Case Name: PEOPLE ex rel. SULLIVAN v. CONNOLLY, Borough President
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1914-07-31
Citations: 148 N.Y.S. 1138
Docket Number: 
Parties: PEOPLE ex rel. SULLIVAN v. CONNOLLY, Borough President.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 148
Pages: 1138–1138

Head Matter:
PEOPLE ex rel. SULLIVAN v. CONNOLLY, Borough President.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
July 31, 1914.)
Proceeding by the People of the State of New York, on the relation of Joseph Sullivan, against Maurice E. Connolly, as President of the Borough of Queens.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The evidence adduced against the relator did not establish any willful or conscious dereliction on his part in the discharge of his official duties. He consulted his then superior officer in regard to the circumstances in question, and followed the advice and direction of his superior. Doubtless a mistake of judgment was made in the matter, but we do not deem this error on the part of the relator and his superior officer as sufficient to justify the dismissal of the relator from the public service. As he was a veteran volunteer fireman, he was entitled to a trial, at which the burden of proof rested upon the prosecution to make out its charges by a fair preponderance of the evidence. The determination of the borough president is therefore annulled, and the relator reinstated, with $50 costs and disbursements.