The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-05-16
POLICE TRIALS.
Decision on Capt. McKaig
Reserved by the Com
missioners.

The Board of Police Commissioners held
a trial meeting last night in the First
Criminal Court room. Thirteen men ap-
peared to face charges. All the members
of the Board were present and the room
was crowded with citizens attracted to
the trials by a curiosity to see what
penalties would be inflicted on their
friends in uniform. There was nothing
of especial interest done. The meeting
was not short one, but most of the time
was taken UP in listening to unimportant
testimony in trivial cases. After all the
testimony in the cases was in and copidns
notes had been made by the members Sof
the Board they retired to an ante-room
and spent an hour fixing penalties.
For the third time decision in the case
against Captain Archibald McKaig and
Detective Clay keenan,, of the Third pre-
cinct, for allowing Minnie Lawrence to
conduct a disorderly house in their pre-
cinct without interference, was withheld.
President McGill said the Board had not
yet reached a determination and would
take more time to consider the matter.
A communication was received from
Van Houten Post, G. A. r., requesting
partment leave of absence on Memorial
Day SO that they might participate in the
annual ceremonies. The request was
granted.
A resolution offered by Commissioners
Tilden fixing next Monday as the date
for the annual police review and inspec-
ton was adopted Arrangements for the
event has not yet been made in detail. 1t
was decided to have the Mayor review
the procession at the City Hall at $3.50
o'clock The city officials will review at
4:30 o'clock at the City Hall.
Abraham Vandersee was retired at his
own request.
Veterinary Surgeon James Lindsay was
before the Board to answer charge of
neglect of duty in failing to treat a horse
in the Fifth precinct between April 10
and May 10. DR.. Lindsay explained that
he was not properly informed about the
horse's condition and he showed that it
was a case of pure misunderstanding.
The Board took this view of the matter
and dismissed the case.
Patrolmen Arthur Britten, James Cox
and Michael Oxley were fined two days
pay each for reporting for duty late
Patrolman Sheehan was charged with
neglect of duty in failing to learn of the
robbery of Schoeder's butcher shop, which
was on his post He explained that the
safe, which was looted was fairly buried
under great pile of vegetables so that
it could not be seen from the street. Cap
tain Cody corroborated Sheehan on this
point. president McGill said that on ac-
count of Sheehan's excellent record the
Board believed that he was not delinquent
in his duty and dismissed the charge.
The case of Joel Pangborn and Joseph
Martin, of the Second Precinct, who
fought in the station house on April 20,
was dismissed against both. Pangborn
and Martin fought because they had been
annoying each other until it came to
blows. Pangborn is a big man, weighing
many pounds more than Martin, who is
an inoffensve looking, clean-cut young
man. Pangborn is reported to have said
when the punching point came in the
argument
- - - scab cop, would you stack
up against me?'
Thereupon he rushed at Martin, and
before he really knew how it was done
his head was jammed through window
and his face badly cut. He will wear
an ugly scar across his left cheek the
rest of his days.
James Coolihan, who has been in the
department for twenty years, was found
guilty of being drunk ON post. Decision
in his case was reserved and he was
suspended pending decision.
James Lenehan and Lawrence Murry
were fined two days pay each for being
late in reporting from their boxes.
jeremiah Curtis was found in
lengthy conversation with a woman on his
post. He said, in defence, that he was
giving her advice about her domestic
troubles. He was told that such advice
is not to be given by policemen, and he
was fined five days pay.
James Currin was up on two charges,
neglect of duty and reporting late. On
the first charge he was fined three days
pay. The other charge was dismissed,
though the Board considered him TECH
nically guilty.
EtnuTn,c MrMg nnncS