New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-01
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE LONDON POLICE.
HOW TIE FORCE is MANAGED.

ARREST OF cor. FRASER or THE LIFE GUARDS.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBuftJ
LONDON Nov. T6.-The recent case at the ArPyii
Rooms has been followed by food Of revelations ~
to the character OF some Of the London, or moro
properly Metropolitan Poce-reveatiOns damaging
enough to impair the reputation of the whole force
unless the officers of it succeed IN freeing IL from
black sheep. 1t was an unucky moment Tor the
police when they took il into their heads TO make an
example of Col. Fraser and his brother officers OF
the LIST Life Guards. Two days' investi-
cation of that case before magistrate
brought out a most singular state Of facts
Col Fraser and his friends had gone to the Argyll
Rooms-a dancing casino and not precisely the place
at which gentleman in Col Fraser's position cares
to be heard Of The entrance Is narrow, there was
some obstruction or crowding, and the boX-keeper
called on the police to clear the passage Their
story that they were resisted violently and
obliged TO take Col Fraser and the rest Intocus-
tody and that all the gentlemen drunk. The
gentlemen proved beyond cavil that they were per
fecty sober and Col Frasers account Of the scutfe
that they suddenly and savagey attacked
by the police and carried off unresisting he himself
ordering his officers their colonel, not 10
strike the police and that their real oiense iu
taking the numbers of the cOnstables TO identity
them. In revenge for this. the violence
tinued after Col Fraser and the Others in
custody, and they even beaten in the police
station. Improbable as such story seems the mag
israte declared himself satisfied of its truth and tho
public is of the same opinion. 1t follows that the
constables had been guilty not only of an unpro-
voked assault but of subsequent perjury. The DO
lice authorities are understood to be investigating
the case, but nothing is yet known OF the result Of
their deliberations.
Meantime other cases are coming to light tho
of
Mr.. Belt tells us that when walking home, ID the
afternoon, week or two since, he was roughly
pushed against by two men, He resented it, and
the point of striking them with his umbrella,
but thought better Of it, and used that certainly
not deadly weapon to attract the notice OF passing
policeman, whom be requested TO take the names
and addresses of the two The policeman re-
fused aud threatened to take Mr. Belt himself into
custody if he did not leave. l grieye to say that
this constable bears the of George Washington.
The fact that he is also known + 368 will, how
ever prevent any historical confusion in case
the date and place of this occurrence should be
disputed. As Mr.. Belt would not 90 away, but
pressed his demand E. SS8 suddenly accused him of
being drunk, seized him, dragged him off to the
station, and charged him with drunkenness and dis
orderly conduct, to which q charge of assault was
afterWard added, on the ground that Mr.. Belt
resisted being orcibly thrust into the dock TO which
he was walking His request to communicate with
his friends granted after some hours delay but
he was not allowed to send for physician to
whether he was drunk not. Then he shut
up in the drunkards cell till $780, at which time his
repeated demand that an inspector should be seut
for acceded to, and he released on his re-
cognizances to appear at Bow-st On being brought
up for trial, he discharged; the magistrate say
ing that neither charge could be maintained though
the swearing Of the constabes was positive, and
mnding Mr.. Belt that he had legal remedy for tho
injury he had suffered.
Still another case shows how serious an offense tho
police consider it to interfere between them and
their victims above all, if anybody attempts TO
"take their number" A. G. Z. relates how he with
others followed body of police to the station to
protest against the unnecessary and brutal violence
they had displayed They were refused admission.
gentleman in the crowd said TO his friend, LET
us take their numbers" Instantly he was seized by
the collar and dragged into the station On inqur-
ing A. G. 2. found he knew the young gentleman's
father and determined TO bail him. To gain entrance
then into the station was impossible without expos
ing himself to be charged with some offerse, 80 he
drove to Scotland Yard, the Police Headquarters,
and stated his case, and assured he had right
to 90 ir and was not drunk. Returning, he carried
his point. But A. G. p. being unable to attend at
the court next morning, the police stuck TO their
charge, and had their man fined.
The most extraordinary instance Of all is 10 come.
B. II. saw taken into custody, followed the
crowd, and few minutes later friend Of the
prisoner, for attempting to speak 10 him. vio-
lently assaulted and arrested. Indignant he
panied the party to the Bowst. station not speaking
"a word or moving hand for either prisoner. The
police being ignorant Of his purpose, he got into the
station waited till the glass breaking case had been
entered by the sergeant, and then made his COM
plant of violence the part Of the officer What
was B. HIS dismay to hear him respond, 81 charge
you with attempted rescue" They seem to be equal
to any emergency, these police officers. The
crowd, meanwhile had melted away, and
there was b. IL. without a single witness
in his behalf. A sergeant good enough TO al
wise him to withdraw his charge and b. H., fearing
scandal and compromise of his position az a pro-
fessional man. consented The sergeant on his part
promised that the officer should be reprimanded,
but it was not done and b. H. is tolerably confident
that his muscular friend still hits people the head
when such ia his sovereign will, and is ready al
ever to bear out such pleasantries on oath. He
assures us that he left Bowst. sadder and wiser
man, with the fixed determination never to medde
with the police again, should he be the unwill-
ing witness of the murder Of some poor fellow
countryman.
apprehend that there is one Of the dangers and
mischefs of such O state of things. Few people
will care to take the risk of interfering let police
man do what he may. IL is their knowledge of this
unwillingness which embodens them TO treat prs-
oners with cruelty. But the case OF Col. Fraser,
followed by the statement Of 80 many Others, has
reused unusual attention. and the newspapers ara
calling for inquiry and reform. one OF them warns
act with vigor, Royal Commission may intervene.
There is fear no doubt that the force has detero-
rated OF late years Col Henderson, it's chief is an
able man, but so strongly attached to military Gus
toms that no has impaired the elasticity of the force.