The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-24
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
Several Cases of Discipline in the
Police Department.
The superintendent Recommended
lions Approved by Commissioner
Ross-PIea of Attorneys Relative to
Investment of 1897 Inaugural
Funds - The Treasury Advances.

| Richard Sylvester. Major and Superin-
tendent of Police, yesterday forwarded to
Commissioner Ross batch of recon-
mendations relative to cases of discipline
| in The department. In each instance Com
missioner Ross approved the recommend
ations Of the superintendent, and for
warded the papers to his associates.
One of these was the case of Thomas S.
Delaney, charged with violation of duty
in entering premises while assigned to
his beat and remaining there for a Time.
Delaney was found guilty before the trial
officer.
The Superintendent states, in passing
upon the case, that he does not know of
i any objection to an officer taking a cup
/ of coffee on an extremely cold night, but
! in this instance the private evidently at
| tempted to deceive his superior officer by
| not appearing and presenting the situa-
| ton at the time he approached. The Su-
! perintendent recommends that he be fined
s. and that he be reminded that here
after he will find it to his best interests
to be straightforward in his conduct to-
ward his superiors.
Another case was that of Private L. P.
Gouldman, who was also charged with
conduct unbecoming an officer in. violating
paragraph 100 of the manual 1t was
charged in Gouldman's case that he enter
ed a barroom and remained there for some
time while assigned to duty upon his beat.
He was found guilty before the trial
officer.
In Gouldman's case the Superintendent
recommended that the officer be fined so,
and warned that If found guilty of sim
liar offence in the future, he may expect
a severer penalty.
Private Paul Kersten was charged with
the violation of paragraph 100 of the
manual, and found guilty before the trial
officer Kersten's fault was that of en-
tering a barroom while on duty working
his beat and Of remaining there some
time.
Major Sylvester recommended that the
officer be warned against going in places
where liquors are sold, unless called
there in the line of duty. The Superin-
tendent states that Kersten's good record
in the precinct to which he is assigned,
prompts the recommendation.
Major Sylvester informs the Commits
sioners that at times inconvenience are
experienced, by reason OF the inability
of the members of the force to cash their
checks promptly, but he states that all
appearance of violation Of the regula-
tions should be avoided.
Private Francis Hughes was charged
by his superiors with neglect of duty, and
was found guilty before the trial officer.
The specific charge was that while as
signed to duty, he entered premises on
Nineteenth Street, between Pennsylvania
Avenue and l Street northwest, and re-
NAMED there for the space of twenty
minutes.
The Superintendent in this case stated
that he had known Hughes ever since
his connection with the force and that lie
had always been considered an estima-
able man. He expressed his surprise
that after long experience he did not fol-
low the regulations as laid down in the
manual, and report sick at the station
and receive his usual sick card.
Major Sylvester states that it was his
first impulse to recommend Hughes re-
duction to the rank of private of class
/, but in lieu thereof he recommended
that the officer be fined $40, and warned
that If again found guilty of such neglect,
1t will be followed by more serious con-
sequences.
In the case OF Private B. F. williams
the charge preferred was tho non-pay-
ment OF a debt, for which he was found
guilty before the trial officer The charge
was preferred by William Hlnrichs, and
judgment against the officer was shown
to have been rendered in the sum of
$1,000.
In reporting upon this case. Major Syl-
vester said that the person holding the
note against Williams should be re-
quired to produce 1t, In order to obtain
payment. He admitted that the judgment
filed, under the manual. was prima facie
evidence OF Indebtedness, and the Super
intendent stated that he saw no way of
relieving the officer in the premises, I'M
less the judgment of the just.Ha is re-
versed.
II is understood that the Commits
sioners viii approve the recommendations
of the Major and Superintendent in the
foregoing cases.