Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-21
OFFICERS ON RACK.
VIII Appear Again on Friday After
 noon With Their Witnesses.

1 Ine examination of Officers Nelson sinl.n and Chester J. Allen as to their ability to properly perform the
 work of policeman was Continued yesterday afternoon to 1 o'clock Fri uay afternoon. Both policemen found II was necessary to have witnesses to ss.uostantiafe their side of the examina-
 tioh. The hearing occupied three quarters of an hour. Commissioner
 neach was chairman and full board
 was present. Neither officer was in signt when the board got down to
 Duslness, but Sheriff Rigney had no dlnculty in finding them when sent to
 nrlng them before the board Officer ehiiln was hrst brought in. He was sworn by City Clerk Nettleton to an sWer truthfully all questions put to nm. in response to Chairman Beach's questions he, said he remembered his belng examined by Dr Poore a year ago. The doctors report was then read to the officer and it showed that his left foot was partly paralyzeG. owing to q hurt he received while in Ihe performance of his duty. The oHcer admitted that the foot bothers hlm occasionally, but it does not inter- Iere With him as a runner, He thought lie could run as fast as ever. or as good as the average man. The in Jury in question was received the first or second winter he was on the force As to the duties of a policeman, he said they were to prevent crime. In case q criminal he had in custody was running away he would shoot at him, put It would greatly depend on the circumstances. He would not shoot - the attempted escape took place in is crowded thoroughfare, or if there was any danger of anyone else getting hurt. He could get witnesses to prove that he can run as fast today as he ever rall
 But the witnesses were not present and this rather disconcerted the board. The officer admitted that he knew he Was to undergo an examination as to -~.s physical capacity. but he had no < Idea what course 1t would take. He said he would like to be given the op-8 portunity to produce his witnesses. This threw the weight of the question on the board, and on motion of Com missioner Daly. after a most depress- ing silence, it was voted to grant the officers request and allow him until Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock to get his witnesses.
 This disposed of the case of Officer
 
 Allen was called in.s He was also sworn and the same preliminaries were gone through as in the other case. Dr Poore's report of his examination of the officer which was made about at year ago when the entire police depart ment, except the officers, was exam ined, was read. The report showed the officer was ruptured.
 As to what the duties of police man are, he said t.ley were to obey all orders, hear all complaints, quell and prevent disturbances, and see that the city ordinances and the provisions of the charter are carried out. He was then questioned about his injury, and he said 1t was received in an as- sault made upon him some years ago on Baldwin street.
 He was standing in the vicinity of a saloon on the night of July !, IS9S, when two men accosted and spoke to him. The conversation was of a gen. eral nature and had been going on few minutes when he was struck from behind and felled to the ground. nlva men jumped on his stomach and beat him in terrible manner. His injuries were numerous and painful, but the worst were the rupture and fractured shoulder. Prior to that occurrence he was sound Dr Castle examined him when he was appointed to the force. This concluded, for the time being, the examination as to his physical ability. His mental ability was then inquired intO
 Commissioner Beach asked him to write the following sentence: We shall notice all places of amusement licensed persons, places and junk 1nA. O cn second hand articles" The officer thought he was asked to write down the names of places of amusenlent, junk shops, etc. and not without some difficulty was he made to understand, and having written as dictated he handed the paper to the chairman with the remark that he got somewhat mixed mp in starting. Commissioner Driges then asked him if he ever de- clined to obey an order because he esu not wish to offend certain persons, or that he had good reasons for not dolng what he was asked. He replied that he did not remember such an occur renee.
 Commissioner Driggs asked him if he had not been requested by mem Der of the board of safety to shoot dog and that he refused because he would offend certain persons, and he said he was never so asked, and that he would kill dog if requested by of the board of safety
 He was then asked if he wished to bring witnesses to support his state ments, and he threw the burden of that proposition upon the board by an swering that if the board thought 1t necessary for him to have witnesses he would bring them. Chairman Beach replied that it was "up' to him, out the officer did not take it that way. He left it with the board, and in vain the chairman tried to show him that that was a matter for his ook out At length the board decided oy vote it was better to hear his wit lesses and they went into executive session.
 The board will meet again Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
 oneaH and the State Bar.
 AYRANY N J. Jan. d.-CxOv@rn04