Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-16
POLICE LIEUTENANT
PLEADS NOT GUILTY
Trial of Echtermeyer Begins
Before Civil Service
Commission
CAPTAIN GIVES EVIDENCE

Lieutenant John Echtermcycr. sus-
pended police commander of the Second
and Christian streets station, pleaded
mot guilty" to charges Of dercliction
of duty. when bis trial opened before
the Civil Service Commission in City
Hall today.
J. Washington Logue, Echtermeyer' s
attorney. attempted to halt the pro-
ceedngs by contendipg that the charges
were not clear and insufficient The ef-
fort failed.
Commissioners Woodruff and Nceld
and Police Captain Tempest comprise
the tribunal before which Echtermeyer
is being tried. The proceedings are
taking place in the Office Of the regis
tratiOn commission. Room $50.
Charges against the police official are
Failure to report the conviction of
Patrolmau Abraham Schwartz on the
charge Of conspiracy.
Allowing three disorderly houses to
operate in his district.
Reporting disorderly houses as soft :
drink and cigar stores.
Police Captain David McCoach, in
charge of the district ut the time of
Echtermeyer's alleged failure to fulfill
his duty, testified that the first intima :
ton Of disorderly places came through
an anonymous letter.
Captain McCoach said this was some
time in October. He said he started an
investigation, which revealed the con-
dition. IT was not until December 8,
CAPTAIN McCoach said, that Echter-
meyer reported that the places had been
quarantined.
and Superintendent of Police Robinson
were in court to testify, but were
excused by the commissioners until such
q time as they would be needed.
Harry Felix appeared as attorney for
the police department.
The courtroom was crowded. Several
women were among the spectators.
The Echtermeyer case was adjourned
at IL o'clock until 2. In the Interim
the commissioners heard testimony in
ihe case of Patrolman Abraham
Schwartz, charged with assaulting DR..
Samuel ". Morris.
Sergcants Mooney and Ferris were
put on the stand by Harry Farley. at
torney for Schwartz, and denied all al
legations of brutality on the part OF
Schwartz when he arrested Doctor Nor =
ris ir front of his fathers moving pic
t,lre theatre recently. They said Doctor
Morris told them he was not injured
when they took him to the police sta
ton.
Called Him Cheap Guy"
Schwartz testified that he was stand
ing in line to buy ticket to the theatre.
when some one in back of him called
him Cheap guy" He turned around,
he said, and was struck in the face by
some one in the crowd. Doctor Norris
then said he would have Schwartz ar
rested, the latter testified, and the
rumpus followed.
The patrolnan said he was followed
70 the patrol box and was struck again.
He recognized Burke as the man who
hit him, he said, and arrested him.
Schwartz said that Burke had been ar
rested before for attaching a Doctor
Sterling and fireman named Pigeon.
1t was said that Burke had enlisted in
the army since the incident.
One of the policemen said that Max
Burg. who lives at 704 South Third
street, had overheard conversation be =
tween Doctor Morris and Burke, in
which the latter admitted having struck
Schwartz. Burg was not in court.
The hearing was adjourned until to
morrow
Twenty witnesses are expected to tcs
tify in the Echtermeyer case.