Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-07
Policemen Defending Them
selves Against Charges.
DEMURRER BY COUNSEL
TRIAL BOARD SITTING IN POLICE
80. !. COURT BUILDING.
Witnesses Called-sto. Testify Regard
ing Crap Game In Seventh
Precinct Station. y

The trial Of Privates J. g. Walsh p. A.
Hoffman and @. II. Lalfger of the police
force was begun before the trial board in
the room of the United States branch of
the Police Court at / rs o'clock this after
noon. There was large attendance of
policemen and citizens, and Assistant Cor
poration Counsel A. Leftwich Sinclair sat
with Capt. John A. Swindells and Lieut..
Elliott In the hearing of the case.
Before the meeting was called to order
Mr.: Lambert of the firm of Lambert &c
Baker submitted as a matter, OF record
copy of the paper they had served on Maj.
Richard Sylvester, chief of police. The
paper is dated April s. and is as follows:
Major Richard Sylvester. -. fst
Major and Superintendent of the Meto-
politan Police Force, Washington. D. c.
Sir: Notice is hereby given you to pro-
duce at the trial of. Priyates, ]. g. Walsh,
P. A. Hoffman. and G. H. Laleger, which
has been set for hearing before the police
trial board on the 18th day of April, 1905, at
o'clock p.m., in the police building, or
such other place as the trial board
may hold its session upon that occasion. all
statements or alleged statements made to
you under your direction or to any of your
assistants by the defendants or any or each
Of them; and you are further notified to
produce at the hearing all statements
which have been taken by you. or in any
wise in your custody, from Private, G. I.
Hilton, Private ]. s. Custer, Private r. III.
Clark and the three statements which have
been taken by you and are in your custody
or under your control from Private H. P.
Short.
You are further notified to produce at
the trial all other, statements which have
been taken by you or under your direction
or which are under your control, from any
one relative to the charges upon which said
defendants are called to be tried; and, in
default of the production OF any of the
statements hereinbefore referred to. in adj
ditiOn to preserving and foSerVipg the full
legal rights of said defendants because of
the non-production by you of any or all of
said statements, you are notified that we
will proceed at our discretion to give sec
ondary evidence of the contents of any or
all of such statements
The Charge Made.
The charge made which caused the cita-
ton Of the mem for trial was that games
of craps had been played in the dormitory
of the station. The men named are alleged
to have participated. After the court had
convened the announcement was made that
the cases against Privates Fisk and Guilt
name would be continued, and the witnesses
were excused. -
Attorney Lambert demurred to the
charges because in the first count no spe-
cfic time was stated when the alleged crap
games were INDUCED in by the policemen
in the seventh precinct Tor Georgetown)
police station 10 a. nt.=" 2.,f
His demurrer. to the second count was
because it was not stated the men vera
on duty at the. time the alleged offense
Mr.. Lambert commended they were not at
the time of the alleged crap game amen
able TO the rules, and regulations Of the
police department. sn ,.s.-
said it was beyond the province of the po-
lice trial board to decide points Of law. The
province of the board was to take tesd-
mony for the District Commissioners.
Ea rvn1 IL
consider the demurrers when we make our
recommendations to the Commissioners
First Witness Called.
The first witness called was Policeman
R. H. Clark of the seventh precinct. The
witness said he was acquainted with the
policemen charged with the alleged ofrense.
He was asked to state what he knew
about an alleged crap game that was
played In an upper story of the seventh
precinct station house between September
/, 1904. and February 5. 1905.
Il saw the game or games" said Police
man Clark, between Lalegar and Holman.
They were played in the third story of the
seventh precinct station. in what is known
as the bunk room. They started the game
by playing for % cents a side.
they were playing for so side. / was
sewing a button on my overcoat at the
time I saw them play two games for $50
notes and one game for SO note"
Witness could not fix the exact date on
which the, alleged games were played,
but" he said, "it was at the time We be-
gan to wear overcoats. cannot state the
month, but am satisfied the station house
books will show when we were ordered to
wear out overcoats. The room In which the
games were played Is yariousiy called the
bed room. bunk room and dormitory. The
hour was between 8 and o'clock p. m"
The Men Present.
Those present the witness said, were
Lalegar. Holman. co. T. Hilton and him
self He remained In the room as long as
the game lasted.
when the game was finished Lalegar had
no more money and he asked Holman to
lend him $40 to pay his board bill.
Hoffman did SO. Holman, Hilton and
myself left the station together. l asked
Hoffman how much he, had won. He said
he had won Lalegar's whole months wages
-$75."
The men In the room were not in uni
form. Three of the men-Hilton, Lalegar
and the witness-wene on reserve duty.
When cross-examined by Attorney Lam
bert Witness Clark said he had been on
the police force about three years.
How long were you confined in st. Eliza
u
@'I never wasI confined there" replied
Clark.
asked Counsel LAmbert5
mot by any court replied Clark Some
people like you may think am crazy"
81 haven't passed Judgment on you yet
aa Witness Ms' ADMITTED as he was dropped from
the police force In 1sp7, but he never
learned for what reason he was dismissed
lie had never himself played craps. During
the station house game Eabger had two dice
and he heard hiitl1say:fiE
Come seven."
Policeman George T. Hilton was called
to the witness stand after Clark had been
excused. He stated thai he is now doing
duty in the fourth precinct. He was trans
ferred to No. Esst6tionA March IA.
He said POLICEMAN Clark and himself
were In the dorn1tbry about o'clock in the
evening. when. Hoffman, and Lalegar were
shooting craps on the Bed. They. had the
bones In their hands and rolled them. Wit
ness heard the remark. Come seven" He
did not know whether they were playing for
money but he heard Holman ask Lalegar
to change q so note Tor him.
1T was fixing my clothes while the game
was going on" said Hilton. sThe game
lasted. Judge. about half hour"