National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-21
GENTLE SERGEANT LEACH.
TENDER DEALING Wfra a RoUeH
AND DESPERADO

A Prisoner Permitted 10 Dictate Terms Of
Arrest-which Was II, Cowardice or Fa-
vorttism Infants, the Rowdy, . Fsvorite
at Headquarters.
Many persons who witnessed tho arrest Of
Mantz, on Pennsylvania avenue, Tuesday
night, during the excitement caused by q
cutting affair, have commented severely upon
the conduct Of some Of the police officers who
were present. The following Is portion Of q
communication sent to this Office yesterday
over the initials Of J. h. NJ;
The arrest Of George Manu Ia notorious desper.
ado al late hour last night for cutting three diff
ierent PERSONS aud badly manning Ohicer Dunni.
gan with billy, and the truly cowardly manner
IN which his arrest was accomplished by Sergeant
Leach, Ia positive proof that the chronic law.
breaker thief or murderer Is more respected BY
break the law seldom and through unintentional
motives The cowardice displayed by Leach last
night demands his immediate expulsion from the
force and Il IL 10 be hoped that the commissioners
.Aficr Dunnigan had been Knocked down by a
blow from billy In the hands Of Mantz, Sergeant
Leach, with other oiicers, came TO the rescue but
unlike the courage he displayed at the arrest Of
club which 10 had wrenched from The hands Of
Dunnigan while almost In an unconscious state
and knowing the desperate character OF the man
coward than q corpse" and instead Of using his
superior strength To- secure his arrest, he bcseech-
insly rsquesed hin to tnI,ender y which MS i
privilege Of carrying Ia the station house his trophy
81 Sictory-the club wrenched nom the hands OF
Dunnignn. Leach rtantcd the privilege, and the
wurriur was marched 10 the station house uncon.
lnercd while the phicky Scrrcants brother Officer
has IL accompany them minus MS club, and feel
as degraded as Turkish soldier after losing his
Crescent colors.
An investigation Of the matter shows that
the writer, j. II. NJ, is pretty nearly correct.
Mantz was not arrested for cutting anybody.
Officer Dnnnigan first put him under arrest
for profanity, aud, after Mantz made the as
saut upon him, preferred the charge Of assault
and battery. Dunnigan fought Mantz nobly,
and would, doubtlcsSly, have overcome him II
il had not been for the crowd, which did much
to prevent the officer from using his strength,
and aiding Mantz.
After Mantz got possession Of Dunnigan's
baton he dcfed all the officers for time, but
gave himself in charge Of Leach finally, though
he would not surrender Dunnigan's baton.
Leach's conduct In allowing Mantz to keep the
baton, after he was under arrest, notwithstand-
ing the protest Of the wounded Dunnigan, was
very unbeComing, and indicated either cow
arlce or u decided favoritism In respect to
Mantz. The Sergeant would neither take the
billy from Mantz nor allow Dunnigan to do II.
Duninean was obliged to go to the station
in order to recover his badge Of Office from the
hands Of the prisoner, who rightfully be-
l0nred 10 him. Al the station Duningan
publicly blamed Leach for the transaction,
and accused him and the other officers Of not
rendering assistance In his struggle with
Mantz.
From the time that Mantz was arrested
until he was locked up he was treated by
Leach with respect, which is seldom accorded
phi soner In the hands Of the police, and
which, when extended to notorious charsc-
ter guilty Of q murderous assault upon a
brother officer, seems remarkable. 1t is a ft
subject to be inquired into by the Police
Board The action Of the Sergeant can be at
tributed only to cowardice or personal favorit-
ism, either Of which motives ought to disqualify
him as police officer.
Although Nantes character Is well known,
he Is on most intimate terms with the officials
at police headquarters, and is constant visitor
at that place. He appears to have more ready
access 10 the superior officers Of the force than
any other citizen. and chums In with the de-
tectives. II is said no acts as middle man
between the detectives and criminals. Such
being the case, there is little reason to wonder
why Sergeant Leach, In his zeal to please his
superiors, allowed Mantz to beat q police OH
Ger and then treated him with such kid
gloyed consideration.