New Britain herald., 1925-04-11
THE OBSER YER - Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People


 determine. the public Is in sympathy with the decision of the board of police commissioners to determine whether incorrect testimony WAS given by member of the police force at the trial of Gerald Chap man for murder The reading pup lie was surprised when 1t noted what this policeman said under oath while he was on the witness stand and there has been general agitation for an investigation. Re- snonsible citizens have expressed the conviction that the police com mission could not escape criticism unless 1t did take official notice or the testimony and inquire into the reliability of newspaper reports Tor the purpose of learning whether ne said what reporters said he said or was misquoted.
 Tn the interest of all concerned the investigation should be pusheo to the bottom, If the policeman was mlsouoted he should be cleared II hisstestimony was as. the press res norted it, he should be asked TOT an exclamation and if he cannot give 1t, he shoulds be dismissed
 Some policemen have the CT, roneous impression that they mus secure a conviction against every man they arrest even if they hs' their imagination to do so' TIN I condition is not peculiar to NeV Britain but obtains in nearly ever! community.
 Reporters who attend court trial day after day are well aware una nolicemen sometimes color thei testimony and make out a biacke case against the prisoner than tn facts warrant. They know whlcl policemen do this and they als know which policemen are satlsie
 to state the facts and leave the res to the prosecutor. Of the lattor Typ was Jim" Skelly, whose deat
 Chapman Is accused Of haVln
 caused. He never tried to step 1nt
 inc prosecutors shoes. He neve
 presumed to- advise the judge Il
 never painted the prisoner wors
 than he was. Skelly went 10 tn
 witness stand quietly and explalne , the causes leading to the arrest inc accused man. Then he stoppe , He could not be persuaded to e' N q oeperate for the sake of getting U ,conviction. If the judge discnars' :, the prisoner Skelly did not feel r
 b,ked or offended. He had done n
 duty and was satisfied to let y |, ipare decide whether the pers'
 under arrest deserved punishme
 or should be discharged.
 unfortunately, every police TOT
 has on 1t certain members who D :, ,icve that persons brought befo
 the court should bs severely oet o with. In order to make ,pnnishihe s cor4ain they deprecate the pr oner's. character as much as Y. sib,e and stretch the truth. II |
 ipdre does not sec 1t to ma | ,g m accused person guilty, these poh' 70 mon become offended and reel U " inc decision of th court Is ren' o ion on their integrity and apll ,,,, ns officers of the law. It IS ridie as Ions to blink the facts. Any " r, nerienccd court reporter will YOU
 for the truth of these statement \, In deciding to investigate the nt norts of the testimony given by as noliceman at the Chapman trial nc nolice commissioners are acting m line with their duty to the people 10 tho city. The testimony had no n. mediate bearing on the guilt or ., nocence of Chapman but 1t was n. such variance with what the p' ,s lie had been led to believe was IT he that the commissioners could Ir- very well overlook the situation .d expect the people to have ture or confidence In them.
 s.