The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-27
DETECTIVES ON TRIAL
ACCUSED OF DEFRAUDING THE
 CITY OF CHICAGO.
Expense Account Inflated and the Money Divided-John J. Tracey One of the Accused, on
 the Stand Yesterday.

Chicago. Aug. 26.-The three officers of the Detective Bureau of the Clty PaNce Department who are charged with defrauding the city by means or fictitious expense accounts, were put upon trial today before the Civil Ser vice Commission, The accused emcers are Lieut.. Peter J. Joyce, Detective Sergeant John c. Cramer and DetectiVe John J. Tracey.
 The case of Joyce was taken up nrst. and the board went into the matter or the expense accounts for the return or prisoners Lovece and Larkins from Cleveland last May.
 After w. H. Eubanks, Chief In the State Auditors office at Springfield. had identified the requisition papers and a check for $75. 30 which Tracey re- ceived as expenses in bringing back Larkins, Tracey was called before the Board. Though he proved an unWil- ling witness, the corporation counsel drew out of him considerable incrimi- mating testimony against Lieutenant Joyce and Detective Sergeant Cramer. Tracey refused to answer number of questions put to him by assistant cor poration counsel Fyfe, on the ground that 1t might incriminate him. In do- ing this he followed the advice of his
 
 uuently interrupted his examinations with suggestions that he refuse to an- swer Finally President Fla of the Civil Service Com mission. threatened to have the lawyer elected from the room unless he desisted and the warning had the desired effect.
 Tracey testifled that he and Cramer had been assigned to run down the man Larkins, who was charged with horse stealing and that they were finally notified that the man was under arrest in Cleveland He admitted that they did not go after Larkins. but ar- ranged with Policeman Gallagher, who was in Cleveland after a prisoner, Lovece, to bring both men back. Press ed further by the attorneys, Tracey admitted that he had signed and pre- sented the messengers expense ac- count, making full charges for bring ing Larkins to Chicago. He explain ed that I.ielANAant Joyce, a desk of- ficer of the detective bureau, made out the expense account and attached the notarys seal. A moment later he said he got the check and casted it.
 What did you do with the money?" Tracey was asked. ..
 His attorney advised him not to an- swer and the witness said:
 "I don't wish to answer it because it might incriminats me" Continuing Tracey said: Joyce told me that it was the regular thing for an officer to bring back another mans prisoner and to put in an extra expense account for it."
 Chief O'Neill has charged that the money illegally obtained was divided among the accused officers. Pressed further. Tracey explained that he had given Cramer $27. He admitted that this amount covered the actual ex- penses of bringing Larkins to Chicago and that the remainder of the sum re- ceived from the State represented the surplus which was to be divided. He said he had received S4Ss0 and that he still had it.
 " Did Joyce know that only $27 was spent in actual expenses?" asked At torney Fyffe.
 "Of course he did; he saw the vouchers and knew just what Vas spent"
 This closed the direct examination of Tracey and an adjournment was taken until tomorrow.