Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-12-09
Dover's Assistant Chief Ac-
Quilted Of Charges OF
Conduct Unbecom-
ing an Officer
TRIED PUBLICLY BY
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

night on two charges Of conduct IN
becomiue an officer" and was acqult-
ted OF both charges. The hearing was
public and Council chambers was
crowded while testimony was being /
taken. The charges were made by /
Mrs. Sarah Colt, wife Of Clarence .
colt milkman. and Mrs. Bessie Ber-
man. wife OF Dr. II. H. Berman. an Z
oculist Thomas c. Frame, Jr., rep /
resented Officer Baker
Mrs. Colt charged that Oficer
Baker. on the night OF October 2S'
after hearing in which she was in
terested before Town Alderman Whar-
ton made improper proposals 20 her.
IN which she alleged that he had ask
ed TO meet her at the Dover station,
and where. she declared. he did meet
her II was there. she said the al
legged improper proposals we're made.
She stated that officer Baker said he
had key TO the wOmen's waiting
room and that he opened the door
She told Of going Into the room. but /
left Il while the officer was turning
out the light.
NIrs Colts testimony was contra
dicted IN many respects by she defence
Witncsses testified that on The. night in
question Ofcer Baker was az tho Dover
Opera House. where DO remained TO-
half an hour or more and could no. no-
ably have been az the railroad statiou
Al the time Mrs colt alleged that he
was there. n was testified boy railroad
employee that no such meeting ever
took place at the station and neither
had officer Baker or any ono cleo PM
railroad employee keys TO any OF lne.
doors on room. Of the station, and mat
the particular room spoken OF was iock
ed on the night IN question boy tho ma
ron on her leaving the station snort ~
after & O'Clock. 10 was also testified
that 70 turn out the lights in thu ioir
would have been q physical impossibii-
fiv. a. thew are at least 10 feet mehl
and were operated from q main s"itcnl
IN the ticket office.
'rlr second charge against officer
Baker of conduct unbecmiug an officer
ON tho night of October %. WIS mad'
nv Mrs. Bessie Bernan. who conducts 20
general store on ioockcrman s'rcct
The charges i'm this case were based
on alleged insulting remarks made 10y
Ofncer Baker 20 Mrs. Bermon on the
street while she was out for a Walk
near midnight on the night OF DC
tober %
Mrs Bermau testified that Officer
Baker called 10 her at Pryor aud Bud
streets. wait minute! Listen
where are you going? Can't 7 go with
YOU She stated that she told him
she was not the woman he was look
ing for
while Omcer Baker was talking to
her she claimed that FREDERICK
Bailey also appeared on tho scene
and after fow words from Bailey.
70 which she took ofense. Bailey
Both Baker and Bailey walked
away. she said. after she told them
she would tell her husband, DIR. Bei-
man of what had happened. She wen.
to her home.
On cross examination by Attorney
Traim. counsel for Baker. Mrs Ber-
man admitted that Il was close to 1880
o'clock when she saw officer Baker on
King street. She also admitted she
made no cutlery whatever when tho
two men we're standing there or after
they had talked with her.
She also testified that Oficer Baker
had tried to flirt with her on other oc-
casions by "rolllng his eyes. which
provoked some laughter.
Or Berman. husband of Mrs. Der
man. who made the charges was
called and briefly stated his knowledge
or the affair. which was as TO the time
Of his wife leaving the store and the
time of returning.
Fred Bailey. in his testimony. ad'
mitted following Mrs. Berman On tue
night In question. but contradicteo
her as TO the course she took in get
ting to the place. where she was &C
costed by Oficer Baker and himself
He told OF his part in the anair. o
sneaking 10 Mrs. Brennan and OF he
falcing exceptions to what he had salt
and OF his publicly asking her par
don. Bailey testified that Mrs. Der
man did not seem 10 be excited an'
that she did not talk in harsh man
ner at all except when she reouhe
him for asking to accompany he
home.
Bailey claimed that his interest j
the affair was brought about by ON
cor Bakers statement that he he'
complaints about woman In black
being seen in the part OF the tow
where Mrs. Berman was seen on tn
night In question.
officer Baker testified thai he ha
complaint from residents in tina
part of the town. OF woman y
black appearing on the streets o.
several occasions. and for that rea
son on orders Of Mayor Magee. ha
conc there TO Investigate. Seem
Mrs. Berman. who was dressed ii
black ne thought she was the strang
woman IN black
Omcr Baker denied that he mao
any improper remark TO Mrs BermaI
He sad he stold her that where sh
was. was q rather suspicious place {
be in. and that he advised her to E
back home, 10 which he claims she re
Piled 'You attend 10 your bushes
A and 7 viii attend 20 mine"
After other witnesses were calle
fcztify'ng 10 having geen q woman
black IN the locality in question. q
case was closed. Council deliberate
but short time before ocQuitting Il
officer.
ns-rn