The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-05
ARREST OF RICHMOND DRUMMER

ARREST OF RICHMOND DRUMMER
MOST OUTRAGEOUS AND UNCALLED FOR AS
sAULT BY POLICEMAN.-On last Saturda
evening about 6 o'clock, whilst Mr.. Franz
Rahm. of Richmond, who represents the fur
niture houses of J. H. Nudge, Cincinnati, Cum
minis, Boston, and G. P. Stacy, Richmond, Wi
engaged in conversation with Mr.. j. A. Bickle
OF the firm of J. A. & Y. NJ. Bckle, Policeman
Gregory called Mr.. Y. NJ. Bickle aside ant
asked who the stranger was and what was Iii
business. Mr.. Bickle replied that he was sales
man for the houses above named. Gregory
then asked if he had license; Mr.. B. ans werel
that he thought he had, otherwise, he woull
not have purchased from him. Gregory came
out, called Rahm into the room and demanded
his license, but did not show his badge. Rahm
asked by what authority he so demanded. and
Gregory replied that no authority was required
in such case, and that lie would arrest him
and take him before the Mayor. Upon being
told that he would be arrested, Ral,m said, 81
don't want to- give yon any trouble" and
reached his hand in the breast pocket of his
coat for the purpose of procuring the papers,
when Gregory, thinking that he was after pis-
toll. seized him and had his shirt e 81 torn off by
Rahm. The policeman and his brother Mich
olas Gregory, then closed in, and with the as
sistance of pair Of nippers, after hard t,ls-
sic, in which Mich. Gregory struck Rahm Sc
we're blow on the forehead, threw their antago-
mist on the floor, and when he was down one
OF them cclared and choked him. Mr.. Bickle
then told the policeman that the man had prop
or license, and that all he wanted was an OPP
portunty to show them, and Gregory replied
that it was too late and he must be taken be-
fore the Mayor.
Rahm was marched down street to the Sher-
ifs office, and Justice Cease, after hearing the
evidence, fined the prisoner $500
These ara the plain facts OF the case and have
been obtained from eye witnesses, who are
men standing as high as any in the commune
ty, and who pronounce the assault as most I'M
called for and uniustitiable. Had Gregory
stepped up to the stranger, and showing his
badge, asked for his license, the man would
have produced them without any hesitation, as
he knew very well tina. the law required it, but
instead of doing that he co. demanded the IL
censc and when asked for authority, replied
| that none was needed, whilst he could have
pulled back the lapel Of his coat, disclosed his
badge, and no difficulty would have ensned.-
We venture to say that no other policeman on
the force would have COTTON into any trouble.
Gregory seems to have a particular talent for
engaging in row with almost every man he
| attempts to arrest. Whether it is his fault or
misfortune, we cannot say, but we do say he is
not the proper person for policeman.
The circumstances Of the arrest were the
most aggravating. The fact that man who
pretends to administer justice, with the evil
dence before him, which correspondent substan-
TALLY with the facts given above, should have
found the prisoner guilty, is blushing COM
mentary OH our municipal government and
demonstrates a woeful want of competency on
the part of those whom the people hive chosen
to deal justly between the offender and the
| law.
Unfortunately the Council cannot relieve the
city of more than one Of these officials, who
have no idea Of the limit Of their authority, but
we express the sentiments of over two-thirds
Of the citizens in saying that it should act to the
full extent of its power. If a stranger cannot
come within the town without being subjected
| to insult and injury we think it time to build
chinese wall and forbid all to enter. Only the
other day merchant from Cincinnati was ar
rested for placing goods with our dealers for
sale on commission, and although no proof
was produced against him at the trial before
the magistrate, he was detained and made to
give $500 security for his appearance. 1t is a
reflection upon the city that young Rahm, who
| isagentleman, and the son of one of Richmond's
most respected citizens, and who came here
provided with all legal authority for the trans
action of his business, should have been so
.unjustly assaulted and then fined, for no Of
| fence against the law, but because he would
not submit to being bullied by man whom
he had no means of knowing was an officer of
the city, and FROM whose conduct he would
certainly have not inferred it.
| We have no personal ends to crafty in wri-
ting this, and would not know young Rahm if
we met him. Both II. P. Cease and Chas. N.
Gregory have always treated us witch respect,
but we believe it will do the city the greatest
injury il some steps are not taken to put stop
to this miscellaneous arresting without offence,
and maladministration of justice.
| HARRIsONBURG is beginning to feel herself
There is an evident disposition on the part of
the citizens to spread themselves, in anticipa-
ton of various suggested improvements of con-
siderable magnitude. The unceasing efforts
Of the management of the Narrow Gauge rail-
road to get the track to the Dora Coal Mines
ready for the rail, the projected furnaces at the
mines for the manufacture of iron, the buzz in
relation to the railroad from Harrisonturg to
Rawley Springs, and thence on to the intersec-
ton of the Pittsburgh and Charleston, w. Va,
at or near Beverly, in Randolph county, the
proposed water works, by the artesian well
system, with various minor entcrprises-taken
all together, are calculated to create sort Of
fluttering in the community, that may crystal.
ize into something Of tangible Importance
There is no doubt that there are vast deposits
Of mineral wealth in the direction of the pre-
posed railroads, and if the means can be pro-
cured to undertake the construction and COM
pletion of the two lines suggested, Harrison
burg must become the centre OF rich trade,
and increase in population and wealth, at no