Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-06

and soon reached the station. lie found
| life extinct, however, and cold do nothing
! Later In the night the body was re.
| moved to the nlorgue.
| Before being placed behind the bars
| last night Collier was relieved of his
! equipments and suspended from direy Col
! ler had been before the police trial board
during recent months and had been pay
had been imposed upon him for alleiAed
! neglect of duty. Officials of the depart
| nent say he never seemed to care about
aging his money in fines always having
| a smile when he appeared to make set
| Elements.
Police officials Theory.
Commissioner West, who has i'm
| mediate supervision over the police de-
partment. and Maj. Sylvester. superin-
tendent OF police, were among the first
| to tender their services to Capt
Mathews family. Both officials realized
| that a captain had been slain while doing
what he conceived to have been his duty
| to them. 1t is their opinion that the
private took the life of his superior be
| cause he believed the captain had di-
rected that charges Of alleged neglect of
| duty be preferred against him, the con-
versation over the telephone earlier in
the day having brought about such be-
! lief. The conversation between the cap
| tain and private is said to have left no
doubt in the mind Of the latter as to
what he was to expect. Collier, police
officials. report, had been absent from his
| reserve duty more than once this week.
and Capt. Mathews concluded it was
time some action was taken
AT the police station 1t Is stated that
Collier should have been on reserve duty
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning and re-
| manned until o'clock in the evening,
the reserve being longer on account of
| inaugural week. He remained away,
, however, and conversed with the captain
| over the telephone, the latter talking so
plainly to him that he was undoubtedly
| made to believe he would soon have to
answer charges. When Collier entered
| the station about 40 o'clock he seemed
| nervous and excited. and it was but a
| few minutes before the shots were fired.
After 1t was known that the captain
was dead the men in the station dis
cussed the affair and commented upon
| the manner in which the victim had
conducted the affairs Of the precinct.
With many members of his command. il
| but his unpopularity. some of the older
members declared. was the result of his
| efforts to get honest duty from the men.
Native New Yorker.
! Capt. Mathews was a native of New
York. having been born in the vicinity OF
Lake George in 1856. He enlisted in the
NIltl lie was d yOullS ludll, HE
| home being in Buffalo at that time. He
served at Fort Hamilton. Governors Is
! land and participated in the Indian cam
! paigns in the west. He also spent about
| six months a guard at Dry Tortugas
| For long time he was drum major OF
| the 9Th United States Artillery Band, and
| 1t is'stated, it was due to his having been
SO strict disciplnarian that the band
enjoyed the reputation of being one OF
the best in the service. He was in charge
of the band at the time of the opening OF
| the Brooklyn bridge, and was one of the
! first men to cross the structure on the
| opening day.
| Having served ten years in the army
| Mathews, who was still young man.
came to this city and received an ap-
pointment a member of the police
| force, going on duty June Is. 1855. He
was an expert horseman. and about four
years after he received his appointment
he was promoted. later being mounted
His early police service was performed In
! the 9th precinct. and later he was sent to
do mounted duty in the county. much of
| his time having been spent around Bright
wood. While doing duty in the county he
made many friends, and the latter went to
the front to urge for him promotion
mounted sergeant. Other promotions fol-
! lowed, and November !. 1902, he was
| made lieutenant and placed in command
/ of the fourth precinct, becoming captain
| three years ago at tNe tlIllc tile RANK u
lieutenant was changed.
| About two years ago Capt Mathews was
| transferred to the command of the fifth
precinct, succeeding Capt. McCathran,
! who died suddenly at that time. Capt
Mathews was q Roman Catholic, and was
! strict in attending to his religious duties
attending church after concluding his
! morning duties at the station. He was a
| member of keane Council, knights OF
Columbus. members of which organization
/ oh OF N a.
| ments. He is survived by his wife and
| two children. and daughter. His
widow is "A sister of the wife of Timothy
Brosnan retired police sergeant
A Strict Disciplinarian.
Il knew Capt. Mathews when he was in
the military service" said Policeman
Jamison today, land knew he was a strict
/ discipline rian. He always wanted men
under him TO do their duty. and because
Of his strict rules the men had to follow
] he was unpopular with some of them
While he was drum major of the 18th
Artillery Band he brought that organiza-
| ton up to a standard that was known
and recognized throughout the service.
| Capt. Mathews spent much time about
| his precinct. going about on horseback
during the day and walking at night
In that way he was able to keep in touch
with his men and always knew what
was gong on.
4, An effort was made to have the Rev
Father o Brien, pastor of st. Peters
Church. break the news to the wife and
, daughter of the dead man, but as he
could not be found the news was impart-
ed by member of the police depart
ment. Miss Mathews, the daughter was
so greatly overcome that it was neces-
sary TO summon the family physician to
attend her.
| Policeman Collier, who has been a mem
Der of the force only about four years
| is a native of this city. and is twenty
six years of age. He is unmarried and
Hives with his mother at 919 French street
His father. it is said. is in business in
Atlantic City. When Collier was appoint
ed d member of the police force he was
assigned to duty in the third precinct, be
ing transferred to the second precinct
later on. His mother called at the station
last night to see him. and the Rev Ed
ward NJ. Mott his pastor asked permits
sion 10 see him. but his request was
denied. orders having been given tina,
lonly members of the department, immedi-
ate relatives and his attorney be pre-
mitted to talk with him.
Lieut.. Sprinkle in Charge.
AS soon Maj. Sylvester was notified
| of the killing of the captain he directed
that Lieut.. Sprinkle take charge Of tht