The People of the State of New York ex rel. William Lawson, Relator, v. James J. Martin and Others, Police Commissioners, Composing the Board of Police Commissioners of the Police Department of the City of New York, Respondents

The People of the State of New York ex rel. William Lawson, Relator, v. James J. Martin and Others, Police Commissioners, Composing the Board of Police Commissioners of the Police Department of the City of New York, Respondents. Police department — removal of an officer thereof for being in' a liquor saloon — the decision of the police commissioners, though unusually severe, will not he disturbed. Although the dismissal from the New York police force of an officer thereof may, in the judgment of the court, be an unusually severe punishment, under the circumstances established by the evidence, for the offense of being in a liquor saloon, the court will not reverse the decision of the police commissioners. Certiorari issued out of the Supreme Court and attested on the 30th day of January, 1895, directed to James J. Martin and others, composing the board of police commissioners of the police department of the city of New York, commanding them to certify and return to the office of the clerk- of the county of New York, all and singular, their proceedings relating to the removal of the relator from the police force of the police department of the city of New York. Louis J. Grant, for the relator. James T. Malone, and Thomas E. Rush, for the respondents. [MAJORITY — Per Curiam:] Per Curiam: The relator was charged with being absent from post and in a liquor saloon during his tour of duty. It is insisted that the charge was not proven. This involves a consideration of the testimony upon the trial. The roundsman swore that, at the time specified, “ I walked down First avenue, and when I got to Sixty-sixth street and First avenue I saw the officer between Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth streets, on the west side of the avenue, walking towards me. I walked down; I got near Sixtv-fifth street and I saw the officer walking in this, liquor store. He had no more than got inside the door before I saw a young fellow running up after him to tell him I was on the corner. Then I saw the young fellow coming out of the side door. I saw this officer then come to the side dopr and look around and walk back. I remained on the corner a few minutes, and I saw him come out of a hall door a few doors below. * * * I asked him what he was' doing in there, and he said he was chasing some boys, playing ball, and then came out through the hallway.” The relator testified that he had chased some boys some distance away and then came back “ and tried h> get one of them, and when they seen me one of them ran through the middle of the block, and the other three ran around and into this liquor store. I chased them up through the house and over the roofs and tried to catch one. When the roundsman seen me he was at Sixtydhird street and First.avenue. I was not in the liquor saloon.' * * This, together with the record of the relator, which showed that humefous complaints of one character and another had been preferred against him, upon which judgment had been rendered against him for one or more days’ pay, was substantially all the evidence produced. The punishment does seem to be unusually severe for what apparently was a trivial offense, it not haying been shown.that the officer was in the saloon for any length of time or drank while in there, but that he went, in and came out immediately after; whether, as surmised by the roundsman, because he was told he was- watched, or of his own accord, must be a matter purely of conjecture. While the evidence is slight and the testimony of the roundsman and that of the relator are capable of being reconciled, still there was sufficient for the consideration of the commissioners, and we cannot disturb their finding. ■ The writ ¡should accordingly be quashed and the proceedings dismissed, with costs. Present — Van Brunt, P. J., Barrett, Rumset, O’Brien and Ingraham, JJ. Writ quashed and proceedings dismissed, with costs.