Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-22
PENALTY DISCUSSED.
RECOMMENDATION IN THE CASE
OF A PoLIcEMAE.
Trial Bosrd Suggests and Major sylves-
ter Approves Fine-commissicner
West Dissents.


cur in the recommendation of the police
trial board and Major Sylvester. with ref
erence tddthe penalty imposed upon Private
Joseph F. lille of the metropolitan police
force. who was recently found guilty by
the board of gross neglect of duty Pri-
vate lille was found guilty of allowing
William p. Burge, colored. who was in
custody on a. charge of murder, to escape
from the ward at the Homeopathic Hospi-
tai, where the latter had been taken for
treatment. February last.
The trial board recommended that lille
be fined $25 and Major Sylvester approved
the finding and recommendation. Mr.
West. however considers the punishment
recommended by the trial board and the
major as Inadequate and he recommends
that Hile be dismissed. Commissioners
mcfarland and Biddle have not approved
Mr.. Vests Recommendation. ana A.torIey
Wilton J. Lambert on behalf of Hife tnis
afternoon filed an appeal with the Commis-
sioners against the decision OF Commis
sfoner West. /. Mr.. Lambert argues tnat
the offense and the circumstance IN the
case do not justify penalty of such
severity as that recommended py MI MI
West He asks for a hearing before the
Commissioners on the matter.
Commissioner Vests Views.
Tn his recommendation in the case Com
missioner West says:
!. -sAfter careful consideration of this case,
and after discussing it's details with the
chairman of the police trial board, l am Oh
the opinion that the fine of s23 IS en,irev
inadequate as afpunishment for the oHen ems,
The custody of a prisoner, especlahy VIII
that prisoner is charged with a helnous
crime, is the highest duty which can De I'M
posed upon police officer. and It IS no pal
liation of his neglect of duty TO say enat
the officer was successful IN eHsctils q nM
f1ora
Ger Hile be dismissed, to take effect al
once"
The police trial board made the following
special note in this case In connection Win
the finding: 49,
1.-THE accused, in our judgment, is not the
only person guilty of neglect IN the maIlef
of the escape of the alleged murderer,
Burge, who was confined the Hemeo-
pathic Hospital in this city. 1t appears
from the testimony that the murderer was
kept for several days on the nrst moor IN
ward in that institution, occupied py a
number of other people. ana having IN II
five windows none of which was In any
way barred or locked; that the murderer
who is colored. was placed at one extreme
end of the ward, on a cot SURROUNDED ny
two screens, in order that his presence
might be as little Objectionable as possible
to the other occupants OF the ward, VINO
were white; that a number OF policemen at
different times, were detailed to guard tne
prisoner and that none of them was given
any special Instructions with respect to his
d,,t,as in tho nrennisas hut that each and
uu'ie ~ ~ .ne @ s;r,n,y 1d;racted to take
a a.. r 70. 81 fie nrisonar
cn IA. y, ear =! III tho ro,;cemen were
- app 800. To a.otaoL peonh night AS
enanseu .ha ti,,,a orr,,,sd for the nafients to
s sour az all 1A INT ona iipht in the ward was
nor,,n,oaaiv artine,,,shed and on the night
compietei eAtlguisheu, anu tn .ne ~, niS ns
IN ques.do4 une ISL r,so ,r MS h1rnine so
s LIZ, ma, ~, tsn he n,,rses entered the
r ronr,, tn look affsr their patient it was nee
essay to ,talxa q candle with them, to find
esos.y - ~ - Iook after their duties