The Washington times., 1901-10-04
TWO POLICEMEN DISCIPLINED.
Recommended for Punishment by
Trial BOARD for Intoxication.

1t appears that two privates of the
| Metropolitan police force recently yielded
| to the enticements of milk punch. This
| fact. and Others were brought out before
| the trial board who investigated charges
| of intoxication and conduct unbecOming
| policemen preferred against officers F. G..
| Str0man and j. A. Hebrew.
| The story unfolded in the record is to
| the effect that last month the two officers
| after receiving their pay checks. asked
| to be excused from reserve duty that
| afternoon because they wanted to attend
| to some private business. Together they
| proceeded to a nearby dispensary of liquid
refreshments and sat down to the enjoy
ment of decoctions of milk, sugar and
whisky The bartender cashed their po-
lice checks and they were happy.
Their first experience with the seductive
milk punch was so fascinating that be-
fore they parted for the day they visited
another similar establishment and par
took of a second round of the delightful
mixture. Notwithstanding their delight
it was bad day for the policemen. They
appear 10 have left their rabbit feet and
other charms in their civilian clothes in
which they last enjoyed convivial time
together. They proceeded to eat crabs
. and many OF them. One of the men,
according to his testimony, had also re-
Gently taken a dose of squibb's mixture
| and the result of their eating and drink
ing and taking medicine was, in the Ian
guage of the trial board, deleterious to
the metropolitan police force.
Stroman became very ill ON street
car later, and nightfall of that memorable
pay day found Office Hebrew in the hands
Of the surgeons at the Homeopathic Hos
pital. He was unconscious, and could not
be reused. Before the doctors learned
the true character of the case there was
much alarm felt for the officer. All this
occurred while the policemen were clad
in their coats of blue adorned with the
beautiful brass buttons, which added to
the embarrassment of their position when
they appeared before the stern and un-
sympathetic trial board.
Private Hebrew, of the upper grade,
class two. was found guilty. His good
record in the past has led Major Sylves-
ter To recommend that his punishment
consist of 4 reduction to the lower grade,
which means loss Of $3.50 annually.
StrOman, Il comparatively new officer
on the force, was found not guilty by
the trial board, which recommended that
the charges against him be dismissed.
Major Sylvester disapproved. He insist
ciently reprehensible TO warrant his
moval from the force. He, however. T q.
ommended to the Commissioners lenieG
in the way of a fine of $50 and a reduct
in the line of promotion. The recOmmen
dat!ons of Major sylvester have been tho
roughly considered by Commissioner
Ross. who mas supervision of the Police
Department, and he has approved them
and sent them forward to his associates.
In his comment on the trial papers of
the two officers Major Sylvester says:
while their cases were heard sepa-
rateIy by the trial board the principals
participated in the violation of the regu-
lations jointly; and, in other words, their
offences were Identical. They were given
separate opportunities for defence, and
while the testimony tends to show sick
ness was superinduced in both instances,
il followed the use of intoXicants. in one
instance taken after eating crabs. as the
defendant asserts, in the other after self
prescribed doses of squibbs mixture.
"Prirates +. C. Stroman and j. A He
brew were excused from reserve duty on
pay day to attend to private business. In
full uniform they proceeded to the dining
room attached to liquor saloon, placed
themselves under obligation to the pro-
prietor by having their checks cashed,