The New York herald., 1874-09-03

A Helpless Drunken Man Outrageously
Cluhbed md Kicked by "a Bully in


A Helpless Drunken Man Outra geOusly
Cluhbed and Kicked by a Bully in
Uniform.
At about seven O'Clock last night rumor
reached the HERALD otiice that a policeman mad
brutally clubbed a man almost TO death at the cor
ner OF Fifty fifth street and Sixth avenue a little
while previous A reporter was instantly de-
spatched TO the scene and there found ex cited
little knots OF residents OF the locality discussing
the outrage and vehemently denouncing the un-
called Tor brutality on the part OF the officer. on
the arrival OF tue HERALD representative each
clamored vocierousy to testify, out selecting .
Few OF the most respectable and better known the
reporter took tue following testimony
Jacob Esten, tailor, Of No. 9S4 Sixth avenue,
said, ntally:-l standing In my door,
way at little alter slX O'Clock this evening when
l noticed Il man In an empty DIRT cart driving
slowly down Sixth avenue. He was sitting on a
small board. placed across the wagon and as he
came opposite my door the board slipped and he
fell TO the bottom OF his cart. 1 Thought at the
time he was intoxicated. mounted policeman,
who riding by, the teamster fall, and,
jumping from has horse, came up and ordered the
driver III grur tone to move on. The man made
no reply, but, picking himself up, continued on his
journey. The policeman then Jumped into the
wagon, ana attempted 20 take the reins from
his hands. Tue driver refused 10 give them
up whereup0n the officer snatched them with
one hand while wlth the other he caught the man
by the throat and threw niui down. The severe
pulling at tine DIT by the policeman caused the
horse TO stumble and iall. Then the o1icer,
glectlng the fallen animal, jerked the man. VINO |
could see was very drunk, frUm the cart to the
street and commanded him TO lie still. But the
man attempting TO rise, the officer Jumped upon
his chest and kicked him in the ribs three iour
times with his heavy boots and, not satisfied with
that, struck him first on the arms, then on the
legs and again over the head several times with
his club. ran TO the policeman ana begged nm
Tor GODS sake TO desst, but he turned on me and
passionatey threatened to serve me In the same
manner II interlered. l witnessed the entire
occurrence and viii! make atiidavit that the cart
man did nothing 10 provoke the assault lie
quietly driving along and was in no manner dls.
orderly
John Faber. the proprietor OF the drug store,
corner OF Fhty-nfth street and Sixth avenue said,
was sitting in my store at about quarter past
O'Clock when noticed II crowd collecting on the
street and rushed out 10 see what the matter
was there witnessed burly policeman jump
ing on the breast OF man who was lying IN tue
street. the man was groaning and attempting to
rise. The onlcer seemed greatly excited and
kicked KICK oa. him ire repeatedly 10 the SIDE; he
several times with his club uni, the blood lowed
prolusely and the man ceased TO resist being
apparently unconscious Several gentlemen pres
ent, myself among the number, protested but
the policeman replied savagely that he wanted no
interference From what saw not the slightest
say that the exhibition OF brutality displayed was
sickening.
his views as iollows:-At ten minutes alter SIX
O'Clock was called upon by some gentlemen VINO
stated tnat u man was DelnE pOuuuei W ueatH Wy
a policeman at the corner OF Fifty-hith street ana
Sixth avenue, and who asked me Tor mercy's
sake to go there and interfere. l rushed TO the
scene and saw an officer beating man
who was lying in the street over the head
and arms with his club. | reconstructed
but received u vicious rcjolnder 10 mind
my own business. In q little While the BRUTE no.
ticng the man was unconscious, ceased using his
billy and lifting the PROSTATE etoh, threw him
into cart that standing by, III about the same
manner that butcher would throw slaughtered
hog, and OF to the FlIty ninth street station
house. Such barbarous, hendisn act OF cruelty
never witnessed, and mean To bring 1t TO the at
tenton Of the Board OF Commissioners OF Police
the first thing in the morning.
THE P0LICEkAN'S STORY.
At least dozen more eye-witnesses fully cor.
roborated the above statements; but, desirous OF
ascertaining both sides OF the story, the repor
fastened to the Nineteenth precinct station house
and there obtained from the Sergeant In charge
the version OF the policeman, whose name Is
Thomas ]. Cromie, member OF the Mounted
Squad The ofIicer stated that the man was
grossly intoxicated and refused to deliver
up the sreins to him (the ofncer),
who felt 1t his duty to arrest him.
He was therefore obliged to use force which ho
| did by knocking him down. when the drunken
man kicked HIM. then ne used mis- club, but ne
dressed the wounds of the injured man ana pro. pro-
| nounced them not angerous. The victims nane
| II Michael Campbell. He Is forty-nve years Oh aye
| and resides AT No 26l West Thrty.'Dlrd street,
and Is cart driver nv occupation.