New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-02

Gdynor Shoes LemencY to
of ending Policeman.

PatTolnan Iohn f Copeland. of Traffic
squad I. pleaded guilty TO charges OF club
j olhg citizen when placed on trial before
Deputy Commissioner Walsh yesterday.
! Copeland said he struck John Ruth A
driver. Of No 495 East I6od street. because
the man called him vile names when ar
rested on February i At ed street and
, Madison avenue. Copeland said he had
been on the force for four years and could
not stand the abuse.
TIE patroIman testified that Ruth was
driving q team and cart and reczlsssly
damned the pole into the side Of his horse
He said he spoke 20 the driver and placed
him under arrest and Ruth's answer was
q lot Of cpthets
toDeiand's pleading was the result of a
confidential talk with Mayor Gaynor, in
( which he told the full story of the affair,
and witnesses who testified against him at
the trial said that he told the true story
and praised him Tor his spirit
After his visit Mayor Gaynor wrote the
following letter TO Police Commissioner
Baker:
( Mounted Policeman Copeland, heretofor,
accused of committing battery on q driver
naf9ed Ruth. came to NE yesterday and
said tslt he regretted having denied in the
first instance committing the battery and
+ that he wanted TO tell the entire truth III
3
officer, TO do 50
Thereupon lie freely stated to me that
he did commit the battery in the heat VI
the moment and immediately thereaftcr
greatly regretted that he had done So !
4 told him 10 make The same sta tement at
the trial and he sai6 he would do SO.
| think under the circumstances that
leniency should he shown him and that he
should not he dismissed from the force.
He appears 10 be an intelligent and good
officer.
Let this Ieniencv not serve as q prece-
dent The members Of the force now know
that the Mayor proposes TO put an end TO
these unlawful batteries. and those who
ccntinue to commit them VIII be dismissed.
You have splendid body OF men under
you and / want them to know that have
every confidence in them and desire only
&c DO them Justice.
On the other hand ] expect them all 10
he frank and truthful with the Mayor and
with You. and OF al things never TO tT-- to
shield the men on the force who are doing
wrong For their own honor they ought
10 help US rid the force OF such men
Deputy Commissioner Walsh reserved de-
cision on the case. Copeland is q son of
former Captain Copeland. for many years
in command Of the City Hall station. Cap
tain Copeland was q Civil War veteran,
and when commanding officers Of the police
force wore service stripes he had nine gilt
bars on his sleeve, indicating forty-five
years service.
The case. Of Patroman John 4. Nelson.
now Of the Leonard street station. but who
on the night OF February i was doing
plainclothes duty under Captain Morris. Of
the 5th street station, was adjourned until
next TUESDAY. On the night III question
Nelson arrested PatrOlman William +. Cal
lagher. Of the East 126th street station.
who was working under Inspector Schmitt-
berger to get evidence on which to make
arrests over the head of Captain Morris.
Nelson's superior. that resulted in raids
on se-eraI alleged gambling houses in the
precinct
Gala gher was charged with being intoXi-
Gated and disordery. and was fined & by
Ma gistrate Harris. in the YoTkVilie court.
but the fine was femitted on the following
day at the request Of Deputy Commissioner
BuEher. who at the time felt that Gal
Iagher was made d victim Of the police
IL Captain Norris'S precinct
Dr. Daniel II. Smith, a police surgeon
and DIT. Martin r Palmer. chief police
surgeon, testified that Gallagher was not
Intoxicated on the night on which he was
arrested. Lieutenant August kuhne, who
was on duty at the desk in the station on
the night that Gallagher was arrested, tes-
tilted that in his opinion the patrolman had
been drinking.