Witness said Luca
c. went to him and told him he was a friend
OF whereupon Welsh told him he was liai
mr. He told Lucas he had done his duty undo
~, him and had treated him properly us
~ policeman. to which Lucas replied that
10 did not tell the truth Welsh accused Luct
he OF doubling his veracity and spoke of tt
hit sergeant's complaining on one occasion la
We summer about his not being Mt certai
place when he had proof he was there.
Witness alleged that he spoke in a derog'
tory manner about Sergeant Tucker ar
ISIS while witness was defending Sergeai
ne fuckers name Lucas called him liza
IT. whereuron witness struck Lucas. Befo
,a that he had appealed to Lucas to desis
-, Witness said he was sober and the sergea
OF was intoxicated. He also alleged that Jam
we Thompson and Officer Freeman stood b
he tween them. Welsh said after Lucas hi
len called him liar several times and Luc
he had threatened to kill him he feared Luc
far would do him bodily harm and he stru
Lucas in self defence. as he thought. Wi
ness said while Officer Moran was trying
interfere Lucas knocked Moran down twic
Freeman WIS also trying to separate t
rly beligerants. The fight continued about Il
md minutes. Welsh said after Lucas h.
nf gained his feet he, Lucas, struck him wi
n his blackjack and after several Others h
~ takeE il away from him he crew his rev
On yer. Welsh then jumped into an adjoini
anu room and went upstairs, where he tool
ud wash in the bathroom. Witness said VIII
ans he was upstairs he heard Lucas say he =
of going to report the matter at police he's
tbs quarters and threatened to kill him peft
- night.
20. 81 Welsh said ii he had not been back of I
iull bar he would have left the place before
D to fight started, but he WIS in such positi
We that he could not well get out
We Asked whether there had been trouble
hen tween MIN ana Lucas before, ne said
IL one occasion when there was a sparring Ct
~ test at public hall here Lucas wanted
tne stop the fight and when Welsh told him
and men were not hurting each other Lu
nile struck him in the neck and knocked h
ical down.
/, for On cross-examinaton, relative to the Fl
ara at Third and Pine streets, witness said al
- the quarrel had progressed for some tif
ORG somebody said ''let them fight it out. " {
axes his oyercoat off and as Sergeant Lucas
old toward him he struck Lucas.
Leonard Reynolds said he only saw
"licks' struck, and they were struck
Welsh. Witness thought Lucas was v
freak much under the influence of liquor.
oney ness said he grabbed revolver which
q the thought, belonged to Lucas, but he did
nd is see any blackjack.
rage Richard Slaughter saw no blows strr
kim but he tried to stop the fight. He did
nint, see either blackjack or revolver.
tion, thought Lucas had been drinking.
per- William G. Smith, in whose saloon
labIy fight took place, said conversation I
at %, place which ended IN fight Witness
large Welsh struck the first blow. He did not
n one blackjack, but he has Lucas revol
having taken it, in the case, from SO
body's hand; he could not tell whose.
!. reply to Welsh, he said he heard Lucas
sibule Welsh liar and other vile names.
ire to Frank Welsh said he saw Officer W
ii2ens strike Lucas. Witness said he saw L.
ntion strike tWelsh with blackjack and 81
been revolver, but not in the hands OF eithe
l the the officers Witness had seen each nj