The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-07
PAGAN STARTLES JERSEY CITY
CHIEF or POLICE MURPHY SIS
PENDED on HIS CHARGES.

hNuv AapN@aAn aAhN 'NVUu
The Board 10 suspend n Lot OF
PatrOlmen-Charges Made Against an
Inspector. but He ENades Suspension.
Mark NJ. Pagan of Jersey City, whom his
friends Low to call the Mayor who does
things, 7" threw a bomb last night into the
police department by preferring charges Of
misconduct in Office against Chief Of Police
Benjamin Murphy, Police Inspector Samuel
A. Archibald, Captains Charles Cox Of the
First precinct, John p. Kelly OF the Second
precinct and Albert Cummings Of the Fourth
precinct and seven headquarters and pre-
cinct detectives. He practically recon-
mended their dismissal from the depart
ment.
The charges are a sequel to the Mayors
successful raid on five policy dives and
several handbook men last Saturday, with
the aid of Detective Sergeant Frank Mona
han, the Mayors private sleuth. and a
squad OF Pagan policemen. over the head
and without the knowledge Of the chief.
The accusations were read at a special
meeting Of the police board controlled
by Pagan. and they were followed by formal
individual charges. all Of which were pre-
ferred by Monahan.
The board, by the votes of President
j Herbert Potts and COMMISSIONS McNulty,
Fagan's uncle, promptly suspended Chief
Murphy, the three captains and the de-
t~ectives pending trial. Commissioners John
Mitchell, an organization Republican. voted
in the negative and ex expressed himself
rather forcibly against the proceedings as
, unusual.
Police Inspector Archibald presented
an application for retirement when he
learned that charges we're TO be preferred
against him and filed an application for re-
tirement on half pay TO take effect to-day.
The Pagan Commissioners jun ped az the
chance to get him off the force and retired
him n minute after his application was
read. The court room, on the top floor
of the City Hall. was crowded with citizens,
the majority of whom did not seem TO
approve of the Mayors way Of doing things.
There were several demonstrations and
President Potts said ne would call out
the reserves to clear the room. Even
after he was suspended Chief Murphy
begged the crowd to please keep quiet
After Inspector Archibald had been retired
a long communication was read from the
Mayor.
COMMISSIONS Mitchell wanted to know
why Detective Sergeants Henry Clay
Keenan,, William Prescott and William
Robinson had not been included among
the headquarters staff against whom
! charges had been made. President Potts
couldn't tell.
Il didn't make the accusations, he said.
Perhaps the Mayor may make further
charges.
Il don't know anything against these men;
but let's be fair about it,. They we're all
on the same kind of duty and it doesn't
seem right to leave them out"
The Mayor" said Potts, alleges that
gambling is going on. He proves it nv
| making raids and arresting thirty-ive men.
| don't think we rave any option in thi=
matter when the Mayor makesth charges"
Why is it necessary Commissioner
Mitchell said, "to suspend these superior
officers? We don't always suspend inferior
officers when charges are made. l think
the superiors are entitled TO some courtesy.
II we had such wholesale suspensions you
might as well throw the city open to Grim
inals."
Potts replied: The Mayor says he cant
make ar investigation unless the men
against whom charges are made are sus-
pended. He insists on it.. i feel as badly
as you do about this, because all are friends
! Of mine, but when | am called upon by the
read Of the city to do this what can | do?
SO far as | am concerned when the charges
are tried | will be governed alone by the evil
dence produced. There will be no politics
in this"
The individual charges were all for meg
lect Of duty, misconduct in Office and in
capacity and negligence"
Commissioner Mitchell moved that every
policeman who has done day duty on posts
visited by Fagan's raiding party have
| charges formulated against him and that he
be suspended when the charges are made.
The motion was unanimously carried.
The following details were made Of officers,
all Of whom are Pagan men, to take the
places temporarily of the officers suspended
Sergeant James Hopkins. Fourth precinct.
acting Inspector; SerRt. James Kelly, Sixth
precinct, acting captain First precinct;
Sergt. Edward Coughlin, Third precinct,
acting captain Fourth precinct; Sergt.
Charles McDevitt. Fifth precinct, acting
| captain Second precinct.
These men we're made acting detectives:
Patrolman John Lane, Patrolman William
Maxwell, PatrOlman James Rooney, Rounds
man Michael johnson, Acting Patrolman
Joseph Hanson ION the force six days.,
who got the evidence against the prisoners
caught in the Mayors raid, and Patrolman
George Bell.
The Commissioners decided that they
would exercise the duties Of the chief Of
police during Murphy's suspension, with
the assistance Of Sergt. James Hopkins,
the acting inspector.
The detective sergeants suspended on
charges were Daniel Lee, First precinct;
David Noble. Second precinct; Gus Hottie.
Fourth precinct, and Frank Bennett,
Michael Clark, Robert PiersOn and Halsey
Van Horn, headquarters.