Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-08
SERSON HEAVILY FINED.
Court Holds That He Exceeded Els Au-
thority in the Trouble With Chief Welsh
of the Fire Department.

Court Holds That He Exceeded El's Au-
thority in the Trouble With Chief Welsh
of the Fire Department.
The case against Policeman Robert Ser
son, charged with assquting Chief Welsh OF
the Fire Department, at the Third Election
district. ON the last registration. day, was
heard In the City Court Monday. City
Solicitor Conrad and his assistant, John +.
Lynn, conducted the prosecution and Ser
son was represented by William S. Hilles
and David j. Reinhardt. After a protrHcted
heatin1 Serson was fined SOS.
Mr., Welsh, said he was at the registration
place In the interests of the Democratic
parity. as challenger. Shortly after he
had entered the registration place, frank
| JONES' who was outside told him he had
better come out and Welsh's reply WIS thnt
Jones had better attend to his own bust
ness. Welsh also said that Jones or some
body else outside the registration place told
| Policeman Serson to put Welsh out, where.
upon Serson entered and caught hold OF him
| and struck him with his club after which
| witness and Serson clinched. Alter the
trouble had subsidized Welsh and Serson
| walked out.
Joshua Pyle, the registrar, said 1t had
been agreed by the registration officers to
have nobody else ia there during the day
and Frank Jones had been sent out before
| Welsh arrived. Pyle saw Serson with his
club DIP when the two men were struggling,
hut could not tell whether SeIson struck
Welsh or not. He did OF order Welsh out,
because he did not have time to do so,
neither did he order the officer to put Welsh
out.
James Dugau, the Democratic assistant
registrar, gave similar testimony to that OF
MIR. Pyle. He said it was Jones who called
Serson IN and he saw Serson strike Welsh
with his club twice.
Thomas Hennis. the Republican assistant
registrar, said that after Welsh entered the
place he (wituess) remarked that Welsh haC
no more business there than Jones: ano
Jones asked him If he wan,ed Welsh pu
out,whereunon he replied: Yes. Call Bob
meaning Serson, and when Serson entered
he asked whether the registration officer
wanted Welsh put out. Hennis said he re
piled In the affirmative and Serson toll
J Welsh he would have to 90 out, to which
Welsh replied that he would go out when h
got ready. Witness alleged that We sh aros
from his chair and struck at the policeman
but the latter did not strike Welsh with hi
club.
Frank Jones said he saw Welsh strike tn
officer but did not see the officer strik
him. Several Others gave similar testimony
William L. Conley testified that he hear
scufIip inside followed. Afterward Serso
: came out and Conley said he noticed lum
on Serson's forehead and said to Serson
why, Bob, somebody must have Tape
p you." He ALLEGED that the officer made tn
: following reply 'Yes, Jack (meanin
Welsh) struck me and after that struc
him. did not intend to hit him an
d would not nave done SO If he had not struc
: me-"
n Officer Serson, upon being sworn, sni
a Welsh did not live in the precinct where Il
trouble occurred. The defence rested or
the prosecution recalled Assistant Registri
Q Dugan, who said that when Officer Sersc
y and Welsh fell Serson's head struck tabl
% Attorney Hilles made an extended speet
+ in behalf of his client, asking that the ca
l. be dismissed.
City Solicitor Conrad said If he hi
). known all the facts in the case he won
" have advised that the suit he not brough
Technically, Mr.. Conrad continue
10 There was an assault but, taking all of II
d facts. II is my opinion that the policeml
l. sought in all reasonable ways not to do an
n thing that was not in line with his duties
% Judge Cochran said the court was sati
. fed that Officer Serson had exceeded
u authority, and imposed the fine.