Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-06
Deposed Patrolman RACES That
He Wants q Hearing;
Then Departs
MAYOR ROYAL ALSO DEPARTS
Then the City Commissioners De-
part; Hutchison and Report
ers Hold the Hearing"

John K. Royal into court.
That is the net result of a near
farsical hearing" yesterday afternoon
by the City Commissioners and Col.
Joseph B. Hutchison, chief of police,
of the charges against Murphy of in
subordination, drinking on duty, fail
ure to report neglect of duty, etc, pre-
ferred by the Mayor to support his
dismissal of the officer from the po-
lice force.
All the commissioners but Mr. Cor
gas, superintendent of finance and ac-
counts. were present when the Mayor
, called the body to order in the police
station basement.
Since Councilman Bowman, Lynch
and Taylor declined to agree with the
Mayors proposal to drop Murphy
without allowing the officer a chance
to defend himself, the Mayor has per-
sistently declared that he would not
conduct the hearing.
The Mayor just Wouldn't, So There
So, after Council had convened,
Mayor Royal explained again that he
would not preside, that he had already
heard Murphy, that Col. Hutchison
had already heard him, but that if
the other commissioners wished to
conduct an investigation they could
do so and that Col. Hutchison would
produce witnesses and reports to sub
stantiate his charges.
Then the Mayor got up and left.
Commissioners Lynch, Taylor and
! Bowman protested that they expected
the Mayor to hold the hearing, that il
would be irregular for them to do so
that they only wished to hear the tes-
timony adduced before the Mayor.
And when Col. Hutchison suggested
that he produce his evidence in Muir
phys presence and that the commits
sioners just sit by and listen,-the
commissioners got up and left.
Mr. Murphy Joins Those Above
And once more when Col. Hutchi-
son suggested to Murphy that the
! hearing be proceeded with before
Murphy himself, and some of the wit
nesses had begun their stories-Mr
Murphy also got up and left.
Then Col, Hutchison arranged his
reports and called his witnesses anC
conducted the hearing before the
newspaper reporters.
The charges against Murphy were
substantiated by fellow officers, in.
Guiding Police Sergeant Frank Page
eX-policemen and several well-knowr
West End hotelkeepers. Among these
were Mrs. Rosa Kapphan and FREQ
Lauster These all testified to the
fact that Murphy drank in their sa-
| looms while in uniform and on duty
| How Murphy had coolly missed report
after report, had reported at mos
any box he wished instead of accord
ing to the regular schedule were
shown by Col. Hutchison's detailed
reports taken from the blotter as il
was ticked off by the electrical tape
reporting system.
Murphy Stands Alone
Murphy" pointedly explained Col
| Hutchison, sis the only man on the
| force who missed his reports"
Mr.. Lauster told the more seriou:
story His testimony was to the effec
that Murphy frequently entered hi!
place by the rear way and had fire.
quently got beer over the bar. He tolC
| Col. Hutchison that Murphy never
| paid for this and that once when he
reminded him of the fact, he noticed
decided and prompt activity on Muir
Iphy's part in threatening him with ar
rest If his bar was not closed promptly
at IL o'clock
Was he in uniform them" asked
the Colonel.
| HE was" said the witness.
| Mrs. Kapphan testified that Murphy
time and again came to her establish.
ment and took beer over the bar
while in uniform.
Courts'H Get You, If You Don't WatcI
1t was at this point that Murph,
abruptly departed. He said he haC
| afhdaVits from the woman and he &C
| cused Colonel Hutchinson of trying Il
prejudice the case. Mrs. Kapphan OBJ
served that she had made affidavit {,
the effect that Murphy had not in
suited her as had been alleged: sht
insisted, however. that he had fre
quently obtained beer in her place
and that she had not made an AFFIDAVIT
otherwise.
Jaw, I amt gettin' fair hearing,
blurted Murphy, land that's what
want the Mayor to give me. Yol
amt got the right" he fared at tn,
chief of police. II want q hearing
That's what I'm trying to Civ,
you" began the chief
And if l don't get 1t here" bel
lowed Murphy, as he stamped on tn,
steps to the officers ROOM why II
Icourt."
The Jewel of Consistency
i In declining to conduct the inauir,
Mayor Royal reminded his fellow com
lmissioners that six months ago Coun
Gil Hdu summary OtSHlSSe0 eiEhteef
policemen Notwithstanding his plead
ings that charges be preferred ant
that they be given hearings. Murphy
he pointed out, was recommended 70
dismissal for misconduct, drunken
ness. etc, and had had several hear
ings. I'm the face of these facts,
concluded the Mayor, you now in
sist that he should be given a furthe
hearing. Consistency thou art
/ jewell"
When the government changed,
promptly returned Mr.. Bowman, "yol
know as well as we do, Mayor, tina
all the old officers in every department
ceased to exist and that Council, will
its power to appoint. returned some o
the old employees and dropped others.
Indeed a Jewel, Mfr. Mayor
Furthermore" interrupted Mr.. Tay
lor, you have spoken of consstenc,
in your reference to your forme
pleadings that charges be preferre,
and that the officers in question b.
given hearings. Why do you not stan,
by that now, Mayor, and be consisten
yourself?'
"AlI that we ask" said Mr.. Lynch
sis that this man be given a fai
chance to defend himself before you
!. We don't wish to hear him because fo
us to do SO would be irregular. Yoi
know this. You as head of the de
partment should hear the man. Al
we want to do is to hear the testi
, mony."
Mayor Royal rose.