Evening journal., 1911-04-26
DROP MELVIN
FROM FORCE
Commission Finds Officer yiO-
lated Rules in Not Re-
porting Verderame Case
TWO NEW MEN
AS CITY GUARDIANS

The Board Of Police Commissioners
at their weekly meeting yesterday
afternoon, dropped Lewis W. Melvin,
patrolman, from the force on
charges of neglect Of duty and in
competency. and held up similar
charges against Samuel NJ. Foord,
also a patrolman.
The hearing Of these charges was
an echo Of the police investigation
held some time ago in which Chief
Black was the principle figure. AZ
that time Melvin when called by
counsel for Henry c. White, testified
that he had knowledge that Salvatore
verderame was conducting a speak
easy at Seventh and Lincoln streets.
He further testified that he had not
reported his suspicious TO his super
for officers and in cross-examination
said that Patrolman Foord also knew
Of the existence OF the place. having
worked with him on tho case.
Both men were accused by the
board yesterday afternoon with hav-
ing failed 10 report the matter TO
their street scrgeants, Melvin on his
own admissions, and Foord on the
testimony given at the Chief Black
investigation by Melvin,
The men were brought before the
board separately yesterday, eMlvin
being called first In his defense he
said he did not think he was violat-
ing any rule of the department by not
reporting the case. as he was work
ing TO get evidence and had failed.
He said he did not think he could
have secured a conviction on his own
evidence.
President Clarkson read the off
GERS testimony given at the time OF
Chief Black investigation and wanted
10 know how il was that he told what
he knew about Verderame's place at
that time and how others learned Of
II so as TO be able 20 subpocnea him,
and he had never reported the case
to any Of his superior officers.
Tho patrolman said he had never
told anybody about the case and when
he was summoned i'm the investigation
he did not know what he was TO testify
TO and said he appeared against his
will
MIR. Clarkson called the patrolman's
attention 70 the fact that Chief Black
had Verderame brought in for selling
beer without a license and that he was
fined In the City Court He added that
II was queer that the chief could have
gotten the evidence against Verderame
so easily.
What YOU should have done" said
Mr. flarkson. addressing Melvin,
"wheh you saw you could not land the
nrfn. was TO have reported The case
and the chief would have furnished
you with man TO get the evidence.
1T occurs TO me anyway remarked
Mr.. Clarkson. that when anything
like this is done around here. II rs al
ways the chief that does it,
Melvin again reiterated that he had
no intention OF violating the rules Of
the department
F0ord Denies Charge,
Foord was next called and was told |
that the charges against him were simr
liar 10 those against Melvin, the cir
cumstances being the same. He said |
that if he was being tried on what |
Melvin had said about Verderame it /
WAS not true and he wanted Melvin |
brought before the Board. He said he |
never had seen bottles of beer sold /
either at Nerderames place or in a |
house across the street supposed 10 be |
conducted by Nerderame, as Melvin
had testified. He said he worked with
Melvin on a case i'm Lincoln street but
not on the Nerderame case
Mr. Clarkson swore, Foord before
hearing his statement When Melvin
was brought before the Board the
second time the oath also was ad-
ministered TO him. The latter in
formed the Board that he was con
fused at tho time he testified I'm the
Chief Black hearing and had said
things that possibly were not cor
rect. He then cleared Foord from
ever having had anything to do with
the Nerderame case and said Foord
was ignorant of what he, Melvin, was
doing in the case.
Both men, before they were given
q hearing, asked that they be al
lowed 10 retain counsel and this re-
quest being refused, they asked for
a postponemont for a week. This also
was refused. Mr.. Clarkson said that
the Board on only two occasions had
allowed accused officers counsel and
that was when the other side was
represented by counsel.
After considering the cases for
nearly an hour the Board announced
that the charges against both officers
We're sustained and that Melvin be
dismissed from the force. The
charges against Foord was held up
for the present.
The resignation Of Turnkey Will
liam J. Conner was read 10 take ef-
feet at once and another officer was
fined two days pay for being late with
his report.
After this business was disposed Of
the Board appointed two men 10 take
the places of Melvin and Conner. The
new appointees are VIM. ]. Mearns,
of No. 1917 Delaware avenue. who
succeeds Conner, and John Leslie. of
No. 500 Orange street, who succeeds
Melvin. Both are Republicans as
were the men they succeeded, il being
a rule for the Board TO replace Re-
publicans with Republicans and