The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-12
POLICE BRUTALITY.

YOUNG BRoUNER EXPLAINS UNDER OATH HOW
OFFICER pEvLrN GoUGED HIS EYE OUT
DEvLIS's DEFENCE AND ISGEsIoUs THEORY.
In the court room Of the Central Office yesterday
afternoon Peter Brouncr charged oicer Dcvlin with
having on the morning OF March 10 injured hts eye
through malice IN his cell station house, causing
the loss OF that member a short time since.
SERGEANT wEBB's STORY
Sergeant Webb stated TO Commissioner Smith, who
tried the CASE that the charge against Brouncr when
he was brought tho house. stead
ing shoes nom a basement IN Baxter street. lie was
sent down stairs and locked up, continued tho Ser
gaunI heard noihiDy more about the matter until
ported TO that the III terrible cvndi
lion, suffering from bruised eye Decker told mo
that he had given tho key vi the boy cell TO Oiiccr
Devn al the attcrs request, and when he went back
and II was returned 10 him ne heard the prisoner
grooming. On going TO his assistance he found tho lad
lying down wrltning with pam.
BRorxER INBRED.
Doorman Decker maze the following statement:-At
one O'Clock on the morning Oh March 10, took the
prisoner, Peter Brouncr TO his cell and locked HIM in
lie little intox cacd, but quite sound IN body.
ieit him there and went into the washrooni, where
stayed some ten or ntecn minutes. heard some ono
come down stairs, and looking out saw oniccr Dcvn,
who asked permission to see the prisoner. He SAID he
wanted 10 Try and get something out Of HIM about ING
burglary at Schi!ling's, the brass founders lie told
me Il was all rignt, by which Supposed he meant that
tho sergeant had gwen him permission TO soc the prs
oner gave HIM the keys and Just At thai moment
the sergeant rang his bell and mad 10 20 up stairs,
LEAVING Devin al the cell door. heard groans IRON
the cell went TO tho boy. who suffering from
injury IN tho left eye reported II 10 the sergeant
RKouSERs STATEMENT.
The lad was next called on by The Commissioner 10
tell how no came by his injury. In stragntiorward
manner he told OF hs arrest just as II occurred, hts
being locked up IN the cell and arrival of Officer
Dcviin. ~ heard HIM ask the coorn.an tor the key
SAID he, ''ana then ancr the latter went away he
opened the door aud came IN.
Where Is That stuIy" no said.
"what stun ?" said l.
ION, come you know. The rest OF the brass from
that Job - SchIllng'sr'
II don't know anything about u, g." sad l..
'Come,' saws he you'd better givo II up Ii III be
so much OF your tronbe u you give the thing away
"WrIl, Mr. COMMISSIONER ! wou.dn't toll him
he was gong out he made blow ~ me and missed
me. Then said he was only game 10 hit a man when
he was locked up III cell or when he was urunk Ho
tnercupon opened the door agau and labbcd tho
eye with The END OF the cub or stick, saying, Iic
down You - tell, and was found by tho
doorman after the officer went away"
OFFICER DEvLrS's DENIAL
Officer Devln then called upon 10 give his side OF
the story which he did denying ali the charges made
against him by Brouncr and claiming that the prisoner
had injured himself 10 get up pnDlc sympathy IN MS
tchalf aud escape too consequences OF his burg
lary. III knew the fellow, SAID Dcvnn. .and he
aware vi A. visited his cell to get him 10 tell
about the Schiiling robbery which had been detailed
10 investigated but never struck hun. When spOko
10 him about the burglary SAID trying to put
him away ana he would got even with me. Ny
theory that this man tried u hurt himself 20 cvade
the charges OF burglary against him. lie thought that
by getting this story against mo ~ tho newspapers he
would ~ Ike me weaken"
Commissioner sMtrn--has tho loss OF hts eye can.
ccea TIN charges against himg
DEvLIS-No, sir
Commissioner sMIrH---Then that's ALL
Tho case was closed, and decision reserved