Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-21
CHARGES FALL FLAT
Board of Safety Exoncrales
 Police Officer E. ]. Mullings

Board of Safety ExOncrates
 Police Officer E. J. Mullings
 The board of public safety heard the charges brought against Police man Edward J. Mullings by Mrs Margaret Keane, of 323 River street yesttyday arternoon. Commissioner Minor presided. Mrs Keane's story was supported by the evidence of her Elizabeth h and Michael l3 and her sister, Mrs Catherine Grimm.
 Mrs Keane's story was to the el- feet that on January l, about G.4o o'clock her husband got home from work and immediately made trouble. His daughter Elizabeth was reading paper and he struck her ill the face. Mrs Keane shouted, whereupon her husband throttled her, threw her down and pulled a lot of hair out or her head. She sent Mrs Griffin for an officer and she found Mullings on his way to the police signal, at Washing ton street, to report She told him at the house he asked Mrs Keane what house and he said he would be there in a few minutes. When he arrived alt the house he asked Mrs keane was was the trouble. She told him her husband had struck her and she wanted him arrested. The officer said there were no marks on her and she replied that If he had been there sooner he would have seen what was going on. The officer said he could not arrest the man without a warrant and she replied that she would see that she would get protection for the night from her husband. The officer then turned away and said she was drunk and when he got little dis tance away he turned back and said: .'you're a bum, anyway" She re- piled that she would make the oincer prove his assertion.
 Going back to her story as to what had taken place in the house she said that she did not call in the officer to arrest her husband for striking her week before, but what he had done that evening.
 After the officer had gone, Mrs Keane said she went to the police station to see if she could not have her husband arrested and to tell Su- perintendent Beaeha bout Mullings' remark. She did not see Superln- tendent Beach until her second visit to the station house. She denied she was under the influence of drink that day or that she had taken any drink.
 Mullings' story was that at 6:4o o'clock on the evening of New Years day Mrs Griffin complained to him about keane beating him wife. When he was approaching the house he heard some one screaming. When he reached the house keane was sit ting in chair with his shoes off and Mrs Keane was on the floor. He asked her what was the trouble and all he could get her to say was "take him away" take him away" He asked her what he d,d and she an- swered .'take him away!' Finally she told him that her husband had struck her a week before and he said he could rot arrest him for that. she would have to get a warrant. sThe daughter was crying and he put his hand on her head and asked her if her father had struck her too. She, made no answer. He then asked Keane what was the trouble and and Keane said "don't you see yourself" pointing to his wife on the floor. The officer advised him to go to bed and as he was going up stairs keane said to him, "she's full. for she's been hitting up the bottle all day" and the officer replied yes, she's full.' Mrs Keane did not hear him say this, Mullings insisted, but her daughter did and she shouted. "Oh mamma, the cop says you're drunk"
 At this point of his story Mrs Keane' asked the officer if she was drunk and the officer said Well I'd take you to be drunk, you were fall ing all over the foor." You're tell ing lie'' snapped Mrs Keane, 'I did not have drop of drink"
 The officer was asked if he would swear that Mrs Keane was drunk. he said he would swear that in his opinion she was under the influence of drink.
 Policeman Joseph Stevens. s. Me- Carthy. John Cavanaugh. Edward B. McEvoy, J. J. Madden and two or three neighbors of Mrs Keane were called by Mullings. None of them would say that he ever saw her un- der the influence of drink, but they did say that she is very emotional and nervous woman.
 at the conclusion of the testimony Mys Keane said with considerable vigor that she has been eighteen years in town and would defy any one to prove that she was ever un- der the influence of drink. The offi- cer then admitted, under further questioning that he did say to keanc yes. she's full" or. something else hut he did not say SO to Mrs Keane or that she was bum.
 The board after considering the matter in executive session half an hour. declared the officer not guilty.