Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-09-20
TWO CAPTAINS
y APPOINTED BY
POLICE BOARD
MoRelI and Meehan Selected
for Traffic Squad and
/ Training School.
coNNELL AGAIN BLOCKED
BY DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS
Lieutenant, Who Headed EIigi-
BILE List, Turned Down by
DonneIIy and BigeIow.

Disfegarding the first name on the
civil service eligible list, the Board
OF Police Commissioners today pro-
NOTED Lieutenants James F. Meehan
and James A. McRell to the rank of
captain. The first man on the list of
ehgibles was Lieutenant Thomas F..
Connell. An effort to make him a can
tain was blocked by the two members
OIL the board, who were appointed as
Democrats, John H. Donnelly and
frederick Bigelow. Connell is a vet
efan Democrat, who has a splendid
record for service, and he never has
been called on to face charges.
During the police meeting today
President FrederichFC Breidenbach
Republican, surrendered the chair to
Commissioner Donnelly Commission
er John L. Pcid, Republican, moved
that Lieutenant Connell be appointed
captain. Mr.. Breidenbach seconded
the motion, but it was lost Ay a tie
vote. Both Mr.. Reid and Mr.. Brei-
denbach later condemned the action
of the other members as unfair Mr.
Breidenbach refused to vote on the
MeRen- Meehan appointment until ac-
ton upon the Connell proposition had
been taken.
Both Sworn In.
Both of the appointments will take
effect Immediately, McRell and Nee
han being sworn in today. They
3 have not been assigned as yet, but it
is generally accepted that they will
ATemaln in their present positions
Mcf4ell has been in charge of the
mounted ana motorcycle squads since
May s of this year He took the
place of Captain William H. Stucky,
formerly in charge of the squads,
who retired from the department on
a pension May 1.
Meehan has been in charge of the
police training school since the de-
parture of Martin H. Ray who was
employed by the board to organize
the school, Meehan was Captain
Rays assistant at the school while
the instructor was here, and took his
place at his departure The vacancy
which 1t was expected Lieutenant
Connell would fill Is night captain at
police headquarters. This was created
when Captain John Caffrey, now at
the Eighth precinct, was transferred
to the First precinct to take the place
of the late Captain Michael j. Ryan.
Lieutenant Connell, whose name
heads the civil service eligible list,
which expires today, Is the senior of
the three. He has been longer on the
police force. His appointment was
considered a surety in the event that
any captains were created by the
board. and the action of the board
came as a shock to persons interested
In police affairs.
Lieutenant Qonnell Is sixty one
wears old and has been on the force
since April, 1884. He is considered
one of the best informed and most
capable men in the police depart
uent. For six years he was detailed
in the office of the late Police Chief
Michael Corbitt.
Connell Had High Merit.
Until today Lieutenant Connell has
been acting captain at the Fifth pre-
cinct in the absence of Captain Will
lam i. Carroll. During his long SER
vice in the department he earned the
admiration of the men working with
him for the masterful manner In
which he handled delicate police mat
ters. He was never before a police
board on a charge of any kind.
In considering the action of Com
missioners Donnelly and Bigelow,
lieutenant ConnelPs friends In the
department, who are many, point to
the fact that his advanced age may
Interfere with his standing on the
eligible list should he take another
civil service examination. owing TO
the fact that his appointment was
considered certain very little cam
paigning was done by Lieutenant
Connell or by his friends. While the
two who were appointed have been
frequently seen in the neighborhood
of the mayors office lately Lieutenant
Connell has been busy administering
the affairs of the Fifth precinct and
has not once appeared in the CITY
Hall. In fact, 1t is said, he WASH t
invited to the conference by the
mayor.
Although the appointments were
made by a Republican administra-
ton the two men appointed, as well
as Connell, are Democrats L1euten-
ants Meehan and McRell and their
friends have been active in urging
the appointment of three captains
during the past few weeks.
Among the many who ventured a
orediction on what action the board
would take on the matter there was
not one who considered the posslolllty
of Lieutenant Connells name being
Jumped in favor of men further down
on the list
''I do not believe in skipping any
name in making an appointment.
think that the men should be appoint
ed in the order in which they passed
the examination"
Both Mr.. Breidenbach and Mr.. Reid
appeared indignant at the action of
their colleagues when the meeting was
over, and were not anxious to discuss
the meeting. Mr.. Bigelow and Mr..
Donnelly disappeared from the
hoard's executive meeting room down
q private staircase almost Immediate
iv after the meeting was over
The meeting today was adjourned
from one held Saturday morning,
when the commissioners were in con-
ference with Mayor Raymond for
more than an hour. They went into
conference with the mayor again this
morning and remained in his office
mill after noon. 1t was apparent to
. knot of those interested who gath
cred in the hall that the commits
sioners were unable to agree upon
what action to take
The commissioners then retired to
axecutive session. Mr.. Bigelow here
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column 81