The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-27


THE SHAw-CALLAHAS AFFRAY BEFORE
THE MAYoR.-The cases of James Shaw,
charged with creating disturbance in the
street, and of officer Callahan and A. D..
Johnson with feloniously assaulting James
Shaw, were investigated by the Mayor yes
terday.
A.D. johnson, Deputy Constable, testified ::
Was going down Main street late at night.
He saw Shaw haul off at man named Bap-
tist as if to strike. Commanded the peace as
an officer. Shaw turned and hit witness.
officer Callahan then came up, and Shaw
hit him. Callahan either was knocked or
fell into cellar. Got up and hit Shaw.
Occurred on Main between Nineteenth and
Twentieth streets. l didn't see origin OF
difficulty between Shaw and Baptist. Shaw
didn't give up until three policemen came
on the ground.
Officer Callahan testified: Witness lives
on Main street near where the row occurred.
Was off duty that night. Heard profane
language and threats. Went across the
street. Shaw and Johnson were struggling.
Johnson pointed the former out as dis
turber of the peace. Witness laid his hand
on Shaw's shoulder and told him to come to
the station-house. Shaw refused, and called
witness "a damned scalawag," and hit him
several times; pushed him into the cellar.
Witness jumped up and hit him four or
five times. He still resisted. Officer Shields
came up, and the prisoner tried to get his
stick. Then Officer Reagan came, and he
surrendered. Didn't touch Shaw on the
way to the police station. Don't know the
origin of the row. Had no weapon.
Officer Shields testified: Lives across the
street heard the row, and went over.
Shaw was in fighting and defiant atl-
tude. Witness ran to the assistance Of the
officers. Shaw still resisted until Reagan
came. Was abusive on the way to the sta
ton. Didn't see anybody strike him on the
way. At the station he raised heavy
iron poker to strike Callahan.
Officer Reagan testified: Heard distress
rap, and went to the assistance OF Callahan
and Shields. Shaw was after Shields's
club, and was cursing. Told him to con-
slider himself under arrest, and he said he
would. Then took him to the station. At
the station he raised bar of iron to strike
Callahan witness took it away from him.
Mr.. Redford Difficulty occurred IN front
of witnesses store. Shaw accosted BAPTIST
about some business; Baptist made an
affirmative reply and Shaw cursed him.
Baptist then struck Shaw; witness sepa-
rated them. johnson then came up, after
the difficulty, and commanded the peace.
Shaw hit him and Callahan came up; then
scutlle. Thinks Callahan struck Shaw
after Reagan and Shields came up.
James Shaw gave his account: He cursed
Baptist and Baptist hit him in the mouth.
They fought, and Mr.. Redford intertered.
The difficulty was over when MIR. johnson
came up and commanded the peace. lie
resisted only to protect himself. Johnson
struck him first because witness called him
a scalawag. Callahan kicked him while he
was in custody.
William Ellison and James II. Clark
(colored) saw the party on their way to the
cage. Shaw was walking along quietly,
when Callahan came up and kicked him,
saying, "You ID S. of -, III teach you
to call me a scalawag."
r. D. Ward, as counsel for Shaw, sub
mitted an earnest protest against the dis
charge of Callahan, arguing that ne had
overstepped his duty, and that the police
were arbitrary.
The Mayor fined Shaw twenty dollars,
and required him to give $500 security for
his good behavior. He went TO Jail IN de-
fault. Callahan and johnson were dis
charged.