New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-28
POLICEMAN KILLS HIMSELF
Jury Had Failed to Agree on Club
bling Charge in Two Trials.
ONE "COP" TO THE ISLAND
Accused of Shooting Up Barber
Shop, He Finds Stern Judge
in Magistrate House.

Ii was a day of excitement and demon
alzation in the Police Department yester-
DAY one member of the force. Patrolman
Thomas Kelly, of the Morrisania station,
committed suicide early in the morning by
shooting himself in the head with his re-
volver. He was TO have gone on trial yes
terday for remaining away from his pre-
cinct without permission. Another patrol
man. William +. Waddell. of the East 10th
street station, was sent TO the Workhouse
for sixty days by Magistrate House, in the
Harlem court He had been arrested for
shooting up a barber shop last Monday.
The rest Of the force was brought up
with a round turn when Commissioner
Cropsey, sitting in Judgment on erring po-
licemen showed that he was not to he
trifled with. and that his rulings would be
stern but impartial. Several of the patrol
men summoned 10 appear before him got
off with reprimands. but he made ii plain
that be would deal harshly with those who
tried 10 avade the strict truth Whenever
he suspected a man of swearing 10 a false
hood Commissioner Cropsey dealt out pun
ishment with a heavy hand Moreover,
said the Commissioner, patrOlmen would
be expected TO know the rules.
Patrolnan Kelly. the man who commit
ted suicide was apparently worried over
the approach of his trial. He had reported
sick on Saturday, and went to his home. at
No % Dominick street. where he lived
with three other men. He seemed to be in
good spirits when he went to bed on
Wednesday night
About o'clock in the morning Kelly's
rOommates were awakened by the sound
Of a revolver shot. and when they lighted
the gas found that he had shot himself
in the head while still in bed. He died
instantly.
At the MorTisania police station il was
learned that Kelly was the patrolman who
had been mixed up in a saloon brawl in
The Bronx on June %, 1909. when Sebato
Basso, Of No. 223 East 117th street. was
beaten TO death Kelly and two other men
We're afterward arrested. charged with muir
dering the man. At the coroner's inquest
they were discharged. Early this year.
however, indictments were found against
Kelly and the other men. All were held
in $1,000 bail After two iuries had failed
TO agree they were discharged.
Since the indictments were dismissed
Kelly had been acting strangely. and many
charges We're preferred against him. He
was told 20 report for trial yesterday. He
was appointed TO the force on March 81,
1907
Patrolman Waddell Of the East IO4th
street station. entered the barber shop Of
Peter Pizzella, in Third avenue, on Monday
morning and asked for drink Of whiskey.
When he didn't get 81. it was alleged. he
drew his revolver and began TO fire right
and left
After several witnesses had been exam
ined Magistrate House said he did not be
lieve the story offered by the defence. and
was sure the witnesses had been tempered
with. He assured all who had testified
that he going 10 sift the matter to
the bottom. When he sent Wsddell 10 the
island for sixty days Louis Grant, the lat
ter's counsel, said he would appeal the
case