The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-05-18


Alleged II.Treatment Of Prisoner
Contradictory Statements - The
Evidence Badly Mtxed ap-A Cues.
tion Of Truth and verseity.
Yesterday afternoon the case Of Z. @.
Stevens, member Of the Metropolitan pc.
lice force, charged with committing an az
grayated assault upon Mrs. Mary Sanders,
Of Ohio, came up befored Justice David II.
Smith, and the Office OF the magistrate was
crowded with witnesses, lawyers and the
public. The charge against the officer was
that of using undue violence In making an
arrest. Michael Thompson, ESQ, appeared
for the defence, and George II. Harrington
and Edmund y. Price, esqs., for the prosecu-
ton.
The first witness called was the plaintiff,
(Mrs. Mary sandcrs,) who testified that she
met Stevens on the corner Of Seventh street
and Louisiana avenue, when he walked
across to the north side, witness following
him and requesting accused to pay her tTb
which was due her; the accused then took
hold OF witness by the arms and dragged her
along like dog; did not strike him with q
parasol, nor call him s-n-of-a-b-h, but
did call defendant "swindler."
Lieut.. Noonan, sworn, stated that he did
not see the arrest, but observed accuted with
the plaintiff under arrest on Louisiana ave-
nuc and Fifth street. Saw accused holding
plaintiff by the arm, but saw no manacles
used; could not say that plaintiff had not
"nippers" "a small cord) around her waist;
saw no undue violence used by the officer.
John II. johnson, esq, testified that about
midday on Saturday, while standing In his
Office door, on Louisiana avenue, his attcn-
ton was attracted to crowd opposite, and
saw an officer have Mrs. Sanders, rs he
thought, under arrest; thought the officer
used undue means in orresting her; asked
Officer Wise to step across the street,
and sec what the matter was, and 10
appeal to the officer not 10 use the
woman so harshly. The officer Jerked and
pulled the woman along in an undue man.
ncr. The prisoner apparently resisted such
treatment by pulling backward, while the
officer seemed to be walking too swiftly with
his prisoner.
Oflicer J. II. Wise testified that no saw
the accused In front of Whites store with
Mrs. Sanders In charge, and thought he useS
her very roughly. The officer had her b!
the arm, and was pulling her along as rap
idly as he could, was satisfied the treatmen
to the plaintiff by the officer was outrageous
and he felt indignant; thinks while In tn,
custody of the officer Mrs Sanders strucl
at the officer with her parasol; did not SCI
her strike the officer; did not think TIL
officer was proceeding with Mrs. Sanders a
a more rapid pace than he has before seer
officers with their prisoners, but the conduc
of the officer In this case was regarded a
outrageous.
Detective McDevltt sworn, stated that h
did not sec the arrest, but passed the officer
in charge Of Mrs. Sanders at the corner o.
Sixth aud D Streets did not see undue force
used by the officer.
J. l.. Gatchell testified that he saw plain
til and accused on Louisiana avenue, neal
City Hall the officer had the woman by tn,
arm, and was walking very rapidly; did moi
see anything around the wrists OF Mrs. San
NaRa a Q 10 IN ,,.,n 49, A,,N =.
could not walk us fast as the officer, and sh
was consequently behind; they walked 5
fast that the little boys running could no
keep up with the officer.
A. r. Williams, esq, testified that he say
the accused going 10 Justice Walters office
and that he was nearly dragging his prisone
along; 1t was an exceedingly rapid rate, and
he felt Mortified at the conduct OF the office
In thus dragging a woman along the streets
did not see Mrs. Sanders resist the officer
she was apparently disposed to accompan.
the officer.
b, +. Hamlnk, esq, testified that he saw
the parties on Louisiana avenue; saw tn,
plaintiff thrust paper at the officer and say
il was bill for SIS due her by the officer
she called the officer 4 s-n Of q b-h, anC
struck at him with her parasol; the officer
did not use manacle as far as he saw; thu
conduct Of Mrs. Sanders TO the officer wai
very abusive and said she would follow hiu
UP ulAll uC paul AHc niiiOuul uuc kOlG
the officer to walk off, the officer did no
use undue means in conveying his prisonc
to the magistrates office.
f. z. Hoover sworn, stated that he say
Mrs. Sanders approach Stevens and ask hir
when he would pay her the money due hei
did not hear the reply Of the officer; she the
called him s-n Of a b-h, aud struck hlf
twice with her parasolj the officer then tool
hold of Mrs. Sanders, and she struck hin
again with her parasol; the accused, aftc
the arrest, was not going with his prlsone
faster than an ordinary walk, as far as wit
ness saw.
Michael Kelly swore that the officer uset
no violence, but, on the contrary, treated hi!
prisoner rs gently as a baby should have beer
treated.
John F. Ralrdon testified that he knew tn,
reputation Of Mrs, Sanders for truth ant
veraclty; that II was bad; would not belev,
her under oath, mainly because Of what sh,
had testified to on this trial; that this testi
mony had corroborated his previous opinion
Defendant Is an intimate friend of mine
known Mrs. Sanders for n year; have had
difficulty with her; she took me TO task 70
calling her husband a deserter.
Mr.. Z. Jones; Knows the prosecuting wit
ness lived next door to her fora year; knows
her reputation for truth and veracity; II is
good as far as he knows; would believe her
under oath.
George Fust testified that he knew prose-
cutting witness for ten years, and her repu-
tatlon for truth and ycracity was good so far
as he knew.
The evidence having closed here, counsel
proceeded to argue the case at considerable
length; at the conclusion of which the Jus
tice reserved his decision until o'clock this
afternoon.
ATTEMPT To BREAK JAL.-Gen. Croker,
the warden Of the Jail, In passing through
his domain few days since, discovered q
suspicious appearance Of the prisoners In the
northeast portion of the third floor, and ac-
cordingly ordered careful examination TO
be made, which revealed the fact that hole
large enough for man to pass though had
been cut almost through the wall, in which
the old bricks had been carefully replaced
and plastered up with soap and lime. II