New-York tribune., 1870-08-08
TIE ABUSE OF THE RATON.

TO the Editor Of The TribHae.
SIR Passing along COurt-st., Brooklyn, yestsr-
day afternoon my attention called to drunken man
in the hands of the police threw himself half down,
elnging awnngpost Whenin this position with his
face upward policeman struck him fearful blow
the eve with club and ina minute his face stream
ing with blood. Two policemen then tried TO drag him
along while he struggled to get out OF their clutches hut
never so far could see, offering to strike them.
He his back his head i'm the gutter his legs upon
the sidewalk and he was holding himself by the police
mans brace, as it appeared to me In this position ms
hands wckcdly dubbed as well as his head, which
Law on the paving stones OF the gutter.
When the man was at length raised up, without any
eXaggeTatOn his face "A uniform mass Of blood AT
holding 10 6race or strip Of cloth again the policeman
dubbed his hand AT least six times in fierce and rapid
away aud had enough not to follow further HAD
the policemen been in any danger this might he excused
but the poor wretch struggled only TO get out of their
hands. have seen dubbed aud bloody men TOO 0iteh;
ANY ordinary would have sunk Immediately under
treatment and that mans head and hands must be-
at the least, seriously Injured local paper reIr1
maIicousy or by accident broke pane In showcase,
aud was taken to the saOnhouse, where he lay sense
hess on the floor till physcian dressed his wounds After
witnessing the afray, went into store across the
street where found one lady neaFy In tSep
appealed To me, on, sir! wasn't IL inufdeII AoIei
lady had also taken shelter from the street, horror
~ SG6eR i At rt he would not speak but
afterWard remarked that 1t wasn't si1e 10 say uuCh
in terrible earnest If lives Sill are IN the hands OF
such men, may the Lord have mercy ON u.s.! he finally
to arrest the man. who cnglng 10 post Inc latter
replied 10 the policeman that If lie did lie would pm
head on him." The policeman immediately SAID You
will will you g. and struck him that fearful blow on the
forehead. -,
Pm not drinking man myself, but many Of my fellow.
workingnen are, aud have frequent Instances OF
penalty persons already unfortunate by Deng
in state nOxicaiOn, and needing care rather than
maltreatmeut Last year. on Court-st, near my resi-
dence a drunken man living the sidewalk was tapped
on the head to wake him." as the policeman nalNely
stated the case. aud died from the blow. Only few
days ago smstruck man Who mad been drinking some
what whom the neighbOrs partially recupeIated by ICE
and cOd-water app SratOns, taken from the same
street and put in CELL where he died within an hour or
two Many OF our policemen seem 10 thlnk that When
man falls into their hands he ceases TO have any rights
There is general dread on the part OF the public IN re-
spect interfering in such StOrckeepcrs especially
try to keep in the good graces OF the pOlcene itls
very difficult 10 get evidence against the police Most
persons dread lest they appear against an officer an
opportnity will be sought ~ turn the tables against
them. Our police becoming bugOer to respectable
law-abidng citizens, who have no desire u become ny
interference themselves the victim OF this propensity Tor
shedding Of blood. The where the cup must
be used well the pistol are when needed III de
fense, and not Otherwsc-at least II 80 appears to
By0Okiga, Aug 4. 1870. WORKINGMAN.