Evening journal., 1909-06-23
PATROLMEN FACE
The COMMISSION
Superior Officers Not Positive
in Statements and Chief
Black Said Things

The Police Commission at its meeting
yesterday afternoon heard charges
against two patroimen. one Of the men
was Patroiman Daniel Aiken, who was
charged with neglect OF duty by failing
to place under arrest a man found ac-
companying a girl under age IN hotel
In Front street. Tine charge was sus-
tained. but owing TO the extenuaeing cir
cumstances connected with the case the
officer was merely given 1, reprmand
In the case Of ratroman Edwin E. Dun
can, charges Of being intoxicated while
on duty, were not sustained.
In his defense Patrolman Aiken stated
to the board that on the night OF juno
he received warrant for the arrest
Of a girl charged with being incorrigi-
bic. He learned that she was i'm a hotel
near Front ana French streets with a
man. lie found the couple and took the
girl TO the police station. He said he
had no warrant for the man. and al the
time did not know the age Of the girl.
consequently he did not take the man
along. He afterward REALIZED that he
should have done this.
The girl in question was called as a
witness She said she did rot know the
man who was with her She did not
hear any conversation between the Of
icer and the stranger.
CHIEF MADE POINTED REMARKS.
The hearing Of Duncans case brought
out some testimony which resulted 10
Chief of Police Black making some point
ed remarks relative to the duties Of
superior officers. Duncan was accused of
being intoxicated while on duty on cleo
tion day and also on Sunday. June 49,
Sergeant Hiram White testified that
on Sunday. June i3. he met Duncan al
noon and noticed he was unsteady on hi.
feet. but he could not say positively that
Ithe officer was drunk. The sergeant slsc
said that he had been told that Duncan
was staggering about a polling place or
the East side OF the city ON election
day.
Simon Cuff and his wife, who wer,
said to have been the persons who I'm.
formed Sergeant White Of Duncan OF
election day. appeared as witnesses, an,
denied all knowledge Of the matter
Police Captain Evans was called an,
he said he heard two men on June 1s
say they saw Duncan intoxicated III
beard them talking as he was going int
: the police station and did not get thei
names. thinking that the matter had al
ready been reported and that It wa
being attended to at headquarters.
Police Captain Kane said he saw Dun
can on election day and also on jun
49, and that he was not intoxicated
His reports during the day were al
right
Following the taking Of evidence, Pres
ident Clarkson made the remark tina
he though superior officers who hear o
subordinates violating the rules OF tn
, department. should investigate. This iea
/ Chief Black to say: There has bee
I much complaint about Duncan and an
! other officer on the same district II
just as much neglect Of duty on the par
) or a captain or sergeant when they d
E not Investigates cases Of this kind upo
p learning Of them as il IS 10 neglect thei
b duties in other ways. These witnesse
= have been fixed 20 testify when the
] come I'm here anyone can see that. An
] superior officer who says n man is ur
steady on his feet and then can't te
whether or not that man is drunk 9
sober is not much of an officer"
lcHARGEs NOT SUSTAINED.
Commissioner Jones expressed the opiI
ion that the charges against Dunca
were not sustained, as the evidenc
Z against him was not positive. He sal
< Duncans superiors were far from bein
e positive about anything regarding IN
7 case.
: The commissioners discussed thG ev
, dence and found that the charges wei
2 not sustained.