New Britain herald., 1917-03-28
POLICEMAN LAID
 OFF SIX MONTHS
O'Leary Suspended After Hearing
 on Use Of Int0XiCants

l ouSedSA1A8 CIdT8eS or slnCOXlCAtlOn
 while on duty, preferred by Chief William J. Rawlings, the safety board,
 in executive session last night fol-
 lowing an open meeting and hearing given the accused, imposed a six
 months suspension on Supernumer- l ary Policeman John J. O'Leary. The
 decision was made public by Clerk A.
 B. Magnell. O'Leary was suspended pending action by the board the ; morning following the '.frebug'.
 scare upon receiving a report from Capt. T. w. Grace and Sergeant Will
 liam c. Hart. Although it was felt
 that there might be certain excusable
 circumstances, the commissioners
 commented on the gravity of the of-
 fense and felt that substantial pen ! alty should be imposed for the good
 of the service. o'Leary was one of
 the supernumeraries detailed to spe- l cial duty, during. and after, the fire bug scare. His condition was re- ported to police authorities by Ser geant James Curtin of the militia and Sergeant Hart was detailed to investigate.
 Appearing against the accused were Chief Rawlings, Captain Grace and sergeant Hart. Sergeant Hart tes- tified as to O'Leary's condition, when found. as to how he took him to head onarters in the department service car and then took him home. Cap- tain Grace testified as to his connec- Vlyft 1a hA Admits Having Two Drinks. O'Leary contended that he only
 had taken two drinks. had not been feeling we'll for some time prior to the incident and had no expectation Of being called upon to do duty that night. He denied that he was in- tcxicated. Captain Grace told how he received g complaint that O'Leary was in no condition to do police duty and detailed Sergeant Hart to in- vestigate. He said that the accused
 was under the influence of liquor when brought into headquarters and was sent home in the service car. He said that, O'Learv has not done a great deal of duty but that he under stood the use of liquor was one fail- Ing. It was testified that he had never seen him under the influence of liquor previously.
 Sergeant Hart said that he saw the accused staggering at Elm and Seymour streets and told how he took him 10 headquarters.
 Ea The accused made a strong plea in lis own behalf. He explained that CheshaA been ili for nine days prior to the niEht in question. was in no con. fditionsto do duty but a,ea hsed that all available men were needed. In civilian clothes. he was assigned to duty at the Church street fire and later at Hatch's garage building. He testified that he had informed Chief Rawlings of his illness and later tried
 tc telephone to headquarters but was
 unable to get 8 satisfactory connec- ] tion in the excitement and rush of
 business He had taken but two drinks and was talking with Police man Meehan when Sergeant Hart came along. He supposed that 1t was
 his relief. stepped into the automo- Lille without any objection and was 1 greatly surprised when taken sS to Headquarters and later to his home. Question of veracity. .sss Certain parts of statements by the accused were refuted by Chief Rawl- l ings. The latter said T want to, give every one chance but do not want | to have such statements made when there \ is not a' bit truth in them l O,Leary replied T am not trying to make a liar of you. chief, but spoke to you at the Hatch fire and asked to be excused"
 &.'No, you did not" replied the chief. "You asked me If there was anything that you could do and told you what 1 to do.''
 'That was at the Church street ] fire." replied O'Leary. He was then
 again asked as to the number of drinks
 he had had that night and replied that there were only two. The hear l ing was then closed and action de- ferred until executive session.
 Burton P. Sage. of 1895 Stanley | street. employed by the United Elec- 1 trio Light and Water company, ap-
 peared as an applicant for the newly l created position of assistant city elec- | trician. stated details relative to past ] work and was questioned by the com missioners He said that he is willing 1 to take the place for at least year.
 for the sum provided. although 1t
 might not be as much as he could get | where he is now employed, or in a
 similar position elsewhere. But he expressed the belief that there was 8
 future and he was willing to work for 1t. He believed that an experienced
 man can get q very good idea of the
 city system by q years work on the
 wires and electrical apparatus.
 A communication was read from the
 Gamewell Fire Alarm System officials
 relative to recommending candidates
 for appointment as assistant electri-
 clan. It stated that good linemen and
 electricians are scarce and that they
 were unable to recommend anyone at
 present. An application for the ap-
 pointment was received from Joseph
 c. wratschke, electrical contractor. It
 was referred for future reference. No