The Portland daily press., 1877-10-01
APolice Investigation,

assault upon small boy. The charge was
made in the following language:
1t appears that Hanson had arrested small
lad and was taking him to the station and
when passing the corner of Union and Fore
streets, quite number of boys had collected.
nearest boy fearful blow which doubled the
little fellow up in an instant, and he fell faint
ing in the street. The lads mother was soon
by her child's side, and on removing his jacket
and shirt, livid ridge, the size of mans
wrist, reaching entirely across the boys back
just under the shoulder blades was found At
a late hour last evening, in the opinion of DIR.
Merrill, it was matter of doubt of the child,s
ever getting over the effects of that brutal
blow. The child could not sleep, and every
thing he ate was instantly rejected by the
stomach
Officer Hanson, while admitting that in en-
deavoring to disperse the crowd he unintep
tionally struck the boy, d2nied that he was
seriously hurt and asked for an immediate in
vestigation. In accordance with this request
the Mayor called a special meeting of the
Board of Aldermen at 4 o'clock Saturday, at
which testimony in.(regard to the affair was
presented.
In opening the meeting of the board Mayor
Butler stated that complaint had been made
against Officer Hanson, who had asked for an
investigation, ard he had called the investiga-
ton for the purpose of hearing the testimony
in the case. He said he would send for any
one who knew about the case.
Mr.. Cunningham said that he was passing
along Fore street Friday afternoon and saw a
crowd collected. He Inquired what the trouble
was, when a woman showed him this boys
back, which exhibited black and blue stripe.
He called the attention of the city marshal to
the matter, who said it was ''too bad", and he
also spoke to the mayor about it, and called
upon DR.. Merrill. Three men, Grant, Lana
gan and Parmalee, said they were ready to
testify regarding the injuries, but he did not
see them inflicted himself
The mayor accordingly sent for DR.. Merrill
and Messrs. flanagan and Graut. Drs Brooks
and Bray, who were present with tie boy, I'M
dressed him and exhibited slight mark on
the back, which he said was not at all sore.
Officer Hanson said he had arrested boy
for stealing a whip, and stopped to talk with
the man from whom the property had been
taken, in regard to the matter The boys
crowded around, and he attempted; to drive
them away. They did not move on, and so he
struck at them with his cane and hit this boy.
He visited the mother who did not seem dis
posed to make any trouble about the matter,
but others advised her to do so. and said it
would be good time to getrid of him, HAN
son.
Officer Miles corroborated.Mr. Hanson's ac-
count Of the affair." The mother said she did
not know who sent for the doctor, but was adj
vised to prosecute to get rid of the officer
DIR. Bray said that the injury was of no
consequence; if dangerous would have grown
worse. The mother told him that the bow had
been run over some time previously.
DR.. Brooks said he mother did not blame
the officer, and thought he did not intend to
strike her son but larger boy. He could find
no trouble with the boy. although the mother
said he had vomited and had a bad darrhea;
but it could not have resulted from this cause.
Did not think it was necessary to send for a
physician.
DIR. Merrill stated that he saw the child
about o'clock and examined him. Found
red spot on his arm and one on the back which
he measured and found to be four inches in
length. Did not think the child was much
hurt; did not prescribe anything; made no
statement that he thought the child was likely
to die. The stripe was not swollen, but quite
red. Thought it would take quite severe
blow to produce such an injury. He visited
the child at the request of Mr.. Cunningham.
Mr.. Grant, who had arrived, was next called.
He thought the blow was hard lone and was
uncalled for. There was no disturbance, and
didn't think there were more than half-a-dozen
boys in the party. Hanson struck the boy first
and then told the crowd to get out of the way.
Is not acquainted with the mother The boy
went across the street and fell on the sidewalk
from the effect of the blow. Can't swear that
this was the boy, but know it was some boy
Didn't hear Hanson's conversation with the
man be was talking with, but thought be
should have heard him if he had told the
crowd to disperse.
Frank flanagan was the next witness. He
said Hanson Preached out to strike the boy"
Saw him cross the street and fall. Hanson was
followed across the street by two or three boys
The boy fell down and began to cry. L was
attracted to the scene by seeing people running.
Never saw the boy before in my life; did not
know him, nor the mother Called to-day to
see how the boy was. Hanson was there and
down on his knees.
At this point Hanson said that the statement
that he was on his knees was false, and Lana
gan concluded that he was not on his knees
but sitting on a chair. The witness said he had
no grudge against Hanson, and no motive to
injure him. Have made complaints against
other officers.
OhiCCA iIohsoh pDCu budt uO uOG
deny striking the boy and causing the mark on
his back, but he did not intend to hit him.
The blow was intended for larger boy, who
refused to move when ordered to do go. What
he did deny was that there was "a ridge as
large as mans wrist" on the boys back as a
result. There has been much complaint of
disorderly conduct on the part of the boys in
that section, and people are frequently in
suited.
Alderman Cunningham moved that the
matter be referred to the Committee on Police,
with power to act in the premises, which was
seconded and adopted, and the hearing closed
Alderman Cunningham then called the
attention of the Board to an item in last
Mondays PRESS, charging another officer with
maltreating prisoner. He said he did not
know who the officer was, but thought the
matter should be investigated.
Mayor Butler said that the case referred to
was that of Officer Merrill, and his attention
had already been called to it. He thought that
it should be referred to the Committee on
Police with power.
Alderman Small seconded the motion, re-
marking that while he had no special charge to
make, he sthought officers might at times be
more careful in the handling of prisoners. The
case was so re ferred and the Board adjourned.