POLICE BRUTALITY INVESTIGATION

Lexow Committee Report.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, October 3, 1894.

POLICE BRUTALITY.

OFFICERS COULD CLUB CITIZENS WITH IMPUNITY.

Patrolmen Convicted of Brutality Fined a Few Days' Pay. Many Victims Tell the Lexow Committee of Outrageous Treatment at the Hands of the Police—Light Punishment Inflicted.

   NEW YORK, Oct. 3.—Chief Counsel Goff surprised the Lexow committee. He subpoenaed all the members of the force who had been convicted of clubbing citizens during the past year, but who for some reasons have retained positions on the force. There are nearly 400 cases of this character and almost all of the officers summoned were in attendance.

   One of the first officers who testified was Thomas Coleman, who had been called to explain his statements in connection with the alleged assault upon George Appo. The theory of the police and the testimony of the proprietor and the inmates of the hotel where Appo was injured is that Appo cut his own throat.

   Coleman, being placed upon the stand, claimed that Appo had confessed to him that he had attempted suicide. He was subjected to a severe cross-examination by Mr. Goff, and though he could not shake the policeman's story the officer was badly rattled at times.

   The feature of the day, however, was the testimony of the men accused of clubbing citizens, many surprising stories of inhumanity were told by the witnesses.

   A son of Rev. Dr. John Hall, the Presbyterian divine, claimed that he had been forcibly ejected from a station house because he had gone there and protested against an assault by an officer upon an Italian fruit peddler. A Columbia college student told of the assaults that the policemen made upon the students while they were building bonfires in a vacant lot to celebrate one of their victories.

   Thomas Lucca said that he had asked Policeman Bernard Dunn if he had caught a thief who stole $4 from him. By way of reply the policeman clubbed him. When he reached the police station another pummeled him.

   Senator Cantor protested against the expert nature of the evidence and insists that the records should be produced to show the other side of the stories. His remarks caused cheers from the policemen present.

   Fully half a hundred policemen were waiting when an adjournment was effected and they were told they were not needed.

   Chairman Lexow said that the case of policemen clubbing citizens and escaping with light fines instead of dismissal had been proven.

   Mr. Moss said that of the cases against the 90 policemen 40 were for felony. The punishment was ridiculously small. One policeman had killed a citizen with a pistol and he was fined 10 days' pay for handling his revolver carelessly.

   He then read Inspector Williams' record, the most noticeable thing about it being that while there was no end to complaints there was hardly a conviction.

   Bolton Hall, son of Rev. Dr. John Hall, told how he was thrown out of the Church street station where he had complained about some hoodlums who overturned an Italian's fruit stand. The sergeant apologized and the case was dropped.

   James Mason Knox, a Columbia college student, told of the descent of the police on college boys who were having their annual celebration in a vacant lot. The boys were kicked and beaten without provocation.

   Thomas Lucca, who looked like he had been through a threshing machine, followed. His face was swollen and his head was swathed in bandages. He told a story of police brutality. Because he asked Policeman Bernard Dunn if he had caught a thief, who had stolen $4 from him, the policeman felled him with a blow. As he lay in the gutter the policeman clubbed him about the head until his scalp had to have 27 stitches put in it to patch up his wounds. Then the policeman dragged the bleeding man to the station house where another policeman punched him in the face. He was locked up on the charge of attempting to rescue a prisoner. The witness opened his shirt and showed his underclothing stained with his blood.

   Policeman Richard S. Meney was next. He admitted he had pummeled a citizen named John Strohemediel in his own house.

   Senator Cantor became excited and loudly demanded that the evidence given in defense of the officer at the trial should be produced.

   "Give the police a fair show. Are we to persecute them?'' he exclaimed.

   This little speech was received by the policemen with vigorous hand-clapping. Several of them cheered.

   Chairman Lexow was indignant at the demonstration and threatened to clear the room. Turning to Senator Cantor he said curtly: "Your objection is without point."

   "The object of all this is to show," said Mr. Moss, "that the commissioners, believing the men to be guilty, let them off with a fine instead of dismissing them."

