The sun., 1903-12-27
WI, GODFREY AND The POLICE
PRESIDENT SWANSTROM CALLS on
TIE POLICE TO EXPLAIN,
First. why They Didn't Find Out whether
the Old Man Was Ill: Secondly. Why
surgeon Was Not Called. and, Thirdly.
Why His Family We're Not Notified.

The relatives OF William L. Godfrey.
the retired business man, who was locked
up by the Brooklyn police OH Thursday
afternoon because he was taken down
with urRmic poisoning, and who died
Twelve hours later, have made formal
complaint against the police procedure.
The complaint was filed with Supervisor OF
Complaints James A. Rooney Of the Brook
lyn Borough Presidents Office by James D.
Olsen, friend of Mr.. Godfreys family.
Mr.. Godfrey, as was told yesterday,
became i'll on DeKalb avenue car near
Classon avenue on his way home Thurs
dag afternoon. He stopped the car and,
staggering to nearby doorstep. sat there
with his head in his hands. Apparently he
had fallen against the car in getting of,
because he was bleeding from a wound
inside his mouth. Somebody told Police
man Mulhaney that there was drunken
man on the stoop Of house near the drug
store on the corner. Mulhaney arrested
MIR Godfrey, despite the protest OF several
of the people near by, who said that they
knew that he was i'll, rather than drunk
A Mrs. Bigelow was so sure that he was Ill.,
rather than drunk, that she sent her da'igh-
ter to Mr.. Godfrey's home. at ~ Monroe
street, to tell his family what had happened
q TO him
/, Thanks to her thoughtfulness Mr.. God
, frey was bailed out, and was at home IN the
care Of his own physicians within two hours
after he was arrested. The police have not
vet notified the Godfreys Of Mr.. Godfrey q
arrest.
There was some question yesterday as to
.whetfAT Mr.. Godfrey told Policeman Mul :
!, hanAy that he had been drinking. Mul-
:. haney saSs that Mr.. Godfrey admitted
had one drink Mr. Wiley, who went
tSith Mr.. Godfrey from the station mouse to
Ills home, understood Mr.. Godfrey to say
that he had had several drinks. DIR. W. II
eMcLena then, who, with DR.. Albert E. Muck
low, attended Mr.. Godfrey at his home
said last night:
$50 far as DR.. Mucklow and myself could
ascertain, there was not the slightest evil
dence that Mira yiodfrey had had even a
teaspoonful Of liquor of any kind when he
was arrested. Certainly, if he had taken
even a single drink it must have >, been ei IL,
very small one. There was not the slightest
trace Of liquor about him when we reached
him.
Friends OF Mr.. Godfrey in business and
socially all unite in saying that he was
most temperate man. A SUN reporter
could find no one yesterday who could re-
member having seen Mr.. Godfrey take a
drink. Many had known him to refuse tc
take even glass Of sherry at the home OF
friend.
John L. Godfrey, his son. said yesterday
that one reason for his fathers abstinence
vas the fear that he might some time bt
found In one OF the fainting spells to whicf
lie was subject and that his condition woulc
be attributed TO alcohol.
Capt. Maude of the Classon avenue sta
ton said he believed that Sergt. Durgar
was right in ordering Mr.. Godfrey to be
locked up, considering Mr.. Godfreys stag
Rering condition and his admission tha'
be had been drinking.
Il was learned that it Is a custom among
Brooklyn police sergeants when respee
tably dressed men are brought in lntoxi
Gated to shut them up in back room anc
give them a chance to sober up before
sending thern home This was held ,oJ
many people acquainted with Drookiyr
methods yesterday as accounting for the
lack of notice sent to the Godfreys by the
police.
No ambulance was summoned, although
Mr.. Godfrey was bleeding profusely from
the mouth when he was locked up: Com
missioner Ebsten has been asked by BOZ
ough President Swanstron to have the
police explain, first, why Some pains were
not taken to ascertain whether MIR. Godfrey
was Ill or not; second, why an ambulance
surgeon was not called. and third. why
his family was not notified that he was