Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-13
BEFORE THE TRIAL BOARD.
Policemen Testify Regarding Incident
In Zoo Park

Five policemen, all of the tenth precinct,
appeared before the police trial board late
yesterday afternoon at the first precinct
station house in connection with an exciting
incident which occurred at the Geological
Park the evening of June "a last 1t Is al
legged that special officer In the park tried
to arrest Policeman Fletcher Of the tenth
precinct and that Fletcher drew his revolver
and pointed it at the special officer
Policeman Fletcher was charged with neg
lect OF duty In being intoxicated the even
ing in question and with drawing his pistol
IN resisting arrest by Special officer Ed
WARDS, with attempting to strike the spe-
clai off1cer with his baton, with failing to
secure the name of man by whom he
MAD oeen struck and with failing to make a
report OF the affair to his superior officer
at once. Pohcemen Howard, Rock, Green
ana Kennedy were all charged with neglect
or DUTY IN falling to make a report of the
incident, they having proceeded to the
scene upon hearing the disturbance between
wards. N
. according to the testimony of Special Of
ncer Edwards. he heard screams of ''Mur-
u ot ana Polce! in the Geological Park
the evening or June "A and went to see
what was the matter. He noticed n man
VINO proved to be Policeman Fletcher
climbing fence. AS he attempted to hold
nm mn as prisoner, he says, Fletcher drew
II
officer Special Officer Edwards tool, tha
revolver from Fletcher and fired II He
also blew distress signals. In response Po-
ncemen Green, Rock. Howard and Kennedy
responded.
They identified Fletcher. At that tim.
towards says, he turned Fletcher over to
Policeman Kennedy and told MIN to he re-
sponsloie Tor the appearance of Fletcher
the next morning at the office of the SUPER
intendent of the Zoo. Edwards stated that
Fletcher was intoxicated
NO report of the matter was made at
the station house, but word of it reached
the superintendent of police and he ordered
an investigation
FLETCHER said he was sober and was walk
ing through the park, when accidentally
ne stumbled over the feet of a man sitting
on bench with girl. The man jumped
up and began striking him, Fletcher saws
Ihen the couple made their escape. In
the alteration. Fletcher says, he lost his
naoge ana ana was looking around for that
When special Officer Edwards appeared
When he told Edwards he was a policeman
Edwards demanded his badge Fletcher
stated that he had lost that. but drawing
ms revolver from his pocket. said:
Here Is my police revolver. which will
show that | am an officer"
he denied trying to strike the special
ofncer Policeman Green appeared in uni
form and stated that Fletcher was an
officer; but not until Policeman Kennel
whom Edwards knew, identified Fletcher
was Edwards satisfied 1t was declared, In
regard 10 the charge of failing to make a
report of the matter the next mornine at
roll call he stated that he was To meat
Edwards at the park that morning to de-
termlne what was to be done further If
anything, and that after the meeting he
communicated with the lieutenant as soon
as possible. 00-
The excuses offered by the other police
ment for not making reports of the Incl
dent was that they agreed among them
selves that Fletcher should make the report
1t Is usually customary 1t was stated to
have one officer make a report where sew
eral were present.