Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-06-05

The local Police Committee dilem-
ma took decided turn for the worst
this week, when on Tuesday evening
trial was held to dispose of the
charge of being drunk while on duty,
brought against Officer E. B. Steven
son.
1t is stated that the term snock'
trial would have described the affair
more accurately, inasmuch as those
called on were known to be friendly
to the officer. All. others were bar
red from the room.
The affair arose following an au-
tomobile accident last Saturday night
late when several cars piled into each
other on the River Road short dis
lance West of Beverly City Line. A
truck without lights had stopped and
several cars following at considerable
speed came upon it suddenly causing
damage to four Years. Two of the
cars Immediately got away on finding
no one injured and the two remain
ing were endeavoring to adjust their
varying opinions as to. each others
share of the blame when Officer Bud
Stevenson came upon them in an
swer to an emergency call.
The two men were taken to the
Beverly City Hall, somewhat against
their wishes, inasmuch as they felt
that the Beverly Officer. was outside
Of his Jurisdiction.
Eyewitnesses to the affair state that
Bud stalled his police car five times
before he could start back to Bever-
ly and required some assistance at
the wheel. Upon arriving at City
Hall he was apparently still without
proper poise and drove his car over
the sidewalk stopping in the middle
Of hedge. The men in his charge
stated that the officer was under the
influence of liquor and unfit to per-
form police duty. After their differ
ences were settled the men were per-
mitted to depart.
Following the charges of drunken
ess of these men further inquiry re-
vealed the statement that Officer
Stevenson, upon relieving Officer
James Holland at midnight and prior
to the accident was noticeably under
the influence of intoxicants, Holland
hesitated before turning over the
keys to the police auto. Holland
states that the Chief of Police was
out of town or he would have re-
ported the matter to him.
However, later in the night two
constables are reported to have gone
to the home of Howard Bot, First
Lieutenant of the Beverly City Police
to report that Officer Stevenson was
unfit to remain on duty or drive the
city car, If the report of witnesses
is true, Mr.. Bott upon receiving the
information tainted or otherwise fell
upon the porch floor.
Other citizens have made similar
statements concerning the officers
lcondition on that night attributing
his attendance at party on Third
lstreet as the source of the trouble.
These charges would be~sufficient
in any well regulated police circles
to warrant suspension on an officer.
but in Beverly we are accustomed 70
exceptions to ordinary procedure.
The officer was not suspended and
apparently not even reprimanded.
The Police Committee seems deter
mined to force the people to disbe-
lieve any and all statements regard
ing the improper actions of Officer
Stevenson, regardless of how persis-
tent the reports are or how well sub
stantiated.
| Everywhere on the streets are to be
found men who openly declare they
have seen this officer drunk while on
duty. He is reported to have been
under the influence of intoxicants
while making raid on a Broad
street rum joint Of recent date. Per-
Eistent rumors also indicate that the
Police Committee has had full infor-
nation Of all this. It is even stated
hat member Of the Police Commit
betae recently accompanied The o.