Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-20
In HIS OWN BEHALF
SERGEANT HARRY DENIES THE
CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
Hearing Before Police Trial Board Re
sumed This Morning-Pro-
ceedings Yesterday. y

ceedings Yesterday. =
Sergeant Simon J. Harry of the mounted
detail of the District police force went on
| the witness stand in his own defense this
morning at the opening of today's hearing
| before the trial board. He is on trial on
| charges preferred against him by members
! of the police department, and there has al
ready been several hearings. Sergt. Harry
testified that he had served five years in the
army with the 9th United States Cavalry
and was honorably discharged with the
rank of orderly sergeant. He became a
member of the police force fifteen years
| ago. served first at Georgetown and then
| was detailed to duty at the White House.
| where he remained over five years. Under
| President Harrison he was first doorkeeper
and under President Cleveland was usher
and messenger. He was then returned to
| the seventh precinct and later was made
, acting sergeant and sent to the ninth pre-
| cinct Later. he was transferred to the
fifth precinct. About four years ago he
was transferred to the Georgetown station.
! Only one time. the witness stated. was the
/ transfer made because of any trouble AT
that time a discussion between Attorney
! Wolfe and the board arose as to whether
| this should be explained by the witness.
| Chairman Sinclair stated that all evidence
| on that point. heretofore. was not material
and would not be considered.
Charges had been filed against Sergeant
Harry once before, about fourteen years
ago, but they were dismissed, he said, and
| the defendant exonerated. Witness stated
| that he had had occasion to file charges
against several prfvates who had testified
! against him during the trial. These were
| specifically presented by Attorney Wolfe.
He had also reprimanded other officers who
| had testified.
WAS the feeling of these officers friend
| ly to you after you had occasion to report
| them" 80" $50
II could not tell that, Mr.. Wolfe" was
+ Several questions were asked about Act
ing Desk Sergeant Johnson, and Sergeant
| Harry told of reprimanding Johnson. and of
| helping him when he complained of being
| ill.
Denies the Charge.
"Were you asleep in the station house?
Il have never been asleep at any time
| that know of within the past fifteen years
| while on duty said Sergeant Harry.
WAS anything of this kind ever reported
| by Officer Smith or were you even spoken
| to about such neglect of duty by your SUI
perIor officerS?"
| mo, sir. Not until these charges were
fled"
| He stated that he had been told to DO
| without his horse when his horse was lame,
and at times when the ground slip
perry he went without his horse. This hap
pened eight or nine times last winter.
| Attorney Wolf then took up the specifica
| tons in detail. and Sergt. Harry stated
| that he was never asleep in the substation
| at Tenleytown, nor had he ever snored in
the station house. When asked if he lid
| so on October 80 last he denied it emphati-
| cally. 1t was charged that he remained
| there three hours. He denied this emphat-
| ically also, and the records were given to
| show the times at which he had reported
and to show that he was not at the station
| at the specified times.
70 eina IT,
| Tenleytown. Il am charged with sleeping
| there for three hours. The man on post
| duty would have to ring the telephone six
| times in that time, and it would be
| utter impossibility to sleep in that time
Never Slept on Duty.
| Sergeant Harry denied having slept at
| any time in the watch box at Tenleytown.
| In regard to the fourth specification, he
| stated that he had entered on his official
| duties without his horse, but only on orders
| from the lieutenant or when the weather
was SO bad that he could not take out his
horse.
| In regard to the fifth specification, Ser
| geant Harry stated that he had remained
at the same box for one to three hours,
| when ordered to do so.
At times, when It was stated Sergeant
Harry was asleep. an officer had testified
| to the charge. while the desk sergeant
stated that he remembered nothing of the
| kind, Sergeant Harry was asked which
| would be best able to judge and he desig-
/ mated the desk sergeant.
Officer Smith was then asked to produce
his book, which he had kept on Sergeant
Harry. 1t was shown that the entries were
| given in the following order: March 81
| 1905: October so. 1904, and March "a 1905.
Officer Smith had testified on the stand that
| he made the entries at the time of their oc-
currences. Attorney Wolfe called the at
| tention of the board to the matter. and
| maintained that it was shown that the en-
| tries had not been made at the time the
| incidents are alleged to have occurred.
| Sergeant Harry said that he had to cor
rect Officer Smith, who filed the charges
| on several occasions. but he knew no rea-
| son why Officer Smith should say that he
| Sergeant Harry was logging him.
The sixth charge was taken up in which
Sergt Harry is accused of speaking disre-
| spectfully of his superiors. He denied call
| ing the major ''swelled-head." denied
| having called Capt. Swindells granny
and said he made no similar remarks about
Capt. Gessford or Lieut.. Daley.
Did you ever say that you gave the
| major HI over the telephone?
No. sir. What l did say at that time
was that the major gave me HI over the
telephone 1 will admit saying that"
After the recess the examination of Ser
geant Harry by Attorney Wolfe continued.
| He had no reason to speak disrespectfuIIy
| of Captain then Lieutenant Swindells as
the captain had always treated him
Justly
The cross-examination by the members of
the trial board was then taken I'D