Evening journal., 1914-05-06
SAY OFFICER SLEPT IN
CITY JUDGES Chair
Sergeant Lyons, Worried and
Weary, Says 1t is Custom
ary TO Tarry There
DECISION IN THE
CASE WITHHELD

making out his early morning reports,
President Bowers Of the Police Com
mission brought the matter to Chief
Blacks attention. As result
charges were preferred against Ser
geant Lyons. After hearing consid-
cradle evidence yesterday afternoon,
the Commissioners reseryd decision in
the matter
Sergeant lyons was charged with
conduct unbecoming an officer, 10
sleeping on duty; wilful disopcdiepce
of orders; leaving post without just
cause, and Of leaving his district.
Sergeant Lyons pleaded guilty to sit
ting In Judge Churchman'S chair and
said ae might have fallen into Il doze.
AS to the otacr charges, lie claimed
he knew nothing Of them. II he were
guilty Of a yiolatlon OF rules by stay
ing in the police station after making
ont his report. Sergeant Lyons said
all street sergeants were guilty.
Police Captain Charles 10. Evans,
under whom Sergeant Lyons works
and who signed the charges, said
that all sergeants do just what the
accused officer did Captain Evans
said, in reply to questions from Com
missioner Wickersham, that the
charges were unknown to him until
last Friday and he never had COM
plant made to him about Sergeant
Lyons sleeping on duty.
The meeting of the Commissioners
was attended by City Councilmen Nc
Goldrick, zimmerman, McDermott
and Stover. Frank Haley, of the Law
and Order Society, also was present.
AT the beginning of the hearing,
President Bowers read the charges
signed by Captain Evans. They,
among other things. charged the Off
Ger with sitting and sleeping in Judge
Churchman'S chair, from 445 to 6 and
6.15 o'clock, In the morning, between
April and ~, and April 20 and 27. |
Sergeant Lyons said he sat in the
chair, as IL was his custom to come |
off his district every morning at 4.45 |
to make out his reports. At times he |
fell into a doze In the chair, after do |
ing his work. He explained that |
since February he had lost much |
sleep, and was worried, due to the ILL |
ness OF his son. who is al the point /
of death. The officer explained that
remaining awhile at the City Hall, /
after making out the reports. had
been the custom for years. Sergeant |
Lyons said since last February he had
not left his home. except to 20 on
duty, and he thought he was doing his
duty as citizen and an official, as
ne met all the policemen regularly.
President Bowers read Orders No. |
5. issued some time ago, relating to |
sleeping on duty. They specified that
the house men must observe the rule
the same as the street men, Sergeant
Lyons said the order was violated by
all the sergeants As for sleeping
while the men on the third section
were answering the roll call at 5.45
o'clock, Sergeant Lyons said IL would
be impossible to sleep.
Captain Evans was sworn and said
he had seen Sergeant Lyons in the
chair, but he never saw him asleep
there. Captain Evans said he had Of
ten talked to Lyons about his son
The captain was asked IL he had not
signed the charges, and he replied
that he had, but he did not prefer
them. In fact, Captain Evans said he
never heard complaint Of Sergeant
Lyons sleeping on duty, and while he
heard some talk about the charges on
Friday, the first he saw of them was
on Saturday, when he was called IN
TO Chief Blacks office to sign Them
Captain Evans said he did not know
where the sergeants got the idea thew
,ould come in and stay. but il thew
lid not do that, they would have 10
remain thirty minutes ,or more after
they We're supposed to be Off duty 70
make out their reports. Mr.. Bowers
read the rule pertaining to duties of the
'ergeants, but it contained nothing rela-
-Ne to them coming in to make out re-
ports
Custom Of Years
Sergeant William J. Massey was called
md ne admitted seeing Sergeant Lyons
IN the chair, but he never saw him
asleep. u was the custom for the
street seFgeants 90 so TO the City Hall
70 write out their reports for years. he
said. Addressing Chief Black, Sergeant
Massey said; The chief did it when he
was street sergeant" Chief Black re-
piled that he never remained after he
finished his reports, but that he went on
his district again. Sergeant Massey
said he never found any time to sleep
while on duty.
Sergeant McDermott said he had
seen Sergeant Lyons sitting in the chair
with his eyes closed. but he could not
swear he was asleep Sergeant Me
Dermott also said it had been the GUS
tom for the street sergeants to make
out their reports at the police station
and then TO wait for awhile before re-
turning to their districts
Patrolman Purcell said he had seen
Lyons with his eyes closed in
the chair. but he could not say he was
asleep. Officer Purcell said he never
heard any complaint of Sergeant Lyons
action from the men. Patrolman Nc
Bride gave the same testimony.
Patrolmen Dutton, King, McGillon,
Morrow and veasey all said they saw
Sergeant Lyons asleep in the chair,
or at least his eyes we're closed.
veasey. in reply to Sergeant Lyons,
admitted that he had been spoken to
by the sergeant while the latter was
in the chair.
Sergeant Lyons said that during all
the time he has been having trouble
at home. losing his sleep and having
much worriment he never missed a
report and he never missed any of
the patrolmen he is supposed TO meet
on his rounds. He explained what
sergeant has to do, and said he
thought the two detectives who fol-
lowed him one night would admit he
had to keep on the move to meet his
men and make his reports.
Mr.. Bowers Got Tip.
General Wickersham called the at
teufiOn Of the mamhars of tho oor,,