   Edwin C. Murtagh was another policeman who had an unenviable record for clubbing citizens.

   Henry S. Jacob was another policeman who had his record raked over.

   Then Mr. Moss read the records of dismissals for various causes which seemed trivial compared to clubbing cases which were leniently dealt with.

   Policeman George Lair of the Eighth precinct on May 11, 1892, threw Rose Smith on the floor of a saloon and tried to tear her cheek by inserting his fingers in her mouth. He then drew his pistol and threatened to shoot the woman. The board found him guilty and fined him 20 days' pay.

   This officer had many other serious charges made against him yet he is still a member of the force.

   Policeman William Rohrig acknowledged he had broken a boy's jaw with a club. He threw his club and it struck the boy. He said it was an accident, but he was fined 20 days' pay.

   Policeman Michael J. Ryan had twisted a citizen's arm until he screamed with pain.

   You're a nice policeman," said Senator Bradley to this witness.

   The committee then adjourned for the day. The 40 policemen waiting were told they would not be needed.

Colored Oddfellows in Session.

   BOSTON, Oct. 3.—The Grand United Order of Oddfellows, composed entirely of colored members, is in national convention in this city, the first time in 12 years. The order is over 50 years old, is the largest society of colored people in the world, and is under the jurisdiction of the United Order of Great Britain. The opening of the seven days' session was in Faneuil hall. Delegates were present from every state in the Union, and were called to order by Grand Master Forrester. Following speeches of welcome Governor Greenhalge gave an earnest address, which was warmly received. A large floral design was presented by the Household of Ruth, the woman's branch of the order.

A VALUABLE SPECIFIC.

Believed to be a Coming Cure for Tuberculosis.

   ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 3.—Dr. V. C. Vaughan, dean of the University of Michigan medical faculty, believes he has discovered a certain specific for tuberculosis. The product is called nuclein; and was but recently made. The doctor has just returned from the international congress of hygiene at Buda Pesth, Hungary, where he read a paper on his discovery which attracted great attention. He has not proceeded far enough in his experiments to declare that nuclein will absolutely prevent tuberculosis in men, but he has proved that it will eventually prevent it.

   A law student of Detroit has tried the nuclein. In nine months he gained twelve pounds and seemed cured.

Commissioner of Railroads Wade Hampton.

CONTROL OF RAILROADS.

Government Ownership Impossible in This Country.

   WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.—General Wade Hampton, commissioner of railroads, was at his desk for the first time in several weeks, having just returned from an extended trip over the government aided roads which come under his supervision.

   General Hampton travelled about 9,000 miles on these lines, going west over the Union and Central Pacific and returning over the Northern Pacific, inspecting several branches by the way. He reports the roads in good condition and doing a fair business considering the business situation.

   General Hampton will now prepare a report which will be submitted to the secretary of the interior before Nov. 1.

   The commissioner says he encountered in California a great deal of clamor for government control of not only the Union and Central Pacific roads but of all roads. Both of these propositions are opposed by the commissioner.

   "In the first place," he said, "the bonds on these roads are not due until 1897 and the government cannot foreclose until that time. Then it becomes a question of expediency. If the government should foreclose, it having only the second mortgage, it would be compelled to pay the first mortgage amounting to many millions. Even then the government would find itself in possession of roads without terminals. A government such as ours cannot operate railroads. In autocratic governments it is possible, but not in this country."

   [The Populist Party had a stipulation in its platform which urged government takeover of railroads, telephone and telegraph systems—CC editor.]

Looking Out for Anarchists.

   WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.—The bureau of immigration has received personal descriptions of 66 anarchists recently expelled from France. Officers at all ports will be furnished with duplicates of this list for the purposes of identification.

BREVITIES.

   —The E., C. & N. are now handling about fifty carloads of coal a day.

   —The Y. M. C. A. gymnasium class will meet at 8:30 o'clock to-night.

   —The ice fraternity returned last evening from their hunt with thirty-four squirrels.

