The Jersey City news., 1901-07-18
SOLID WITH M'(;ILL
Policemen Who Let Motor
ious Thieves Escape Fined
Five Days Pay
Each.
EVEN THE CULPRIIS SURPRISED
President of the Board Tells
the Men They Have
Brought Discredit on
the mt.
EVEN THE CULPRITS SURPRISED

notoriors criminals to escape on Tuesday
last after they had the birds almost in
their hands. For this piece of gross care
lessness they were fined by the Board of
Police Commissioners five days pay each
When a man fails to pull his signal box
he is fined two days pay. When he fails
a second time to pull it he is fined i've
days pay.
DIR. John D. McGilI, president of the
Board told the men very forcefully that
they had brought discredit on the police
department and had acted in a manner
that warranted the citizens and taxpayers
of the city in losing confidence in the
guardians of peace and property. The
case was one that had attracted general
attention and had drawn down on the
accused men much adverse criticism. On
all sides heavy penalty was looked for.
The decision was surprise because of
the smallness of the fine imposed. The
officers themselves were not the least sur
prised when DR.. McGill ended his remarks
on the case with the announcement that
the offices would each forfeit five days
pay, the two looked surprised and heaved
sighs of relief.
The meeting was called to order shortly
after o'clock and adjournment was made
about an hour later. The case against
Valentine ana Nevin was the most i'm
portant Of the evening but it did not
create the sensation that had been antic-
ipated. The most startling thing about
it was the sentence.
Martin Anderson was the first witness
He took the stand and told how he had
seen Mr.. and Mrs. Ernst Belden, who en-
joy a number of aliases, walking down
Grand street. He first saw them at Var
lex street but seeing no policeman follow
ed the two until Grove Street was reach
ed Here ne met the officers. Anderson was
most positive of the identity of the two
thieves, who are wanted here by the local
police for robbing the home of Mr.. James
Connolly, Clerk of the Board of Tax Com
1nissioners. Mrs. Belden was Mr.. Con-
nelly's housekeeper and while he was
away she and her husband took away
most of his yaluables.
AS the officers were reached Anderson
proceeded ahead of the Beldens and in
formed the policemen who they were.
Belden took fright and boarded a trolley
car, leaving his wife to her fate. She was
well able to care for herself as subsequent
events proved. Because the policemen had
no warrant for the womans arrest they
officers to hold the woman so that he
might go for Mr.. Connolly, but when the
two men returned both the officers and
the woman were gone. Thereupon Ander-
son, who is employed by Mr.. Connolly.
and Mr.. Connolly called at the station
house and told Captain Cody the details
of the incident The captain took their
statements and preferred charges against
the two officers Anderson and Captain
Cody told the above facts to the Board
last night in substantiation of the charges
against Nevin and Valentine.
Nevin was the first of the accused men
to take the stand in his own behalf. He
said ne was on his way to cover his post
on the night tour. He had reached the
corner of Grove and Grand streets, where
Officer Valentine stood when Anderson
approached him in a great state of ex-
element" and said he wanted a woman
arrested. Nevin said he referred Ander-
son to Valentine because the case was on
Valentines post. He denied that there
was any woman in sight at the time and
as he was anxious to get on his own post
as soon as possible he walked off think
ing that Valentine was sufficiently exper-
fenced to handle the matter" He denied
that he had learned who the woman was
or for what she was wanted.
Valentine then walked before the bench
at which the Board sat. After Colonel
Robinson, Clerk of the Board, had read
the charge of neglect of duty in falling TO
arrest the woman, he pleaded guilty with
q statement" He said that he was stand
ing on the corner as described by Ander-
son and that Anderson had pointed out
Mrs. Belden and had told him who she
was and what she was wanted for. He
said he asked Anderson if Anderson had
warrant for the woman's arrest and
when Anderson said Valentine said
ne could not arrest without a warrant.
my idea was that should have a war
rant to make the arrest but I now know
that I was wrong. have learned so
since" was his plea. That closed the TAX
ing of testimony
After a consultation on this and the
other cases that were heard the Board
returned to the bench and DR.. McGill
said:
while valentine is a new officer ne
should have made himself more familiar
with the rules of the department. There
is no excuse for Nevin because he is an
older officer. He should have known, as
should also Valentine, that these people
were wanted. Circulars describing them
and telling of their crime were posted IN
the station house, so there is no excuse
.sThis kind of thing will not do. IL
brings upon the department a great oea.
OF discredit and makes the citizens feei
that they are paying money to men VINO
merely walk about the streets and are
not good policemen, giving attention 70
their duty and taking advantage of every
s,+,,atian IF either or both of you had
arrested those people it would have been
great credit to you, especially the
chanceman 1t might have led 20 his quick
promotion. but both lost the opportunity
: The schanceman loses that chance of pro-
motion and both have black names for
bringing dlscredit on the department. Ii.e
Board has carefully considered the case
and it finds you bofn gu'ily ana sen-
FENCES vouSto pay fines Of five days
each.