Evening journal., 1909-05-19
PROBE CHARGES
AGAINST OFFICERS
Police Commission DiSmiSseS
One Complaint and Post
pOneS Action on Others

Three members Of the police force were
Nrraisned before the Police Commission
yesterday afternoon 70 answer charges Of
neglect Of duty Patrolman John MoAteer
was accused Of allowing TO escape q man
who ras supposed to have stolen pocket
book containing Si50 IN cash. during the
services az the grave Of the Rev. George
J. Ott In the Cathedral Cemetery. on
May z. The man who lost tho money was
Francis McMonaglc OF No $40 Pine
street
Parolmen Frank voasey and Alfred
Bradford were charged with spending too
much time while on duty in the home OF
Garrett Mcdowell No. Si3 clayton street
officer Mc9teer's Case.
Ina the case of McAtecr Mr. McMon-
aglc stated that when his pocket was
picked ne singled out man and accused
him Of the theft, ana at the same time
shook him. He saw the pockot-book ~
ing at che mans feet and turned him over
TO officer McAteor The latter. however.
released the man. saying he was one of
the mourners at the funeral.
statement from Police Sergeant Kol-
lchor was read. officer McAtcer made a
report Of the theft 10 him and told how
Undertaken killroy. who was in charge
of the funeral, had assured McAtecr that
the man IN custody was a member of the
family and the funeral party and could
not have hecn guilty of the theft Me-
Atoer then released the prisoner and start
ed in search of a TAN slim man who was
suspected
MIR, Killroy was present 20 verify this
statement, SO far as he was connected
with the case He assured the commits
sioncrs that II anybody was at fault II
was hc for ne was positive that the man
arrested by McAtecr was not guilty and
Induced the latter TO allow the man to go
He said at the time that he was positive
that the man was a member Of the family
but later concluded that he was not ant
that he was a crook at the funeral fol
the solo purpose Of picking peoples pock
cts
AIR McMonasie said no dld not wlsl
anything done 20 tho officer under th,
circumstanccr
The commits sloncrs were not long in ar.
rivlng at the conclusion that the officer
was not guilty of the charge
Kept Tab on Officers.
In the case Of Neasey and Bradford. a
iypevritten sheet was produced by Presi-
dent CiarlSson. on which record had
been kept Of the number OF times each
of the accused officers had gone into the
Mcdowell house during the month OF
April alone According TO the paper each
Of the pairoimcn during that month made
numerous wits TO the house IN question
both 90 the day and al night. and on some
DAYS they were there two or three times.
Both men pleaded guilty to having en-.
tered the house but not guilty TO having
neglected their duty They Gained thaI
McDowclls house was the only convenient
place ON their district where they coui,
lind personal corvenlences and where the,
could use the telephone They never wen
there Tor any other purpose. Both mel
said Air. Mcdowell allowed them TO keel
their orercoats and gum coats there an,
sometimes their gum boots.
Chief Plack told the commissioners tha
there We're other places on the distric
where the men could find accommodation
besides the Mcdowell house.
Mrs Mcdowell was very indignant owe
the AFFAIR. She said "the boys" had bee
10 her home but declared they were nc
neglecting their duty. AIr Mcdowell sal
ne had invited the officers TO his HON
and that he sometimes gave them a lunc
on stormy days. They had nothing I
drink stronger than water, he said. as h
did not keep intoxicating liquors in N
house
Mrs. f'raim. OF no Si7 Clayton stree
who had been summoned 10 testify no
many times eho saw the officers co fnI