The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-16
SHEFFMEYER ON TRIAL
Police Commissioners Hear
Evidence Against Him
and Postpone De-
fence.


Fourth precinct police station, appeared
before the Board of Police Commissioners
last night, at trial meeting, to be ar
raigned on a charge of attempted assault
on Mrs Mary Roberts, a colored woman
of No. 474 Wilton street, in the Lafayette
section. All the commissioners were pres
ent and a large crowd filled the First
Criminal Court room, where the meeting
was held
Clerk Robinson, after reading the min
utes of the previous meeting, read a com
munication from Assistant Prosecutor
vickers, written at the instance of Judge
John I. Blair, of the Court of Special Ses-
sions, in which the Commissioners were
requested to defer taking any action in
the Sheffmeyer case until the criminal
proceedings against him were completed.
Judge Blair advised the communication on
motion made before him few days ago
j by Isaac Goldenhorn, counsel for Shelf
meyer, who asked that such a request be
made by the Court. Judge Blair said that
while he had no authority he would grant
the request, because it appeared to him
reasonable. A communication advising
the Board of Judge Blair's reply to the
motion was also received from Counsellor
IHtSe ISllSIS "SIS lilSu
Sheffmeyer asked that the hearing be
adjourned whereupon Commissioner Wai-
ter drew attention to the fact that Shelf
meyers counsel had secured an adjourn
ment at the last meeting. He asked why
| Goldenhorn was not present. President
McGill advanced the opinion that the law
yer absented himself under the impression
that Judge Blair's request would be
granted, and nothing done in the case.
Commissioner Walter remarked that if.
Sheffmeyer were innocent he should be
anxious for a speedy trial, more so than
! the plaintiff
President McGill called Mrs Roberts
and asked if her convenience would be
suited by a ten days adjournment, as
Sheffmeyer was to appear in Special Ses-
sions next w ednesday. The woman re-
! piled that her time and that of her hus-
| band, Marshall, were not their own, and
| they were anxious to end the case inn
mediately. President McGill then disre--
| garded the request of Judge Blair and de-
cided that the testimony of the plaintiffs
be taken at once. Sheffmeyer protested
on the grounds that he was without coun-
sci and unable to cross examine the COM
planning witnesses. Nevertheless it was
| decided that the testimony be taken, and
| President McGill informed Sheffmeyer
| that at some future time he might have
the privilege of cross-examination. How
this future cross-examination is to be
/ gotten at is not plain.
| The clerk read the charge. 1t was
specified that on the morning of Janu-
ary 10, Sheffmeyer attempted an assault
on the woman as she was in the street
alone and that he used force to attain
his ends.
Mrs. Roberts said that on the morning
in question she left her home shortly
after six o'clock. She was i take car
| but thought she was a little late. She
asked policeman if the car had already
passed.
''Then," said Mrs. Roberts, "the officer
/ asked me to step into a hallway. l re-
| fused and hex grabbed hold of me and at
| tempted to force me. We struggled for
sometime. Finally he drew me into a
| front yard through a gate. fought him
! fiercely and finally broke away from him.
Seeing two officers standing a short dis
| tance away l ran to them for protection.
! They referred me to the station house.
| I went home and toud my husband what
| had happened and we went to the station
house together. The officers were all in
a row. 1 was told te pick out the man
who had attempted the assault and I
picked out Sheffmeyer.''
Yes was the reply, 'but that was be-
fore I got a good look at you.' Then
/ to the Commissioners the complainant
said:-"T knew him because when we
were struggling I saw him under an
I oil vi liobt =, ,ic, \
fore that day.
, Then Sheffmeyer asked her if she did
not that morning abuse him for the ar
rest of her cousin. This attempt to show
animus was strongly combated by the
woman who denied that she had spoken
of the matter until Sheffmeyer mention
ed it.
Mr.. Roberts told of his wife's going into
the house and telling him of Sheffmeyer's
action and how he and his wife went to
the station to complain to the Sergeant
| at te desk. He told of his wife's posi-
tive identification of Sheffmeyer as he
| stood in the ranks when she was asked
to pick out the man she charged. The
| hearing was here adjourned until the next
1 meeting.
Sheffmeyer is a medium sized man of
muscular build and prepossessing appear
! ance. He had the manner of one who ap-
/ precates the fact that he is in a serious
| position, but is confident of exoneration.
He has worn the uniform about four
| years. He has wife and three children.
/ Policeman William Connors did not re-
4 port for duty on February 10. He said
| he oversight himself until he though it
tn late to go on duty. He was told that
| he Should have reported as soon as possi-
| bit and he was finedatiye days pay.
Chanceman LangdU.f was fined 1 days
pay for reporting twenty-nine minutes
late on February 3.
| A penalty of five days pay was i'm
posed on Chaneeman Palmer because he
was in a restaurant drinking coffee when
he should have been on his post.
Patrolman Boyle could not be found on
his post on January %. He plead not
1 guilty to a charge of neglecting his duty.
His defence, was that he was helping a
young lady find pet dog which had
strayed away from her. The young lady,
Miss Potts, was put on the stand and
she testified in Boyle's behalf. The
/ charge was dismissed.
\