The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-05-24
POLICEMAN ON THE RACK.
Atlanta Officer Answers Charge OF Po-
lice Matron of Being Too Free
With Female Prisoners.

The opening act of one of the most
important police trials in the history
of Atlanta was presented in the re-
corder's court room Thursday, when
the sensational charges of the police
matron, Mrs. Mary Bohnefeld, against
Police Captain z. B. Moon, were read
and witnesses on both sides heard
by the board of police commission
ers.
Mrs. Bohnefeld stated to the board
that she had stood the conduct OF
Captain Moon just as long as she
could, but that finally she had decid-
ed that rather than endure it longer
she would brave the publicity ensu-
ing from her action, and make formal
charges against the captain in order
to protect the women and children
under her charge from his atten.
tions.
She claims that she was ignorant
of her own rights and did not know
that she was able to exclude a c.
tain from her department, and had
not learned of her power to do so
until some SIX weeks ago.
The full text of the formal charges
preferred against Moon by Mrs. Bob
nefeld are Us follows:
"First-That he has been guilty Of
conduct unbecoming an Office: and
gentleman, and of violation Of the
ordinances of the city of Atlanta, and
of the rules of the police department
of said city, in that:
"Q.) The said Captain Moon has,
without respect to or regard for your
relator's rights and duty as police
matron, and without your relatcr's
consent or permission, for a period
of time extending through his pres
ent term of Office, and longer, made
almost daily visits to the ward of the
station house where female prisoners
are confined, and which is under the
control of your relator as police ma
tron, said visits being unnecessary
and made by him, not for the . lrpose
of performing any official duty; that
it is his habit and custom to make
frequent visits to said female, ward,
sometimes several on the same day,
particularly when sporting women
are confined there; that it is his GUS
tom on such occasions to talk with
lewd characters in a familiar way,
laughing and talking with them in
the presence of all the female pris-
oners, and taking undue liberties with
said prisoners and allowing them to
take undue liberties with him, that
he frequently calls them aside or
down the stairway and holds long
and familiar conversations with them;
that he enters said ward at all times
without warning or permission and
has on frequent occasions gone into
the rooms where undressed females
were confined, sometimes alone, and
shut the doors and remained therein
with said prisoners for periods Of
time lasting from fifteen minutes to
half an hour or more; that he has
treated your relatcr without the re-
spect due her as woman and as a
member of the police department
that on account of his said conduct,
it had become impossible at the time
of the filing of your REALTORS former
communication, and if such conduct
continues it will be in. 'ssible for
your relator to protect the privacy
due the sex of the prisoners under
her care, and to conduct her depart
ment with decent regard to the sensi-
bilities and rights Of virtuous unfor-
tunate and innocent children detained
in said ward, and to insure the proper
conduct of persons confined in said
wa7d.;'
Following the charges is long list
Of specifications.