The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-14
Cops Want a
Quick Trial


TON OF STORY THAT OFF,
GERS WERE SUSPENDED FOR
HOLDING UP RESORTS. in PAR.
KERsBuRe.
PARKERsBURG, Feb. t4-Feeifns
keenly The disgrace that has beer
brought upon them unless they are
able to vfndicate themselves, Sergeant
Schwartz and Patrolman Taylor, who
were suspended Tuesday night by
Chief o. Police Oliver, have asked for
q speedy hearing ana It Is likely that
they win be tried before the Board
of Affairs at a meeting to be held to-
night.
Both officers protest their Innocence
but hey have the evidence OF four
women and possibly others to beat
down before they can be acquitted.
The specific charges against them are
that they violated a rule of the police
department which says that no police.
man shall enter a saloon or ~disorderly
resort except on being called or hav.
ing a justihahts reason and that they
are guilty of conduct unbecoming an
oticer.
Mayos D. H. Leonard was Interview.
ed yesterday and he said that while he
hoped the accused officers could prove
themselves innocent, the testimony
against them is very strong, and they
seem to be up against a very serious
situation. The mayor said that he
had been very proud OF the police force
and was sorry that such disgrace
should fall upon 1t.
Knowing the character of the wo-
men who told me the stories about the
two men.I took great care to convince
myself that they were telling the truth
before ] instructed the chief to pre-.
fer the charges" said the mayor.
Another reason for being cautious
was that ! knew the reputation Of the
accused officers to be good. It was
impossible, however, for me to take
any other action.
III the men are guilty they should
be dismissed permanently and / viii
not be in the least 1enient with them.
II they did solicit money from those
dive keepers on the pretense that 1t
would be used to buy flowers for thu
coffin and grave of their dead com.
rade and then appropriated it to
their " use, they are certainly un.
worthy Of holding positions on the
police force, and should go.
The testimony given me by tina
Women. who say they gave the money
to the officers, did not com OF their
own volition. They were very reluc.
tant to siye It up and would not have
done SO had not a certain amount OF
pressure been brought to bear. Ac.
cording to their testimony, the officers
got s21 in all. They got $40 from
one. IS each from two others, and 81
from another. They may have scared
more. but I have heard nothing of It
The women who appeared before me
were Myrtle Tucker, Marie Miller,
Kate Smith and Nellie Hamilton.
7 have had considerable experience
in my law practice with the women
who habitate disorderly resorts and
have seldom IL ever run across. one
who was willing to testify for the State
or the prosecution. They always want
to protect and invariably swear for
the defense. This being true, it seems
to me that the officers are in a bad
way.
Both officers declared to me tina,
they wsre not guilty. and this mornin,
told me it was their desire that the
trial be set for an early date. I am OF
the opinion that the Board OF Affairs
viii hold the hearing tomorrow night
The publication of the story yester.
day caused quite a sensation in the
city. Many people find 1t hard to be,
lieve that the two officers are guilty.