Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-10
WILSON DENIES
CHARGES OF COPS
Tells Business Men Reasons
for Dismissals Of
Policemen
NO POLITICAL ACTIVITY

Director Wilson today denied al
charges made by dismissed policemen
VINO aired their grievances against heads
| OF the police department before meet
ing Of the municipal affairs committed
of the United Business Mems Associa.
tion on April 26.
The Directors denial took the form
| OF public letter to William A. Dunlap
chairman of the business mems COM
mittee, and was in answer 70 one sent
him by Dunlap complaining of the treat
ment accorded the dismissed policemen.
Charges filed against the policemen
discharged, together with citations OF
alleged unbecoming conduct on their
part in the past are set forth in the
letter. The Director also declares that
all trials are open to the public and that
each defendant is given ample notice to
prepare his side of the case
Director Wilson further denies that
Assistant Director Davis or any other
official of the Bureau Of Police was
guilty of political activity in connection
with their duties as heads of the police
force.
Reasons for Dismissals
The reason for the dismissal Of Harry
r Johns. president. and Henry NJ. Dick
erson secretary of the Patrolmens' Be-
neVoient Association. are explained at
length by Director Wilson. Johns and
Dickerson. II is charged have been the
leaders in the agitations against Director
Wilson and other police officials
DlckerSOn according ~ tho Dirootor
was dismissed for taking absence with
out leave. Johns, the Director saws,
was discharged for conduct unbecoming
an on1cer and reckessly welding his
revolver, resulting in the shooting Of a
boy. :"
both officials of the patrolmens' asso-
ciation, the Director charges. have been
oetore the trial board on previous oc-
casions. The Directors letter to Mr..
Dunlap in full follows:
In reply to your commu,Ica tio, - ,,.
%: 1918. concerning meeting heId by Saay May
GfGmTi'tss G6TST tee, on April 20 at The coonnSde d
RuFeau MnSh % 90Rs1Fst Pocs sfTap snG 9 wsr6
sefn,nr sen inform b me we're made con-
copssrniqs each individus sssnen' ssse' OF facts
Apr IBIS With one Grsnve f'sehnTfsa ssf.on on
Sga foE Both shoGiinS msn %.ts
wi,S erfed th. with four days' notice In accordance
poiies H EaMrt sw entitled to hearing before the
missed on Apr 5 ols on TN cSnrs. ds sf
beSa before Ss ssr, an Ss after having
enS2sss S2ss Sn TjiSHor7 jSH g;s,?91msn ;s, was dis.
duty. he at the time having been detailed
on on, a vice quarantine and had absented him
Had Other Employment
January 3i 1915 He had Jailed essnra ,e Fepogp Th
for duty after having been notiaed tod TO- do
member OF The Bureau OF Police s he was Was
ENGAGED t,aia s in other ,empleyment in direct
The III Tns gf Gf 96e fs Foss Pen:sn
snn sund r.sh association Ia his resignation, waived
sIay,on any tights he therefore had in the asso-
ns.sms. Jesse Yost' pat poatrolman, was dismissed on
ders He Was Charged Wsh sf0eafnGs fainre 20 Ts or
moe mo- an automobile truck in order to per
6sss.f the court Of trial on fSsr' n1 aryeus ess
Patrick Green. pa,rolman, had been
which ang was entirely tustiaed under eutS the
refused to remit his fine = '' D''ee'or'
ss SsS sSa sSs ss5 a.
''Sn Wiliam i"e Weldon Heh'e ps trolms, was dis
missed on December Is. 1917 for failure
to patrol his beat for seven consecutive
hours and had previously been before the
Henry NJ. ,pickerson.. patrolman. was dis
without leave for four days At the trial
he admitted that his absence was due to
his condition caused by drinking. Dicker-
son had been before the court OF trial on
several previous occasions.
missed on December I, 1917. and the testi-
mony at the trial substantiated the charge
OF conduct unbecominR an officer. He was
previously discharged from the service OF
Same ss ouTssn rssIrs on 9e,Pser bs H. isis the
orders in thai he dscRarsed ope''reSe reSever er
reckessly. careessly and without cause as
d result Of which boy was shot The
only reason he was reinstated was because
the boys father interceded in his behalf.
he mad been before the court of trial
two previous occasions.
There is no truth in the statement that
or any one connected with the Department
OF Public Safety ever interviewed any one
either directly or indirectly concerning the
politics OF any one connected with the de-
All trials are open to the public de-
fendants are entitled to be present with
witnesses and counsel and all parties are
given an opportunity to be heard. Each de-
seeeeat,on. seeenn served WITH ahs copy Of the
of the hearing in order that he may pre-
pare any defense he may have to the
:, In view of the fact that your communica.
II was sent to- me I assume the. same
privilege and l beg to advise YOU. thereto
fore. that | have given out this reply to the
newspapers for publication.