Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-10-24
0Blo Statesman,
t.I IFrom the Mobile Tribunel
Freedom Of Speech Interdicted.
ANOTHER OUTRAGE By A NEGRO
POLICEMAN.

This morning the case of the lady who
was brutally dragged to the guard-house
by three negro policemen, on the al
legged absurd charge of "using insulting
language to an officer" was up for trial
The lady is a verv respecta BILE lady, and an
old resident of Mobile, and by request we
suppress her real name. and use the con-
venient one of Mrs. Jones. The complain
ant in this case was the negro barber
LankfOrd, who has recently been appoint
ed on the police force. Tnis niger Lank-
ford, it seems, had difficulty about COW
some ten years since with Mrs. Jones. and
being mean, low Niger, he has harbored
ill-feeling towards her, watching like a
thief in the night for the slightest preteXt
to get the lady into trouble. A few nights
since he was passing up st. Louis street,
walking his beat, so he says, when
his attention was attracted to Mrs.
Jones, who, according to his state
ment, was sitting on the curb
stone, in front of her. store talking to
a negro standing on the crossing. AS we
have no faith in the statement made by this
fellow Lankford, which circumstances
would lead US to think was colored and
worked up for the occasion, we will give
the evidence of other witnesses, one of
whom was quiet colOred woman, whose
countenance was honest and truthful. 1t
seems that the negro man was talking to
ullc. cOACo dHu ICudl hOu Ludb bliuCS was
mighty hard, and he hardly knew what to
do" She agreed with him and asked him
why he did not try to get on the police; at
the same time made some remark about the
inefficiency and worthlessness of many of
the members, especially the negroes. The
records are sufficient to justify any one in
making a remark of this kind. At this,
Lankford, who was lurking near, caves
dropping, walked up and informed Mrs.
Jones that she must not make any further
remarks of such nature about the police
force, or he would arrest her. She told
him to go away, that she had no use for
him, but he persisted in his course, and
Mrs. Jones moved off, remarking that
she would go and sit in her doorway,
as she would not be disturbed there
Lankford replied, "we'll see about that
when get reinforcements," and immedi-
ately commenced blowing whistle. One
McGill, also of the police force, came driv-
ing along in buggy, when Landlord told
him that Mrs. Jones had been cursing and
abusing him. This fellow McGill is called
captain, and occupies the position, we be-
gallant friend Captain Jack Petty, and he
directed Landlord to arrest Mrs. Jones if
she cursed him again. He then drove off
and Landlord returned to Mrs. Jones's
house and again renewed the discussion,
and she ordered him off the second time
He then rushed after McGIll and called out.
"Captain, she's cursing me again :" that in
dividual, who in rank is Landlords supe-
rior. jumped out of the buggy and told
Lankford to get warrant and arrest the
lady, but remembering that he had
a blank one in his pocket, he
drew it forth, and with commendable (?)
zeal, as the emergency and importance
of the occasion warranted, filled it up
not, however, before the valiant negro
r.~ls - a. l. Al-
arrived, had laid violent hands upon Mrs.
Jones. Her son-in-law offered to pay 500
in cash, as security, until a regular bond
could be obtained, but no, nigger police
man had asserted that this lady had insult
ed him-there was no paliation for such a
henious ofense, and ''off to the guardhouse
with her." was the cry. Thus this lady, an
old resident, and respectable citizen, own
er of property, was dragged to Government
street, where she was put into buggy,
driven by McGill, and taken to the guard
house. Three brawny negro men and a
Captain of Police, were found nee
essary to take this lady to the guard house.
The case summed up, amounts to this
Lankford, with unparalleled impudence
and presumption, which, if manifested to-
wards a gentleman, instead OF defence
less lady, would have resulted i'm his being
knocked down, interrupted a conversation
between Mrs. Jones and this colored man,
and informed her that she should not talk
in that style. The conversation was car
ried on in an ordinary tone-no excitement !
eXisted-and even if the lady did say that
the present police were in the main a set
of rascals, she would not find many, except
those individuals themselves, who would |
deny it. She was not talking to the negro |
Lankford, and it was great impertinence in |
bim to interrupt the conversation. Malice |
and revenge were at the bottom of the |
whole affair, and if Mr.. Gustavus Horton |
had one spark of justice, refinement or
gentlemanly feeling in his little soul he |
would have dismissed this impudent negro |
barber policeman from his force.
He, however, showed some sense and re-
gard for public decency by dismissing the
charge, which had been illegally brought |
up against Mrs. Jones.
But he could not let slip the opportunity |
to inform her that she must be more guard
ed in her language concerning the police |
force and city officers.
Really, this is cool. and we hardly know
whether to consider Gussie mere fool or |
a petty tyrant. The idea of people in this
city being forbidden to express their can
lid opinions. Free speech interdicted by
Gustavus Horton! What do you think of
that?