New-York tribune., 1919-06-28
Alleges He Refuses to Enter
tain Accusation That De-
tective Cunson Beat Her
and Called Her Names
Police Hearing Is Begun
Board os Three Listens to
Evidence in Behalf of the
kobin and Cohen Girls

to entertain further charges of con-
: duct unbecoming an officer against De-
tective John j. Gunson, of Inspector
Dominick Henry's Vice Squad, accord
ing to allegations made by Mrs Mar
garet Holden, of lit West Twenty
sixth Street, a young widow and
mother of two children
Mrs. Holden, who was arrested by
Gunson on charges of "disorderly con-
duct" on the morning of December II
last, and was discharged the same day
by Magistrate Ten Eyck, went to In
that Gunson had beaten her and other
wise treated her brutally-
when ! asked the inspector to pre-
fer charges against Gunson," Mrs
Holden said, "he replied:
you're an excitable woman. !
can't be pulling my men out and bring
ing them up on charges 1t would de-
stroy the discipline of the force. l
don't think l can do anything for you
He added that ! ought to seek relief
elsewhere"
Gunson's Trial Is Begun
Gunson is the detective whose trial
on charges of conduct unbecoming an
officer, growing out Of his arrest on
the night of March 4, last, of Misses
Sallie Kobin and Lillian Cohen, began
at police headquarters. These young
women we're charged viii "disorderly
conduct" and, Oh Gunson's testimony,
they were convicted by Magistrate Man
cuso. After four days Imprisonment
they were released on probation. Last
viction and exonerated the girls, de-
caring there had not been a scintilla
Of evidence to warrant their arrest.
Mrs. Holden, with her two baby girls,
one thre and the other five years old,
sat all day yesterday listening to the
proceedings against Gunson. Mrs.
Clarice NJ. Baright, counsel for the
MISS Kobin and Cohen, and also coun-
sci for Mrs. Holden, made an attempt
tell her story.
Advised TO See Inspector
Deputy Commissioner Leach, who
with Deputy Commissioners Porter and
. Ellen O'Grady sat in the case-the
first time in the history of the Police
department that more than one deputy
has heard testimony against mem
Der OF the department-ruled that Mrs
Holden's story was new matter" and
ought to be introduced in a separate
proceeding. Then, at Commissioner
Leach's suggestion, Mrs. Holden went
downstairs to present her grievances
to the Chief Inspector.
After a conference with Mrs. Holden.
mrs barght announced that she would
Drlng civil suit against Gunson in
nena!f of her client, and would also
make further efforts to have the Police
Department take up the new charge
against the Vice Squad man. Another
EFFORT to have Mrs. Holden testify
against Gunson in the present proceed
ing Will also be made, 1t was said
Widow Describes Incident
II was working in the Knickerbocker
hotel on the late shift in December
ast, Mrs. Holden said, following her
taiA with DAILY. Il finished at l a. M
On the morning of the 18th and left the
MOTEL. noticed woman weeping and
ssnn1aklng sn1 her hand, which was bleeding.
mere was another woman with her. |
went up to them out of sympathy. to
:. see If l could help the poor thing.
Gunson came along and said, Get
away from here and pushed me.
struck at him with my handbag, and he
knocked me down and beat me and
) called me names. Then he arrested me.
My fatherin-law, with whom I live.
George Holden. lawyer. wrote to
Commissioner Enright about it. The
commissioner suggested that I talk to
Inspector Dominick Henry, who told
me that 1T would never happen again.
Nothing ever came of it,
Inspector UphoIds Officers
Mrs. Holden's name entered the Gun
son trial yesterday, when Inspector
Henry took the witness stand to testify
for Detective Gunson, whom he de-
scribed as a good officer, with good
record. When Mrs. Baright asked the
! the inspector what he thought of Gun
sons action in arresting the Kobin and
Cohen girls, in view of Judge Rosal-
sky's action, Henry replied;
: Il would have severely reprimanded
Gunson and Maloney. his working part
ner, who made the arrests, if they had
not done SO, and would have had them
removed from my command"
Would you still have the same
high opinion about Gunson if it de-
a woman and torn her clothes ~ asked
Mrs. Baright.
I'D be governed entirely by the
facts. I'd hear both sides and if I
thought an officer exceeded his author
,sy ~, I'd prefer charges against him.
Didn't Remember Complaint
DO you ever remember hearing
sSoout any woman Gunson had treated
brsussallyy?"
=, DO you remember the name of Mrs.
s aargaret Holden ?"
don't recplIect it,
Maybe il would refresh your mem
ory II you saw her. Mrs. Holden, will
you please stand up?'
Inc new figure in the charges against
Eunson arose from "a seat near the
lront OF the courtroom and Henry
Stared az her. Then he said:
don't remember her a. all
oidnt you advise Mrs. Holden to
otop ner charges against Gunson7 ?"
don't remember her or the case
PREVIOUS to this Henry had testified
8 snat ne had given Gunson and Maloncy
.nstruct!ons to pay particular atten-
son 70 the waiting room in the Hotel
Assor, wnicn he described az a "no-
sorious rendezvous" for women. The
nseof management had also asked him
Tor nclp, he said. Complaints concern-
ing u had come 10 the Police Depart
msnt from army authorities at Wash
,nston, henry. declared, adding that