New-York tribune., 1874-07-31
POLICE BRUTALITY DEPRECATED.

COMPLAINTS OF CIVILIANS AGAINST OFFICERS OF
THE FORCE.
Commissioner Disbecker heard yesterday
the testimony regard TO several complaints made by
civilians that they had been lll-treated by policemen
Aohillc Martinel OF No. So suhvanst testified that
Patrolman Austin Kenny OF the Eighth Precinct ar
rested man in Of his home, aud then ordered him
10 20 in the house He refused TO obey the command
and the officer then struck him on the back with his
club The officer then went TO the sationhouse with
the prisoner who made a complaint against the oncer
the following day before the superintendent OF Police
A week passed and then the officer engaged him In
conversation and arrested him without cause
on q charge Of disorderly conduct. He was
taken to the jefferson Market Police Court, where
the magistrate dismissed the complaint. The COM
pantan also stated that that morning. while gathering
wltnesses he passed by the corner OF Grand and
snlhyan-sts and there the officer in civilians
dress talking TO several coored men, The officer nodded
his head toward him he passed, and two of the COL
pred men thereupon followed him around the corner
and without provocaton assaulted and severely beat
him. The officer did not interfere.
The officer in said that the complainant had
attempted to stab him the first OCCASION and that he
had arrested the he thought Justly for dsordery
conduct on the second occasion He had not told the
eoored men to attack Marunelh; had not witnessed
the assault and therefore did not arrest the assaants
The complaint referred 10 the Board. There are
two other complaints of similar nature against TINS
officer.
Sergeant HOlhrOw Of the Fifteenth Precinct Police tes-
hned that Patrolman Raymond was brought into the
Mercer-st station-house intoxicated. The officer ac-
knowledced OF the charge and said IN
that he taken sck at Ds hOme before going on dny
and had swallowed half a tumbler OF brandy as med
Tie complaint was referred TO the Board.
James Dunn, cdr-drlyer OF the East Broadway ana
Dry Dock Railroad Company, asserted that Paroman
Thomas Madden OF the Thirteenth Precinct had dubbed
him without prOvocaOn, He testified that LIS car ran
N the track Thirty-seCOnGst. and Frst-ave. The
officer, who passenger, came Oat upon the front
platform and ordered him 10 wAp the horses ana
the upon the trace He told the officer that he
wished to lift the the track, and noe iniure II
Oy dragging the tracks. He then endeayOred 70
int the car did not have enough strength. The ofl
.er then compelled him drive The car after being
ragged for two blocks got upon the track once
more. lie rad then Ieprcached the officer for comps
ing Inn drive The ohccr became enraged called
OpprobrUus names, aud at last struck hn ON the
with his club, lnil4ctns severe luJiTy.
The GER defense, sid that the ear was IN such
position that IL b0ckadcd several railway lines aud he
therefore compelled the driver 10 go ahead lie Denied
having struck the defendant. Ia, complaint was re-
erred 10 the Board. As the Othcer ana carman were
eavIng the court room the former uttered threats
against the latter Commissioner D.s5eeker called tue
back; had the threatening words uttered by inc
,fCer entered upon the minutes, and told hun tnat II
;he remaining members OF tue Board OF Police were
present would probably be dismissed from The De-
)artment before he could leave the room.