New Britain herald., 1929-12-06
Police Commission Generates
 McCue At Inquiry On Assault;
 Dahlgren Subpoenaed to Appear
Detective Sergeant Denies Striking Prisoner in Cell and Is Unanimously Ex- culpated - Johnson Is Questioned About His Testimony in Court.

Detective Sergeant William P. McCue was the subject last night of Inc following finding by the board Of police commissioners: "Inasmuch as there was no substantiating eyi- dcnce for the claim of Mir. Dahl- Sren, we find that there is no cause for charges being preferred against Sergeant McCue." The complainant. ANel Dahlgren, 49, of 43 Kensington avenue, accused Sergeant McCue of punching him once with such force as to render him unconscious in 2 cell at the police station on Noyem- Der Is, but the sergeant denied it and produced Officer George Schu bert of the Plainvlle police depart- ment and Harry Goldberg. a baker, Of S4 Hartford avenue, as witnesses who saw the scuffle in the cell and they testified that no blows were struck.
 Officer Lovines E. Johnson was heard with relation 10 an alleged discrepancy in his testimony in the case of Richard, Scanlon of Peck street in police court on November f and the board found no cause for action in this case, either, al- though Chairman lI w. Bannan took the officer severely to task and warned him that as long as he holds the chairmanship members of the department must be careful of their testimony in court.
 Dahlgrcn Suhpocnaed
 Dahlgren was present at the meet ing with Attorney Israel Nair, the board having issued a subpoena as the city charter empowers. Clerk T. A. McGrail signed it and Officer H. c. Lyon served it. Otherwise Dahlgren would not have been present, as Attorney David l.. Nair wished continuance on account of his inability to attend because of another meeting.
 The police court gallery was filled almost to capacity long before the meeting opened. Chairman Dannan having announced recently that the meeting would be open although it was in the form of an inquiry 10 determine whether or not there were grounds for charges against he officers. In the event that there were such grounds. charges would be preferred and heard at later meeting.
 "A short time ago. Mir. Dahl gren," Chairman Bannan began, after calling the meeting to order, but Attorney Nair interrupted to ask: Are you ready to proceed with the hearing, Mir. Chairman ?" Chairman 1'annan replied that there was 10 be no hearing, the purpose of the gathering being merely to obtain statement of facts. Dahlgren then was asked to tell what happened on the day in question. He said he believed he was arrested some time before 3 o'clock in the afternoon and was locked in a cell.
 He wanted to use the telephone but could not attract anyone's at tention by hollering and shouting Then he asked Andrew Anderson of 27 Everett street, who was Tn the next cell, having been arrested with him, for some snuff and An derson put some in a tin cup and worked it through an opening to him. Then he used the cup to bang on the cell door to attract attention. as he wanted to get out and take his wife to a physician.
 Says McCue Hit Him
 Some time elapsed before anyone responded, and he was angry and made as much Of a racket as he could with the cup. He heard foot steps in the corridor and Sergeant McCue came in. He has known tho sergeant for 25 years and has al- ways regarded him as 0 friend, he said, but the sergeant, after open ing the cell door, stepped in Bang" and Dahlgren made noise with his hands to demonstrate the punch he received in the face.
 "Good-bye AXel," Dahlgren said 'If he hit me little harder ]