Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
POLICE TRIAL BOARD
PRESENTS FINDINGS In CASE OF
PRIVATE QUAIL.
Review Of the Testimony by Major
Sylvester, Who Recommends That
Officer Be Disciplined.

police, today forwarded to the Commission
ers the trial papers in the case Of Police
Private H. A. Quail Of the first precinct.
who was found guilty on a charge Of con-
duct unbecoming an officer and neglect Of
duty. This case has attracted considerable
attention recently. as 1t involved evidences
of considerable hard feeling among three or
four officers Of the precinct. the outgrowth
of which was noted several days ago when
Precinct Detective Estes was brought be-
fore Maj Sylvester charged with accep ting
lunches from a restaurant run in connec-
ton with saloon.
Estes was one Of the witnesses against
Quail having been assigned to the matter
by the department. Quail. assisted by his
partner, Private McQuade secured the evil
dence against Estes. which caused the lat
ter's reassignment to street duty in uni
form and transfer to the tenth precinct.
The finding of the trial board in the case
of Private Quail was to the effect that the
evidence showed the policeman met a wo-
man of questiona BILE character on two occa-
sions one evening, once at 18th and B
streets and later at the Washington monu-
ment. Commenting upon this the members
of the trial board said:
Said meetings not being In regard to
police business nor in the line of such duty,
and being duty the private aforesaid.
without permission, left his beat for such
purposes. all to the prejudice of good order
anG discipline and we recommend that
Private H. A. Quail be removed from the
force"
Matter Reconsidered.
The matter was submitted to the trial
board for reconsideration. when it was
stated new witnesses were to be heard.
After considering the new testimony the
board stated 1t found no reason to change
its findings of guilty. but in view of all the
cirCnn daa ha<
or removal from the force, Private Quail be
disciplined in such manner as the major
and superintendent should deem to be for
the best interest OF the force
In forwarding the papers in the case to
the Commissioners Major Sylvester states
as follows:
This case is the outgrowth of feeling
on the part of the officer that he was be-
ing Disseminated against by a superior
In the enforcement of the regulations con-
tanned in the manual. the facts being par
tally admitted to me- %
In this assumption so far as Private
Estes Is concerned. he is wrong as the lat
ter was simply carrying out Instructions
but In doing so Private Estes erred in not
having the establishment of Private Quairs
Identity beyond any question on the occa-
sion of the alleged second meeting. In that
there is room for doubt. on my part: the
trial board determined otherwise and I am
constrained to defer largely to the judg-
ment of those who heard the witnesses
De found In the assumption that fearing
one OF the sergeants would make. him
trouble. he proposed to learn anything that
might strengthen his case If the former at
tempted SUCH The sergeant, however, was
not party to this case and in this the
privates Judgment was wrong.
= Major Sylvester's Recommendation.
AS to moral conduct, the private's rec
ord Is good. as is evidenced by his superior
officers. A, young and sensitive man. he
went too far in his suspicious, although he
reasonably had some grounds for such, il
the former action of the sergeant was
harsh The orders of the department dep
recate such manner of discipline, and the
lieutenant informs me that he cautioned
his sergea mt to that effect
In view of the partial grounds that Prf-
waite Quail had to assume that he might be
done an injustice and of the indirect testi-
mony as to his meeting one who was Ill
disposed toward the sergeant, and the testi-
mony that he was called from his beat to
maintain peace. recommend that the find
ing of the board be approved with the COM
ments have made, and that Private Quail
be warned to the effect that If at any
time he believes unjust complaint is
contemplated against him that he promptly
report to his lieutenant; that he be dis
mounted from a bicycle and transferred as
any meeting with a person. Off his beat or
otherwise and where the conversation drifts
to the mention of a superior's name In I'M
kindly spirit 10 prejudicial to good discipline
With means to correct what might seem
an injustice and a private fails to embrace
1t. 1t becomes negligence. leads to discus
SlonS and diSSenSfOnS. which HeutenantS
and sergeants should aim to prevent and
will not be tolerated"
Commissioner West has approved This in
dnrConnanf