   —There will be a special meeting of Chapter 194, R. A. M., this evening at 8 o'clock in the lodgerooms. Mark degree.

   —The Chautauqua circle will meet on Saturday evening at 7:30 o'clock at the home of Rev. W. H. Pound, 38 Madison-st.

   —A regular meeting of the board of directors of the Tioughnioga club will be held at the club parlors this evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —At the meeting of the Presbyterian church and society held last night Messrs. W. S. Copeland and C. F. Wickwire were re-elected trustees for the ensuing year.

   —The regular meeting of the Local Circle of King's Daughters will occur Friday at 2:30 P. M. at the home of Mrs. A. M. Johnson, 54 North Main-st. A full attendance is desired.

   —The football game of the High school and the Cortland Normal boys will occur in this city next Saturday. The High school boys are practicing hard and promise to show the visitors from Cortland some points in the way of playing football. It will be remembered that the High school boys were beaten at Cortland last Saturday through a scratch play.—Binghamton Republican.

   —The two ladies who were last evening masquerading about town upon their bicycles wearing male attire came near meeting with disagreeable consequences. They were recognized by some of the boys who vowed that they would follow the ladies and present them with clothing that more nearly corresponded with their own ideas of propriety. The boys were dissuaded from their purpose by a friend of the ladies who had also "spotted" them.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

THE TOWN OF CORTLANDVILLE NOT IN IT AT ALL.

A Political Love Feast—Hill Endorsed—Adams for Assembly—Wood for Sheriff—Warren for Clerk—Hyatt for District Attorney.

   The Democratic county convention held its adjourned session this afternoon and was called to order in Taylor hall at 2 o'clock by James Dougherty. The hall was partially filled. Only a few changes were made in the roll of delegates from the list previously published.

   Mr. H. E. Wilson in a brief speech offered the following resolution:

   Resolved, That the Democracy of the county of Cortland sends greetings to its brethren throughout the state and congratulates the party upon the auspicious opening of the gubernatorial campaign; that we heartily ratify the splendid nominations made by the convention at Saratoga, and earnestly insist that all inter-party factional differences should be eliminated from the canvass; and that the only rivalry that should exist among Democrats should be as to who can most advance the interests of the party and its candidates in this campaign; that the nominations of Hill, Lockwood and Gaynor demand, and are entitled to receive the zealous and loyal support of a united Democracy, to the end that the cause of the Democratic party be further advanced and the Empire state be kept where it of right ought to be, in the front ranks of the Democratic column.

   Mr. Wilson presented the name of Edgar L. Adams of Marathon for member of assembly. Mr. Adams was nominated by acclamation. Mr. Adams thanked the convention in a brief speech for the honor.

   Dr. H. D. Hunt presented the name of Wallace W. Wood of Cincinnatus for sheriff. He was nominated by acclamation.

   Chairman Dougherty presented the name of Charles B. Warren of McGrawville for county clerk. Mr. Warren was nominated by acclamation.

   C. E Wills presented the name of Edward W. Hyatt of Homer for district attorney. He, also, was nominated by acclamation.

   C. E. Van Brocklin presented the name of M. F. Hazard of Scott for superintendent of the poor. Nominated by acclamation.

   Dr. R. A. Goodell of Homer, Dr. H. D. Hunt of Preble and Dr. David K. Allen of Freetown were nominated for coroners by acclamation.

   Theron O. Brown of Taylor was nominated by acclamation for justice or sessions.

   John Courtney, Jr., moved that the county committee be empowered to fill vacancies in the ticket. Carried.

   George A. Brockway of Homer, W. E. Hunt of Lapeer, P. O'Donnell of Truxton and C. E. Rowley of Cortland were elected additional members of the county committee.

   Three cheers were given for David B. Hill.

   The convention was then adjourned.

   At a subsequent meeting of the county committee R. W. Bourne of Willet was elected chairman and Clayton E. Rowley of Cortland vice-chairman and Edward Kelly of Cortland secretary and James R. Schermerhorn treasurer.

   On motion, duly seconded, the chairman was instructed to appoint an executive committee of seven to transact the business.