New-York tribune., 1910-01-28
CLUBBERS DROPPED
ACT PLEASES GAYNOR
MAYOR Commends Dismissal of
Three Accused Policemen.

An indication of the determination with
which Mayor Gaylor is pursuing his cam
paign against brutal policemen was given
yesterday VIII I'll Police Commissioner Baker
dismissed three policemen from the depart
ment for assaulting citizens.
The men dismissed were George I. Han
sen, of the Adams street station. Brooklyn;
James II. Devon, of the Hamburg avenue
station. Brooklyn. and John Kelly, of the
Bushwick avenue station, Brooklyn.
Hansen was charged with assaulting John
T. Mullen, aged watchman, while he
was stationed in Mclaughlin Park. Brook
l.n According to the testimony, Hansen
got into argument with Mullen and beat
him brutally with his club.
Oscar Gregory, of No. 119 Hart street
brooklyn. charged Devon with assaulting
him on Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn, while he
was waiting for car. Gregory was with
his wife and friend nd it was late in
the evening. when, he alleges, they saw
Devon beating a man across the street.
The sight made Mrs. Gre CORY cry out and
her husband placed his hand over her
mouth. telling her to be quiet. Devon is
then said to have crossed over and used
ms club freely on Gregory. The police
+ an is nov under indictment upon a charge
of assault preferred by Gregory.
Patrolman Kelly was dismissed for as
saulting Henry Dickoff. eleven years old
and Frank Jenny. ten years old. Kelly is
said to have knocked Dickoff down three
times and blackened his eyes. The boys
sister testified that four men in plain
clothes came to her house and offered her
$500 if she would prevent her brother from
Identifying Kelly. The policeman has not
faced this charge yet.
Following these dismissals the Police
Commissioner wrote to the Mayor as fol-
lows:
The Hon. William J: Gaynor. Mayor of the
City of New York.
Sir: | beg to report that the following
members of the Police Department have
been dismissed from the force to-day: Pa
trolman George l. Hansen, 149th precinct,
tried and found guilty. conduct unbecom-
ing an officer. assaulting John T Mullen;
Patrolman James II. Devon, 164th precinct,
comaucf ming nd an 9Gea ] m
trolman John Kelly, 169d precinct conduct
unbecoming an officer, assaulting Henry
Dickoff. tried and found guilty. Yours
WILLIAM F. BAKER.
Police Commissioner.
The Mayors letter in reply follows:
Sir: Your letter of this date notifying
me Of the dismissal Of three patrolmen for
is at hand. I am very much gratifed by
the prompt action in their cases. Let all
such men on the force be treated in the
You have splendid force of men under
you, and they should not be disgraced by
the comparatively few men on the force
who are not fit to be there. Let the whole
force know once and for all that it will
be deemed a greater offence to commit
unla battery on a citizen. to
lawfully enter a house, than to let a
criminal escape. Very truly yours,
w. J. GAYNOR,
Mayor.
Patrolman Frederick C. Gerhardt, at
tached to the West 37th street station. was
placed on trial before Deputy Commissioner
Walsh at Police Headquarters yesterday,
charged with assaulting a citizen without
cause, and after the complainant and four
witnesses had been heard the case was
closed, and the Deputy Commissioner an
nounced that he would reserve decision.