The New York herald., 1877-02-16
THE PUGILElC POLICEMAN.
Examination Of Sergeant Thompson at the
Tymbs Police Court Yesterday.
Witnesses Who Saw and Witnesses Who
Were Blind.
THE SERGEANT HELD

yostcruay'5 HERALD, appeared AZ the iouos loiico
Court yesterday morning prisoner to answer the
charge OF assault and battery on the person OF the
aborer Michael Cannon. Tho court room was we'll
filled with lawyers citizens interested in tho
all curious to hear the defence to be put
forward by the accused. Representing the Board
OF Police were Counsellor Charles +. Mclean
and Inspector Thorne, OF tho FIRST district both OF
whom occupied seats on tho bench. stcnographer
from the Central Olco also present taking notes.
The prisoner dressed in fu. uniform, and stood by
the side OF his counsel Mr. Oliver, eagerly catching
every word Of testimony offered. In appearance Ser
gcant Thompson is about ly years Of age, Of sturdy
frame with black hair and full beard, tinged with
gray. His services in the department extend over
period Of many years. and in Justice TO him, must
be said that his record officer has hitherto been
good.
The complainant Michael Cannon. whose namo
yesterday erroueously given as OHarran is middle
aged and lair type of the average Milesian la.
borcr The left side OF his face was considerably swol
len aud three four cuts near tho eye bore ncontro
vertiblo evidence of tho sergeants brutality. He
watched the proceedings with interest, evidently ap
precatiug the wholesome lesson the fact OF his beating
had impaired to the police.
SERGEANT THOMPSON BAH.
The testimony against the accused was strong and
positive and Mr. Andrews evidence OF the day pre-
without accommodating witnesses whose eyes wero
opened all OF the transaction except the pugllisc
scenc. When this occurred, they relIgously
cupcd In gazing elseswhere Notwithstanding their
numerical strength Judge Kilbreth decided that there
evidence sufi0ient 10 hold the sergeant IN $500
bail to answer at the General Sessions.
The proceedings opened by Mr. Andrews again TAX
ing the stand and submitting to cross-examnation BY
the prisoners counsel. The witness went ovcr tho
details narratng tho disgracefui exhibition with oven
vividness than the day previous. He described
Thompson rst appeared. Cannon was simply foolishly
drunk; The sergeant caught HIM by the collar, and
the face, which Knocked HIM 10 the pavement
Then, jerking him TO his feet, the muscular policeman
again planted blow or the drunken mans face. caus-
ing him fail for The second time. His brutal kicking
OF the PROSTATE man and the aters subsequent arrest
also gone into as on the first day The cross
examination tended only to make tho case OF assault
coRRoBoRATlxG EVIDENCE.
Isaac n Hebbard, doing business at No. Is Murray
street. Of the spectators who his address 10
Mr. Andrews and denounced tie assault outrage,
next took the stand aud testified that lie was walking
along Park row at about five O'Clock Tuesday
ing, when his attention attracted by crowd;
Cannon standing the heaa of horses attached to
Fourth avenue car, holding the rens; he
appeared to be intoxcated the conductor ordered him
away, and when he refused to leave called Sergeant
Thompson, who was passing by; tho sergeant seized
Cannon by the collar and struck HIM full IN tho face
with his cenched fist; the man fell 10 the ground
struck him powerful blow in the face; the sergeant
then ordered the man 10 move on threatening he did
resistance on the part of Cannon.
Henry f. Herkener Of No PIG West Fifteenth street,
tesu1ed that he saw Cannon standing on the railroad
track holding reins OF the horses attached the
Fourth avenue saw the Sergeant rush up and seize
him by the collar; no words passed between them;
the Sergeant struck the prisoner in the face with his
fist forcbiy that the man lell fiat his back; the
Sergeant pulled him up and again Knocked HIM down
by a blow IN the face, the witness the Sergeant
strike the man three different with his clenched
hand, each time with much force.
