The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-02
A DAsTARDLY OUTRAGE.

0Eccentrfcfties" of a Drunken Police.
man-Brutal and Unprovoked Assault
On q Citizen-The Shield as an Often
sive Weapon.
About eight O'Clock on Sunday evening Anthony
Ruck, a butcher living at No. 5 Bond street. Brook
Ign, and three German friends from No. 2 Green
witch street. were coming up Broadway from the
Battery and when near Trinity church saw two men
and woman fighting on the sidewalk. The party
halted to see how the affair was progressing and
how it would terminate, when suddenly one of the
men broke from the other and, together
with the woman, ran of. Ruck and his friends
started on again up the street. when the
begerent party, 10 whom the field had
been left clear, approached them and
declared his intention OF arresting Ruck. Ruck
said that as he had not committed any offence he
would not be arrested, but when the party
nOunced himself as officer Durham, of the Twenty
seventh precinct he said he was willing to go any
where with him. At this point Ofthe conversation
Durham, it is alleged, who was in civilians
dress, commenced most brutal assault on
Ruck, striking him with, his shield, which
he held In his hand, and cutting his head,
face and neck in shameful manner. Ruck's
friends attempted to demonstrate with the O1icer,
which only seemed to increase his anger and bru-
taty for he at once began striking and kicking In
discriminatory at every one within reach. James
Kildane, the janitor of II Liberty street. received
severe cut on the left side OF the face from the
shield. George Guttenson, of No. 2 Greenwich
street, was kicked in the abdomen and
nVc or SIX parties received Oh more
or less serious character. Oncer Sharon, of the
First precinct, came up, but instead of needing the
entreaties of the crowd OF persons who had gath
cred around, and who urged him to arrest Durham,
he, at the request Of that Individual seized hold Of
Ruck and with the two started for the Twenty-sev-
enth precinct station house. About this time
Roundsman Gilbert, OF the First precinct came on
the scene, some Of the citizens having gone to the
station house and requested assistance, and de-
manded to know what the matter was. Durham
exhibited his shield, which he still held In his
right hand and replied that Ruck had assaulted MN
and he was trying to take him to the station house.
Surprising such was the case Gilbert allowed the
two-Durham and Sharon-to proceed but scarcely
had they gone five steps when Durham again COM
menced striking Ruck In the face and about the
head. Not content with this he turned around and
kicked citizen who was walking close behind, put
who had not sad one word to him or In fact, 10
any one else. The crowd now became furious and
demanded that Gilbert arrest Durham. This was at
last DONE although not without considerable dlill.
Guilty. and another roundsman OF the First precinct
coming up, both Ruck and Durham were taken to
the station house. Since the latter declared pos
itivey that Ruck had first assaulted him, tine
sergeant was compelled to lock him up as wen as
the ofilcer (DurhaIn)
AS soon as the officers reached the station house
with their prisoners a crowd of at least three nun
dred persons gathered around the door, very many
OF whom requested to be admitted so that tney
might give their names and residences WIN u view
to appearing as witnesses when the trial comes OH
Yesterday morning Ruck and Durham were tak M,n
before Judge Hogan at the Tombs Police Court. HIS
Honor first heard the latters version OF .ne anasr
and then gave Ruck chance to tell ms story,
which was substantially as given above anu ~hich
was c0rrObOrated by eight or ten witnesses
II appears, said Judge Hogan, 'that ruinanism Is
not confined exclusively to the lower classes OF our
citizens but permeates the police Iorce as wen.
Durham, shall require you to give Dali IN the sum
Of ST. 900 to answer this charge"
The bail was not forthcoming and the prisoner
was locked up. Before the examination Omcer
the afSir, sent in bis resignation 70 the Commits
al0neraA