The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-27
DETECTIVES ON TRIAL
THEY ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE DE-
FRAUDED THE CITY OF CHICAGO.
Charged with Trying to Get Rich by
Means of Fictitious Expense Ac-
counts-The Testimony.

CHICAGO. Aug. 2s.-The three officers of
the detective bureau of the city police de-
partment who are charged with defrauding
the city by means of fictitious expense ac-
counts were put on trial to-day before the
civil-service commission. The accused off,
GERS are Lieutenant Peter j. Joyce. Detec-
tive Sergeant John G. Cramer and Detec-
tive John j. Tracey. The charges against
them were preferred by Chief of Police
O'Neill, who was recently placed at the
head Of the department.
The case of Joyce was taken up first, and
the board went into the matter of the ex-
pense accounts for the return of Prisoners
Lovece and Larkins from Cleveland last
May. After w. n. Eubanks. chief in the
state auditors office at Springfield, had
identified the requistion papers and a
check for $3.50 which Tracey received as
expenses in bringing back Larkins. Tracey
was called before the board. Though he
proved an unwilling witness, the corpora
tion counsel drew out of him considerable
discriminating testimony against Lieutenant
Joyce and Detective Sergeant Cramer.
Tracey refused TO answer number OF
questions put to him by Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Fyffe, on the ground that it
might incriminate him. In doing this he
followed the advice of his attorney. Simeon
Armstrong. who frequently interrupted his
examination with suggestions that he re-
fuse to answer. Finally President Ella, of
the civil-service commission. threa tened TO
have the lawyer elected from the room un-
less he desisted. and the warning had the
desired effect.
Tracey testified that he and Cramer had
been assigned to run down the man Lar
WI W. charged horse tpa
and that they were finally notified that
the man was under arrest in Cleveland.
He admitted that they. did not go after
Larkins. but arranged with Policeman
Gallagher who was in Cleveland after the
prisoner Lovece. to bring both men back.
Pressed further by the attorneys Tracey
messengers expense account making full
charges for bringing Larkins to Chicago.
He explained that Lieutenant Joyce desk
officer of the detective bureau, made out
the expense account and attached the
notary's seal A moment later he said he
got the check and cashed 1t.
What did you do with the money!
Tracey was asked.
His attorney advised him not to answer
and the witness said: Il don't wish to
answer because IL might incriminate me-"
Continuing. Tracey said: Joyce told me
that IL was the regular thing for an officer
10 bring back another mans prisoner and
TO put in an extra expense account for il. -
Chief ONeill has charged that the money
illegally obtained was divided among the
accused officers. Pressed further. Tracey
explained that he had given Cramer s27 He
admitted that this amount covered the
actual expenses of bringing Larkins 10
Chicago and that the remainder of the sum
received from the State represented the
surplus which was TO be divided. He said
he had received $3.50 and that he still had
IL. "Did Joyce know that only S27 was
spent in actual expenses asked Attorney
Fyffe.
'Of course he did. He saw the vouchers
and knew just what was spent"
This closed the direct examination of
Detective Tracey and an adjournment was
taken until tomorrow.