UNPLEASANT FOR MR.. KBYEs
Tbc Vt vi coi iOd WINS "A Row Of
No 81 Bleeckcr street, whose testimony caused no
little sensation. Every person understood that Mr..
address to Mr.. Andrews to appear Witnesses in
he should prosecute, yet tho witness that he did
not the Sergeant strike the man. Cannon, he said,
very disordcrly stopping tho street car and re-
.fusing TO move away. The Sergeant merely pushed
him, and his tall was due to hisdrunkenncss and not to
violence on the part OF tho poccman
Counsellor Andrews listened TO tho witness, asonish
mcnt depicted IN every feature. Then he undertook
"Dld you not SEQ the Sergeant strike the man Can.
non with his istg"
''No, sir"
ssDid you sec me on the occasion?"
81 did,"
sDid you not say 10 me then that was gross out.
rnge for the Sergeant TO strike in such brutal
manner and that you would willingly appear as wit
IN case would undertake to bring the officer to
justcc?"
The witness boldly denied having made any such
statement
Mr.. Andrews here turned 10 the Court and said IL
shall have to also ask warrant for the OF this
witness on the charge Of PERJURY, ana shall produce
witnesses who heard the conversation alluded to'
Judge kbreth remarked that that matter could be
attended to alter the proceedings against the Sergeant
had been concluded, and u would not be lost sight Of
The case was then adjourned until afternoon when
Mr.. Thomas Macw atcrs, a gentleman connected with
the National Democratic Committee, who In the
company OF Mr. Andrews on the occasion Of the as
eault took tho stand and testified that he Cannon
standing the horses In the middle OF the street.
a crowd had gathered around, when the Sergeant
rushed over and struck the man In tho face knocking
him on his back; he then pulled hum up and again
struck him in the face, knocking him down the Sec
ond time persons looking on cried out "Oh, shame ~
but the Sergeant renewed his assault; witness was
positive that Cannon offered no resistance whatevor
THE sERGEANr's DErENCK.
Tho FIRST witness for the defence John Irwin
conductor OF the car who swore to having elected
Cannon because he was drunk: Cannon went to The
horses head, and caught hold Of the rcns; witness
called Sergeant Thompson, who merely pushed the
drunken away; the latter tell 10 the ground; the
Sergeant did not strike hm. but Cannon, the con-
trary, attempted 10 strike the sergeant On cross
examination the witness admitted that CannOn's at
templ 10 strike was a wave OF the hand and that tho
Sergeant at the time so far away that tho drunken
Tnan could not possibly strike him.
Patrick Donney, the car driver, corroborated him
of the bell punch he really did not the Sergeant
strike the man.
Patrick Finnegan, Of Pear street, also avowed gnor.
nnce OF the Sergeanps blows but II transpred that his
knowledge OF the matter EXTENDED only TO seeing tho
crowd.
Sergeant Taylor OF the Fourth precinct, swore that
the prisoner dsordcrly in the station house when
brought in by Sergeant Thompson. Witness admitted
that Cannons face had scratches" on 1t.
Tho prisoner took tho stand IN his own behalf aud
testified that he merely pushed Cannon; no did not
strike him at all
Judge Kbreth then stated that he should hold
Sergeant Thompson In $500 bail to in the Cou
OF General Sessions and the prisoner was parolcd
until to-day, when he wlIgivc bail.
NICE CAPTAIN.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:--
As citizen allow me to express my qualification at
tho action of Mr.. Andrews in pursuing the brutal
police sergeant who outragcousy assaulted the two
inen Park row. Mombors OF tho police force too
frequently permit their rowdy propensites full swing
relying on tho official uniform to shield them from
punishment and the comparative hoplessness Of their
prisoners to prevent retaliation II Is tho habit OF
more than one police captain In this city to matrcat
the persons falling into their clutches week or two
ago captain knocked down the pavement and
brutally kicked In the side ana face an individual