New-York tribune., 1874-09-11
INCIDENTS OF CLUB RULE.
FRESH COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICEMEN FOR BRUTAL
CONDUCT


CONDUCT
President Matsell heard yesterday the test
mony in five complaints against policemen charged
with matreating citizens. Only of the complaints
were Of grave nature. Morris O'Hara, plumber Of
No. 34s East Twenty hrds stated that the night Of
Aug % he sent 10 repair broken waer-pIpe In a
hotel and not able to finish the job and started for
his home before midnight. He carried his tools home
with him "a small bag While passing the corner OF
Twenty -thrdst. and Third-ave. he heard some
one calling out TO stop. He thought that the
voice was that OF mschievous person who
wished TO detan him, and accor 'ingy he did
not obey the command. Suddenly he felt weapon
descend heavily upon his left arm, and turning around
found himself face TO face with Patrolman Michael
Farley of the Eighteenth Precinct. The officer CON-
mapded him TO open bis bag He refused and threw the
bag upon the sidewalk The officer then opened the bag
aud finding that it contained workingmens tools said
that he might 90 home. lie then asked the officer for
his number The officer bent his head and allowed MIN
TO sec HE number. He then told the Onlcer tnat ne
should mako complaint against him for using the club
without provOcation. The officer then arrested him and
took him Twenty Precinct satonhouse and
there accused him of disorderly conduct He told
Sergeant Warts that the officer had struck him with
club and showed the sergeant large lump upon his left
arm The sergeant refused to take the 0fhcePs COM
laint and released him. Two days aferward surgeon
examined his arm and discovered that IL had been
broken by the blow OF the officers club.
The accused officer stated in defense that the COM
planaut was carrying bag. which he suspected con
tanned burglars tools lie did then strike oHara
with his club nor indeed at any time. Upon finding
that the bag was filed with plumbers tools he released
OHara The complainant then addressed him In very
abusive manner refused to 90 home, and he aec9rdney
arrested the man Alderman james hei{ nr
the officer did strike the prisoner WITH cluo, ana
that OIIara had confessed TO him mat he had Deen
hafo
titled that he released tho prisoner because tue com
pIapt was not sufficiently strong, and that The con-
planant showed lump the size Of hickory nut on the
LETT arm aud asserted that the oiheer had struck MN;
aiced was apparently a trivial one. and he accordingly
did not investigate the complaint iuiIIel. ihc c9h-
plant referred 10 the decision OF the Board OF 10
Bernard McEntee of No 55i West Thirteenh-s testi-
d that while walking past the corner OF Eeyenthave
| and Fftyseeond-st., July IT, he met Pdtroman John
Murphy Of the Twentysecond Precinct accompanied ny
his soninaw and deman led OF the latter the payment
OF SIS, lent year before the sonn-law refused ne
insisted upon payment, aud then Murpby, VINO was III
oaicr that an arrest for such caise woud be life gal
the officer then took out his shield put IL upon the
Iannel of his coat and ATTEMPTED to arrest him he
RESISTED arrest thinking the officer did not have the
right when he had committed 40 crime the onee t9e
asked his sonnaw to go ior ms h Ie nov % fr his cnb
the boy brought the club at this moment ne "a Sl.ns
SP s1s and lifting the cuS struck him head
with 1t the club broken IN two ne sclLed thG
officer around the waist threw him the ground, and
TOOK away his club: one OF the bystanders then ad
vised HIM TO strike the officer with the club; TINS a1
vice o take, and gave the cllo 10 ttshu
He then released the officer aud went nome; nan an
hour afterwArd the accused entered his residence,
accompapied by another officer. and arrested him ne
subseq tried in the Court OF Special session:
for alleged assault upon the oihcer anu va % @
painant pressed the claim for the money III sucn lo
tone voice that hundreds OF persons were atac,eu
to the spot fearing that there would De
he determined the man; he accordlnsy sen. %
his for his club; the complainant upon seslng ,,n
approach sprang forward aud caught hun Oy the Droa
he then struck the man with his club the complainant
by far the stronger. and threw MIN on tue am
he appealed TO the Dysanders for assistance Dut lue
all refused 10 interfere; the complainant then escipeu
but subsequently, arrested Inc iurher 1eaIms T
the case was adjourned until Thursday next 10 enaDe
| the defendant to obtain witnesses.