Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-07
MAKES SWEEPING DENIAL
TO POLICE TRIAL BOARD
Inspector Cross Says He Has Never
Known James Cullinane as
Handbook Man

Inspector Francis +. Cross of the po-
lice department Was the chief witness
at last nights session Of the police trial
board hearing the charges against him
growing out of complaints made by the
Department of Justice that he had failed
to perform his duty in connection with
the prosecution of violators of the hand
book law He denied every statement
that had been made against him at former
sessions of the board.
Inspector Cross admitted he knew
James Cullinane having become ac-
quainted with him many years ago when
he was employed as collector for local
firm He denied that he had ever heard
of him as having been engaged In the
handbook business, however. and said ne
had heard no such intimation until after
Cullinane'S arrest
Cullinane denied that he was ever in
the handbook business He admitted
having accepted the bet the agents OF the
Department of Justice gave to Edwin
Speer telegraph operator, and explained
that he merely did it as an accommoda-
ton. He said he transferred the bet 10
a man named Mccarthy, who has since
died
Mccarthy he stated, did business
openly in the lobby and billiard room of
a hotel for eight or ten years and was
never molested ! pleaded guilty TO the
charge against me through a mlSappre-
| hension. and had Mccarthy lived he
| would have gone to Jail instead of me-.
Cullinane declared he was told that one
of the agents of the Department OF JUS
| tice had made personal bets with Nc
| Carthy, but had not prosecuted him.
| Witness declared that on one occasion
| he saw the agent in conversation with
Mccarthy and he asked the latter if he
knew to whom he was talking.
\ t1,n
| the Department of Justice and that he
had made a number of bets with him.
witness stated
Witness said he had not been in the
| telegraph office and cOnyersed with
Speer for several years prior to the
summer of 1911 and then he went there
| because one of the agents Of the De-
partment of Justice had called and
| told him the operator wanted to see
him.
Denial From Cullinane.
Cullinane stated that he had never
discussed betting on the races with
| Inspector Cross and denied that he
received any message from him the
day he tCullinane) was arrested. He
| said he frequently played the races
and explained that he had kept away
from the telegraph office several years
because a telegram sent him TO pla Y
.Scarecrow had been delayed.
Other players We're given the benefit
of the information. he stated, and the
horse won at 80 to 1. He complained
to the telegraph company about the
telegram having been delayed. The
operator, he said. explained that the
delay was caused by his name having
been received as Callahan instead of
Cullinane.
Sergt. Edward Curry and Policeman
Garfield Of the sixth precinct. Robert j.
Hunter. stenographer at police headquar-
tiers, and julius r. Fauth We're other wit
nesses examined last night. Fauth stated
that he was sitting in front of a cigar
store on Pennsylvania avenue the after
noon of July IL, when Cullinane was ar
rested nearby. Inspector Cross stopped
in front of the store about that time and
asked if the proprietor We're in, and he
Fauth) told him of Cullinane's arrest
Fauth said he had known Cullinane the
past twelve years. He had never heard
il intimated that he was q handbook
man. Inspector Cross explained that he
wanted to see the proprietor OF the store
about box of cigars he had ordered.
Sergt. Curry and Policeman Garfield
told Of Inspector Cross frequent visits to
the vicinity of Pennsylvania avenue and
9TH street. and said he patroniZed two
lunchrOoms there. Stenographer Hunter
was questioned with a view 10 showing
that Speer'S statement 10 MAJ. Sylvester
nearly two years ago was at a variance
with his testimony given against In
spector Cross later.
Last nights session lasted until mid
night. The board Will meet again next
Monday morning at 10 O'Clock.