The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-10-02
SORT or
SCOTCH VERDICT
Policemen { Ezonerated 7
But Warned to Be {" Very
Careful in the Future.
CAPTAIN M'KAlG CLEARED
Colored Mans Bribery Story,
Unshaken--- Young Law
yers' Yarn Badly Dis
credited.
CAPTAIN M'KAIG CLEARED

The much talked of trial of Rounds
man Thomas Ramsay of the Fourth pre-
cinct, Roundsman Cornelius Noonan Of
the Seventh precinct and Patrolman.
Costello and Mullins of the Fourth pre-.
cinct was held last night. The men were
charged with receiving money from a.
prisoner on the morning of August IT, for
allowing him sertain privileges and to get
bail.
The Board found the men not guilty.
and dismissed the charges, although the
decision, as given, plainly showed there
were grave doubts in the minds of the
Commissioners as to the innocence Of the
men.
Captain Archibald McKaig was also
tried last night. The charge against the.
commander of the Fourth precinct Was
using abusive and offensive language to
Lawyer August Ziegener and J. Merit
Lane on the morning of August 22, in
the Second Criminal Court room. Cap
tain Aclxaig was completely exoneratel.
When the Court came to order the
First Criminal Court room was filed
from wall to wall with an intensely inter-
ested audience The first row Of benches
was occupied by the policemen on trial
and a number of policemen as witnesses,
all in full uniform. The other benches
and all the available standing was filed
with policemen in plain clothes and pri-
vate citizens.
Within the rail sat the Police Board,
Chief Murphy, Inspector Archibold
Counselors Speer, Mulvaney, Ziezener
and Lane. City Attorney John Wahl
Queen occupied prominent seat near
the Commissioners. but was not called
upon at any stage of the trial for advice
The witnesses against the officers, James
H. G. Green and his father, Claybourne
Green, also occupied seats inside the rail-
GREEN ABSENT.
Robert D. Green, the colored man who
was the cause of the trials, failed to ap-
pear. His absence was attributed to his
fear of arrest. He has already forfeited
his bail bond for $500, and is practically
a fugitive from justice.
McKAIG DENIES.
Captain McKaig was the first called.
He listened to the charge, as read by
Clerk Gilbert Robinson, and pleaded not
guilty. The charges were that Captain
McKaig had referred to Lawyers Zie-
gener and Lane as youngsters" !" bluffs, ;"
'snipe-lawyers,' and said he believed
them "to be bluffing," dared them to
prefer charges before the board.'' and
further was accused of saying If / had
done the right thing the other night when
you We're in the station house / would
have locked you up, where you belong
Then ext time you set foot in the Fourth
Precinct I'll throw you in cell so quick
you won't know your name.r
Captain McKaig denied all these
charges in full.
William H. Speer appeared as counsel
for Captain McKaig. During the cross
examination he appeared to confuse
Lawyer Ziegener several times Ziegener
repeated his charges and also said
when Captain McKaig first came into
court on the morning in question he said
1 he hoped his case when brought up
would be before someone who knew some
| law. Judge Murphy then asked him if
! that was reflection on the court Cap
tain McIzaig said no, he referred to these
/ two youngsters"
| Ono important point which Speer
brought out was the positive statement
| of Ziegener that he had not asked for a
seven weeks adjournment of the case.
JUDGE MURPHY'S VIEW.
Counsellor Speer then called Judge
! Murphy, who took the stand and put the
finishing touch to what already appeared
to be hopeless, case for Ziegener and
Lane. The Judge told about them com
! ing to his house and requesting him TO
| fix bail in Green's case, which he did
also repeated what Ziegener had said in
| reference to requesting an adjournment
with the exception of contradicting Zieg-
ener's testimony in regard to the length
of the adjourrment.
Judge Murphy said that Ziegene,
asked him to adjourn the matter sever
weeks and that the statutes did not al
low an adjournment Of more than six
Il think" he said, shat Mr.. Ziegnel
intended to deceive me and get the pris
oner off on too long adjournment
i ziegener broke in and said OF
We're never man enough to accuse me o.
this in open court
never accused you of it before be
cause did not see yon, but I took goos
<.o,.o u, o--,,;, f,,lix- e,.1i.x,. II,