The New York herald., 1877-02-15
Disgraceful Exhibition of Brutality
by a Sergeant.
A POLICEMANS FALSE OATH
Two Cases for the Attention Of the
Commissioners.
A CITIZEN DOING HIS DUTY

o'clock on Tuesday afternoon laughing and twittng
partially into xicated who had been elected from
Third avenue car. The object OF amusement looked
in sort OF "bulldozcd way at the retrcatng form OF
tho conductor, and the spectators Uttered This
aroused his anger, and he gave vent TO ms
feelings in emphatic remarks, equally appllcaoie
to tho conductor and the audience At this
the gamins shouted bolstcrously and the
crowd increased In numbers While the mcrriment
was at its height Sergeant Thompson, OF the Fourth
prec,nct appeared in view He stopped moment TO
take in the situation in all its aspects and then
marched direct the cause The drunken man stopped
IN the middle OF word intended only for the cars oi
tho co onductor tried to movo away, but the Ser
ccant crasped him by the collar and shook him first to
the right and then to the left final shake sent him
spinning about like top.
PuGiLrsrIc SCENE.
No word passed between them. The man staggered
a few steps and again made IN effort to get through
the crowd; but Sergeant Thompson, not satisfied with
The shaking. dealt him powerful blow in tho face
that iellcd him to the pavement The crowd cried,
mOh, shame!" which appeared to greatly incense
the guardian OF tho peace, as he again grasped
the collar OF the PROSTATE man and jcrked
him 10 his feet Another brutal blow lull
in tho face which drew the blood and tho poor stunned
man again measured his length on the ground NOW,
get upn shouted the Sergeant, thoroughly warmed to
his work, administering kick to the ribs OF the man
by way OF acceerating his movements Tho man lay
still unable to move whercupon the Sergeant quickly
dragged him TO his feet and, with final push sent
him reeng across the street. saying. "Move along
now or III arrest youn Several reputable citizens.
attracted by the crowd, witnessed the assault,
and all gave expression to their indignation.
Among the number was Mr.. W. S. Andrews, coun-
yclor and Secretary of the Democratic National
Committee, who waiting for car. His sense Of
humanity was shocked. and, determined to bring tho
blue bully justice he quietly took tho names
OF three or tour OF the witnesses.
The intoxicated man. wiping the blood from his face,
hurried the direction of Centre street, several
persons following The Sergeant also walked along nt
honest looking man, friend OF the one assaulted,
walked TO the side Of tho sergeant and began taking
in an undertoue The crowd inferred that he was re-
monstrating with the sergeant Tor the assault on his
friend In n few moments they were treated TO an.
other exhibition OF ru1lansm. The sergeant turned
upon the man and aimed powerful blow at his face
Fortunately however the intended victim lodged and
escaped At this juncturc Officer Conovan, OF
Tho Fourth precinct, came up, The location
being little north Of french 5 Hotel
and at signal from Sergeant Thompson
friend IN custody The prisoners were marched TO the
Oak street station house. Mr. Andrews followed and
was pres sent when they arragneo at the station
house desk. rhe gave their names as John
D'Harran, OF No. 204 avenue G, and Michael Cannon
Of No. 202 East Eleventh street.
The latter cried pcously and begged to be released
saying that he had never before been inside ol sta
ton house and only meant 10 demonstrate with the
sergeant for beating his friend
Sergeant Thompson laughed as he recounted his ad-
venture and graphically explained to his brother ser
gcapt the grace with which he Knocked O'Harran to
the ground. The charge against the prisoners was
gwen dsorderly conduct and the men were locked
up.
At the Tombs Police Court yesterday, before Judge
Kbroth, Officer Conovan mouncd the stand and went
the usual form Of kissing the Bible Tbs pris-
stood at the railing. OHarrans lace presented
strong evidence of the beating he had received The
Itrh nd hof fhA
oners the bar acting IN disordery manner on
Park row, causing n disturbance ana breaking the
peace The officer that the charge was true. AT
this point gentleman stepped up 10 the par ana
said
PERMISSION, | Will appear for the prisoners
The culprits looked around IN astonishment Ihey
had not engaged counsel, and were, consequently,
much sur prsed to find a friend so opportuney.
The permission was granted, and the counsellor,
who proved to be Mr. Andrews, tho witness TO the
assault proceeded to cross-cxamne the officer
''Did you see the prisoners acting dsorderyY"
eyes sir. the officer gbly replied, "O'Iarran was
standing near Beekman street IN state noxication
and attracting "a crowd, and Cannon became abusive
when the sergeant told him 10 move on. ="
ssThis you swear to Of your own knowledge?" was
The next question OF counsel
The officer reddened up and answered, YES" but
With less postlvcncss than before
Sir. Andrews then turned TO the magistrate and
asked to be sworn as a witness The oaln taken he
narrated facts OF the outrage as already told,
phasIzIug the absence OF ohiccr Conovan unlil alter
The usordery conduct, If any there was, had ceased
Conovan grew red and white by turns as he listened to
the lawyers testimony AT last ho broke In with an
explanation that what he had sworn TO was on nor-
nation furnished him by Sergeant Thompson, and ad-
mitted that he saw nothing whatever OF tho alleged
disorderly conduct
al now ask Your Honor" said Mr.. Andrews, "lor
The OF warrant Tor the officers arrest on the
charge OF perjury He deliberately swore TO that or
which he now admits ne knew absolutely nothing, ex-
cepi what told HIM by the sergeant feel, con.
citizen TO press this charge. That police
man should come into court and dehbera'ey
,ha. makes It sacred obligation upon citizens to
tify was accidental witness 10 the assault upon
the prisoner OHarian and the arrest OF Cannon,
neither OF whom ever before, and my feelings
we're outraged. | have here tho names OF tour re-
spectacle cltzens who also present and VINO are
wiling to testify when called upon. Not only shall
press the charge Of perjury, but respectfully ask for
warrant Tor the arrest OF Sergeant Thompson on the
charge of assault and battery"
Tho prisoners the bar listened 10 tho eoquencc OF
their found friend with eyes beamlng with graft
tudc and the spectators looked on with features ex-
pressive OF the warmest commendation
A WARRANT IssvED SERGEANT y
Judge Kilbreth heard the counsel through. and in
deep sympathy with the prisoners said, "You are
both dscnarged, but you will wait IN the court room
WHILE"
Then, turning to the counsel, the magistrate con-
qnucd You have performed duty to society.
shall with issue warrant Tor the arrest OF Ser
geant Thompson so far as the charge of perjury is
concerned would suggest that you first present the
matter before the Board OF Police Commissioners after
which you can take what action you think proper"
seats on the spectators bench, and a murmur of
approval went up from all present
The warrant for Thompson's arrest was Immediately
Issued and placed in the hands OF Sergeant Woodruff,
of the court squad.
Al the end Of two hours the Sergeant returned and
stated that Thompson could not bc iound, being hs
day OF duty The case was thereupon adjourned until
this morning.
THE SERGEANT
At threc O'Clock Sergeant Thompson entered the
court room, followed by several persons, whom he said
were witnesses
Captain Murray explained to the Judge that the SER
Rcant had come immediately on being notified. The
witness Tor the prosecution, however, having lett
court tho could not go on before tho time set
down. -
Wishing TO give Sergeant Thompson's version Of the
outrage HERALD reporter waited that Official, but
be declined making any statement further than that
the charge against him was untrue
Later in tho day Mr. Andrews called on the Police
Commissioners and preferred a formal charge against
Inc officers, which will bo tried at an early day.
II