The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-07-16
Detective Captain Says
Police Officials With
Burns Detectives Spent
Three Hours One Day
Trying to Get Him
How He Came To Be
Suspended -Stanley's
Denial.

Charges made yesterday by former
Assistant Superintendent of Police
Charles H. Suckley, to the effect that
the police commissioners used him to
frame Captain Edward o. Cronan,
were substantiated this morning by
the ex-chief of detectives. In his
statement, Captain Cronan placed the
blame for the alleged ~Game-up"
sauarely on the shoulders of Mayor
Clifford B. Wilson and John c. Stan
ley, chairman of the Board Of Police
Commissioners.
II have been told" said Captain
Cronan this morning, that Mayor
Wilson, John Stanley, Chief Allen c.
Myers, Of the Burns Detective Agency
and Acting Superintendent Suckley
conferred for three hours one night
Immediately previous to my suspen-
sion, and at that time attempted to
find charges on which'I I could be
suspended They could find moth
Ing on which they could take action
of this sort
The next morning, Stanley called
at the office of the superintendent,
and there examined a report which I
had submitted He commented un-
favorabiy on the form of the report,
pended for neglect of duty. do
not believe that any of the other
commissioners had anything to do
with the matter"
There is absolutely no truth In
these accusations" declared Chair
man John c. Stanley, of the Police
Board, when interviewed this morn
Ing There never has been and there
never will be a "frame-up" in the
Police department Personally I did
not see the reports referred to until
NOV
In defending himself further
against the charges of Captain Cronan
Chairman Stanley went over the en-
tire case of Captain Cronan's suspen-
sion and trial, showing, according to
his own statement, that charges were
presented against the former detect
Sve chief solely upon the instigation
of Acting Superintendent Suckley-
oshuler, ,eh etao Observation-Disclosures
'Suckley,'' said the commissioner,
reported to me by telephone or at
my Office, and said that Captain Gro
nan had ignored him and refused to
pbey instructions as to making out
reporta I told, him that I was busy,
and as the Police board was to meet
that night, he could present the case
ut the meeting
The acting superintendent stated
TO the board just what he had said
10 me previously Namely, that Cap
tain Cronan had ignored him, failed
TO report, and that mail for the De
tectfve bureau lay In the basket fol-
three days while Cronan refused tc
come and get it as was his habit
"Suckiey continued by saying, thai
he then sent for Captain Cronan tt
get the mail, but the captain sent q
subordinate for it He again sent fol
Cronan, and when the captain ap
peared personally, asked him why ht
had not reported and also instructed
him as to the method Of making ou
and submitting reports. He latel
called Captain Cronan's attention tt
the fact that the reports were not be
ing made out in the proper manner
and also told the captain that he wa
going to bring to the attention of tn
board, the fact that he, Captain Cron
an, was insubordinate-"
"Acting Superintendent Suckle
was told that the Police board coul
not entertain verbal charges, and tina
If he had any charges to make aSains
the captain he should make them i,
writing He then presented tn
charges"
In the formal charges which ap
peared above Suck4ey's signature
Captain Cronan was accused of hay
ing failed to report to the acting su
perintendent for three days fo11owin
(CoptJpnad on SiXl