Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
POLICE TRIAL BOARD
FOUR OFFICERS APPEAR TO AN
SWER CHARGES.
Feature in Messer Case--Detective
Tyser, Policemen johnson and
Clark Also Defendants.

Considerable interest was displayed yes
terday in the hearings of several members
of the police force who appeared before the
trial board to answer charges. Peculiar
surrounded case in which
Policeman Messer of the first precint was
defendant, the charge being conduct I'M
becoming a member of the police force"
Edward l.. Jordan. jr., who is employed
in the bureau of engraving and printing.
and lives at Ballston, Va, appeared as
complainant. Attorney Wilton ]. Lambert
represented the accused policeman, and Mr..
E. l.. Jordan, sr., appeared in the interest
of his son.
During the latter part of August Police
man Messer was sent to the bureau of en-
craving and printing to serve a warrant
upon Jordan which alleged a neglect on
the part of the printer to settle a bill
Later the charge was rolle. pressed, hut
the disposition OF the case had no bearing
whatever unon the charges against the
policeman. 1t was alleged by Jordan that
he was arrested at his place of employment
and compelled to go through the streets in
his working clothes. Ordinarily. working
clothes would not pay an important part
in such transaction, 1t was explained
but the nature of the working garments
of plate printer figured prominently in
TIE case before the board.
w OrR1uS ClOCQeS an Issue.
When printer is at work in the
bureau" it was stated to the Loard. "he
usually wears a rough shirt with sleeves
about three inches long
Are the sleeves usually turned up?"
asked Mr.. Jordan.
mo, sir" the witness answered, they
are merely short sleeves; about he only
kind of sleeves man can wear and prop
erly atte~d to his work.
Tie further information was given that
the printers hands and arms are usually
smeared with ink. and that his general ap-
upon the public streets. Policeman Messer
however insisted upon Jordan going in
such condition Jordan alleged but the
policeman told an entirely different story.
He claimed that Jordan was not willing to
change his clothing. and that he wanted the
officer to wait until he had finished his
work. and was ready to leave the building.
Mr.. Joseph E. Ralph appeared at the
hearing as witness to tell of the interest
the officials of the bureau had taken in the
matter. 1T is the first time in the history
of the bureau that plate printer has gone
from the building without checking up his
work. turning in his plate and getting a
pass declared Mr.. Ralph.
Mr.. Ralph explained that when Messer
came to the bureau he said that he had
a summons for Jordan. Mr. Ralph said he
was conversing with Chief Sullivan and
another official when the policeman and
Jordan left the building. and he knew
nothing Of their departure until they had
gone some distance from the building.
Il sent boy to overtake the policeman
and tell him to bring Jordan back" Mr..
Ralph testified. and the boy came back
and reported that Messer had refused to
do So.."
The additional information was given
that Mr.. Ralph telephoned Capt. Williams,
commanding officer of the first precinct.
and complained of the manner In which
Jordan had been taken from his work and
Capt. Williams had the printer returned
to the bureau. Then the rules were OBJ
served and Jordan returned to the station.
He was permitted to depart from the sta
ton when he left collateral for his ap-
pearance.
Both sides of the case were heard, pre-
senting two entirely different conditions,
and the board took the case under adj
visement.
Case of Detective Tyser.
The most important case of the after
noon session of the board was that of
William T. Tyser, formerly headquarters
detective and now precinct detective at
the eighth precinct station. Three charges
were filed against Tyser. two charging
that he was absent without leave from his
duty in the eighth precinct, and the third
charging that he failed to turn in to the
property clerk some property which had
been used as evidence in larceny case in
the Police Court, and making a false re-
port in regard to turning in the property
to Capt. Doyle of the eighth precinct To
all of the charges Tyser pleaded guilty,
and he offered no explanations, except as
to the third charge, that the property In
question had been given him as present,
and he did not then think it necessary to
turn it in to the property clerk.
Capt. Doyle, who was the complainant In
oft feSt hat October
G he ordered Tyser to report TO him about
6 O'Clock in the evening and that Tyser
did not report to him until after o'clock
on the morning of October s. He also tes-
tilted that Tyser did not appear at the
eighth precinct station between about 10
O clcck am. on October until shortly
before O'Clock am on October II. On
October 10 and II, it was stated he tele-
phoned to the station and reported in that
way.
Il want to say for this officer that no
better man ever wore a uniform than Ty-
ser when he is In his normal condition.
stated Capt Doyle.
Two Other Defendants.
r. H. Clark, who is attached to the
seventh precinct, was charged with failing
to go to the station house when ordered to
do so by Sergt. Bean on the early morn
ing of October -. Sergt. Bean testified
that he saw Policeman Clark walking
across street, near 9th street, stagger-
ing, and that he told Clark to accompany
hin. to the station. AS they were going
thence Clark stated that he was sick and
said he was going directly home Instead
OF going to the station he went home. and
to see Sergt Murphy and Sergt.
Bean when they called there a short time
LAT ter, claiming he was too Ill. Capt.
visited him within an hour, and
the captain told the trial board that Clark
then looked sick. The officer was off duty
for six days on account of illness at that
time.
Policeman G. W johnson Of the eighth
precinct was also before the trial board
for failing to report for drill when ordered
to do so by Capt Doyle. He pleaded gull
ty and stated that he oversight by mis-