The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-01
WALSH IS DEGRADED.
Deprived of His Shield end Turned
Into the Street.

New York, Aug. IA remarkable
scene closely paralleling that memora-
bic one in Paris when Captain Alfred
Dreyfus was publicly degraded before
the French army, was enacted in the
trial room at police headquarters TODAY
For the first time in more than thirty
years patrolnlan had been adiudged
guilty of cowardice. He Is Stephen &
Walsh who, according to the charge
made against him last week fed from
an armed man who had shot and killed
woman. The keen interest with which
the unusual case was followed rose to Il
point of dramatic intensity when Police
Commissioner Bingham who had presid-
ed personally at the trial, announced in
voice choked with emotion that the
charge against the unfortunate man had
been proven. Then the commissioner
turned to Inspector Richard Walsh in
whose district Stephen Walsh was
patrolman but who is no relative of the
dismissed man. and directed the iuspec-
tor to strip Walsh of his shield, and uni
form buttons, so that he might not even
leave the trial room with the emblems
OF his former position as a policeman in
good standing on his person. The crowd
looked on in wonder and excit- ment as
the inspector advanced to perform his
unpleasant task The dismissed man
stood still and offered no resistance as
the shield was unr;nned from his treast,
but when the inspector started to detach
the buttons of the uniform Stephen
Walsh stepped back and appealed to his
attorney against any further humilia-
ton being put upon him in the presence
of his former comrades. Commissioner
Bingham, who was laboring under great
excitement, then interrosed and direct
ed the inspector to conduct his former
subordinate to the steps of the police
building and eject him. Stephen Walsh
offered no resistance and went with the
inspector to the outer doorway, where
he was formally directed to leave the
building. Throughout the unusual pro-
ceedings Stephen Walsh maintained his
composure.
Bingham Delivers g Lecture.
AS Stephen Walsh was being escorted
from the room Commissioner Bingham
with a wave OF his hand indicated that
he desired the other men in uniform to
remain. Come Up close in front, all you
in a voice husky with feeling, while his
eyes brimmed with tears. IT have a
word to say to you all but can scarcely
say it. My cheeks have burned with
shame here even to think of a charge Of
cowardice being preferred against a
man in this department It has been our
pride to say that whatever other faults
there may have been there was no cow
ardice in this department. 1 gave the
accused in this case1eKery chance to dee
fend himself butH7it has been clearly
proved that he failed just at the moment
when he should not have failed. This
thing must never happen again, while
you and 1 are together. You must for
get this. but you must remember the
proud record of 30 years before when not
one man in The many thousands failed
to do his duty in the face of danger"
Stephen Walsh was one Of the two
men against whom charge of cowardice
was made last week. when Frank War
ner was permitted to escape after kill
ing Esther Norling.. Before Warner was
he shot and morta1ly wounded
John c. Wilson and terrorized hundreds
of persons. Patrolman Roosa the Off
Ger whose name was coupled with that
of Walsh in the cowardice charge was
exonerated after full hearing before
the commissioner.
Warner who once was a prosperous
halter, but had suffered business re-
verses, went to a store where Miss Nor
ling who had once been his cashier
was employed, and shot her to death
When he dashed from the store Stephen
Walsh ard several pedestrians started
in pursuit. Warner outran them and
took refuge in a nearby building and
darted up the stairs toward the roof
Walsh at the time was only a short dis
lance behind the fugitive, but Warner
escaped. Two hours later he walked
into Wilson's store and shot him in the
back. Wilson died several days later in
a hospital. Warner was struck down
and captured as he ran out through the
front door of Wilson'S store He is now
in a hospital in a serious condition from
the wound inflicted by his captor.
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