Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-28
POLICE CHIEF AND
RECORDER ACCUSED
Complaints Made by kearny
Man Now Before Grand
Jury.

nave Deen iOuBtu DN fIdnk EIetis VI
SO Highland avenue, Kearny, with
Prosecutor Robert s. Hudspeth, of
Hudson County
incidentally Freer's wife was ar
raigned in the Kearny Police Court
today on a charge of having deserted
her husband and children. Freer also
charged the woman abused son.
Frank, jr She was taken into GUS
tody last night at the home of Mrs.
Mary Bailey, an aunt. living at 36S
South Seventh street, this city.
In court today Mrs Freer admitted.
she had struck the boy because he
spent too much time in the yard
feeding chickens" She said the lad,
who is 10 years old. attacked her.
She showed marks which, she said,
were inflicted by the boy pinching
one of her arms.
She, told the court her husband
had threatened her on several occa-
sions and had her in such a nervous
state II am now half crazy" she
explained. The case was adjourned
until tonight, when it is expected a
probation officer will be present.
The cases against the officials are
now before the Hudson County
grand jury. According to Freer it
has taken him several years to have
his case heard.
Trouble Began Decade Ago.
Chief Tolen is charged with having
issued a false and fraudulent" war
rant for the arrest of Freer. The
Vim m ar
is that he refused according to
Freer. to accept complaints the latter
endeavored to make on several occa-
sions. Freer has been in the police
limelight for period of about ten
years.
According to his own story, he had
his first rouble with Chief Tolen
when. about a decade ago, following
an attack upon Freer's first wife, a.
complaint was lodged against Joseph
Murray. Freer contended Murray
might have been arrested an hour
after the warrant had been issued,
but the police Jagged, he charged
Following Murray's arrest, Freer
declares he complained to Councilman
! Edward Donnelly, then chairman of
the police committee. regarding
| Tolen's alleged indifference. Don
nelly. after an investigation, reported
| to Freer, according to the latter, that
the chief denied the charge. THAT
was the beginning of my trouble" de-
clared Freer.
Some time later Freer circulated
some literature in which the name of
Chief Tolen is said to have been men
toned. He was arrested, and when
searched at the police station knife
was found in his possession. On
| charges OF carrying concealed
weapons and circulating literature of
a questionable character he was sem
| fenced to three months Jail term
and was also placed under $4,000 bail.
| Affidavit Bears wife's Denial.
| Freer says he was in jail seventy
one days when his wife finally
secured his release. There was moth
| ing more to the case he declares. In
January. 1908, Freer was arrested by
| Detective Walter oliver and Patrol
man Michael Williamson. He was
charged he says, with having as
saulted his second wife, who is the
present one. The warrant for his ar
rest, Freer claims. was issued by
Chief Tolen. On this occasion F'reer
was locked up a day and then dis
charged
In this connection Freer has in his
possession an AFFIDAVIT sworn to by
his wife before Justice of the Peace
Addison d. White, of Harrison. The
affidavit reads as follows: Florence
Freer being duly sworn on her oath
deposes and says that in the case OF
| Florence Freer VS.. Frank Freer,
| for assault and battery the
charge against said Frank Freer was
not true as stated in warrant IS
sued by William Tolen, chief Of
| police of the town of kearny. Also
she swears that the warrant issued
| by the said William Tolen, chief OF
police of the town of Kearny. for the
| arrest of Frank Freer on charge OF
assault and battery on January ~,
| 1908, on the person of Florence Freer,
| his wife. was false and fraudulent.
No assault or attempt to assault said
| Florence F'reer was made by the
aforesaid Frank Freer.
| At the home of Justice White today
it was said the magistrate is i'll in
his bed. His son. Edward, however,
identified the copy of the affidavit
and said il bore his fathers sigma
ture. After his release from the
Kearny lookup Freer declares he
lodged a complaint against Detective
Oliver for serving the alleged fraud
| ulent warrant. This complaint was
filed with the Kearny Town Coun-
Gil. but according to Freer no action
was ever taken.
In April of last year Freer says he
tried to make a charge against his
wife for alleged completely in an IL
legal operation. He declares Recorder
WINNER would not accept the COM
plant. On several other occasions
Freer claims the recorder would not
accept complaints against his wife
for abusing their children
Freer says he made attempts TO
have Pierre p. Garven, when the lat
ter was prosecutor, act on the charges
but he never got any satisfaction, ne
saws. Last week Freer lodged with
Prosecutor Hudspeth complaint
which covered his troubles since their
inception. The case was placed IN
the hands of the grand jury, and
Freer has already appeared before
the inquisition This was admitted
today at tho office of the prosecutor
Mrs. Freer. at the policestation to-
day, said her husband had compelled
her to make the affidavit regarding
Chief Tolen. She intimated it was
not a true statement of facts.
Chief Tolen today denied that he
had issued a warrant for the arrest
of Freer. He said James Kelly, who
was police recorder at the time is
sued the warrant in question.
Ireforta IN rnach Police RecOrder