The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-31
COP IS SENSITIVE
INDICTED, BUT CANNOT RE-
MOVE UNIFORM.
Commissioners Refuse Adubato Leave of
Absence or to Suspend-won't
Resign, He Says.

Stung by criticism of the public and
press to such an extent that his health
is impaired, he says, Policeman Thomas
Adubato, of the Third Precinct sta
ton, looking as hale and hearty Us he
did in his best days. asked the police
board yesterday afternoon to be sus-
pended and offering the board nc little
advice as to what 1t should do in the
case of a policeman indicted by the
Grand Jury. The commissioners were
taken aback at the audacity Of the
policeman with a black cloud over his
official life.
You are being criticised by the pub
lie and the press every time I appear
In uniform" said Adubato to the
board, $50 I think that you should give
me this leave of absence so that I can
get a chance to clear my name"
Commissioner H%arrigan said that
there was nothing about Adubato's
appearance to Indicate that he was
affected by the indictment, to which
Adubato replied hat he was under the
care of DR.. Clark, the police surgeon.
That the Board was at sea as to
whether to grant Adubato's request
was evident. Commissioners Harrigan
was in favor Of giving the indicted po-
liceman three months leave of absence,
but his motion to that effect was
ignored by the rest of the board. When
Adubato asked hat as an indicted Off
cial he be suspended until he was able
to prove his case, the members of the
board were silent.
Commissioner Castle asked why
Adubato was not suspended with the
others that were dropped at a meet
ing at which Castle was not present,
and was told that the board a acted
under the advice of the City Counsel
and retained Adubato.
To the few who hadA fingered at the
meeting of the board yesterday after
noon Adubato's holiness was surpris-
ing. He even went so far AS to force
the issue, but the board refused to
grant his request until a third opinion
shall be had.
In the midst Of the squabble into
which Adubato's demand had placed
the board, Commissioner H~arrigan.
| who said he did not know anything
about the police business, hustled out
for some legal advice and Assistant
City Counsel Francis Child, ir., was
taken into the meeting with his law
books. The sage from the law depart
ment could find nothing In the law
to settle Adubato's case. This again
put the matter squarely up to the
board. The Assistant City Counseps
opinion was at variance with the ad-
vice given the board by City Counsel
Nugent, who said, according 70 Secre-
tary Cox, that it would not be sivis-
able to grant a six months leave of
absence as originally requested by
Adubato.
Both opinions were given orally by
the law department, and while some
what at variance, virtually placed the
matter in the same light rs originally.
| Attorney Child did not want 1t under
| stood that he was trying to give an
opinion different from the City Coun-
sci, so he suggested that the board
again put the matter up to City Coun-
sci Nugent.
"Well, IL there's nothing In the law
which says we can't give the police
man a leave of three months" said
Commissions H%arrigan, Il repeat that
my motion ought to be passed. l guess
1 won't be indicted for that"
Adubato grew tired of waiting for a
decision from the board and went out
into an adjoining room. When he re-
turned he again pleaded to be sus-
pended or given a three months leave
of absence.
IT won't resign under n eircum-
stances said Adubato, land I think
that I am acting fairly when l ask you
to take me out Of a uniform until the
charges against me are settled n way
or the other"
Commissions Kane moved hat the
matter be again placed before City
Counsel Nugent for a written opinion.
This motion, which was passed, ended
the discussion.
OF all methods Of reaching the public the