The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-08
POLICE BRUTALITY.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD


The case OF Police sergeant Thompson so promptly
and enec,ually dealt with by Mr. Andrews. has at.
traced large share OF public attention. Had the case
been an isolated aud unusual tho public mind
woua probably have been bent to it with the
eager interest which has followed IL from the outset
But the newspapers have, for come timc back been
tccming with instances OF police brutality. This last
outrage OF tho busiest thoroughfares of the city
and in broad daylight by sergeant OF the police
merely capped the climax
Mr.. Andrews has been generally and very properly
praised for his spirited action in the matter, and n
has been in,ima,cd that all citizens like
upon such the brutality OF tho pocs
would be cncctually checked
should DO glad to believe So But all citizens arc
not, Ike Mr. Andrews, lawyers; and am constrained
to think that this is but bright solitary instance in
which tho wrong doing OF the police Is lkcy 10 meet
with its deserts The majority of clubbing do
not take place In the daytime; generally not before
witnesses willing to lose time In testifyng not often
In u great thoroughiare in presence OF SO spirited
man as Mr.. Andrews. The treatment dealt out tho
poor fellow who expostulaed with Thompson upon his
brutality Is sufficient warning TO those who would
keep their skulls whole interfere In such
These samples OF police rutnanism which reach the
public ear but few compared with tho number
which have TO be endured by the and dcfcncecss
who have the misfortune to fall INTO their hands In
SO saying am not talking of the book, Mr. Editor
those we'll aware who intimate with the
doings of the force.
Were these outrages the only things OF which cth
zens supposed TO be protected by the police, have
complain the case would DO pad enough, but contend
that they hut surface rppliDgs Indicative OF tho
Deep steady uhdercurrent OF the police system OF this
CITY, That system, ! maintain, Is radically bad Its
working Is dangerous 10 the public and like every.
thing hagltious, IL is necessarily demorazng In the
highest degree OF the police iorco itself.
And lest any innocent citizen should DO dciuded into
the notion that he Will the success as Dir.
Andrews will briefly recount one case in my own OK
pcrience promising that can II needs supplement-
1t with such abundance OF proof will carry
victon home to the dullest OF the hopelessncss OF con-
test the part OF u private citizen, unbackcd by
wealth political Influence, with police authors
tics under the present system
kicked Broadway, ut ten O'Clock at night, within
one block Of the twenty ninth precinct station house
Ny assailant arrested IN the act, ana tho charge
rested him.
Captain John II. McCullash refused to lock him up.
found his address, and had him indicted by tho
Grand Jury. He was baed, his bon dsman beng John
Stacom, an ex-Wardcn OF the Tombs, and then pro-
prictor OF liquor store.
The was called Tor trial. My assailant did not
answer Stacoms recognizanccs were not eschealed,
nor was he In any way proceeded against
proceeded to Albany and stated my case and that OF
other citizens similarly treated. took this oppor-
tuny OF further charging that certain police captains
whom mentioned by name, nursed panel houses
blackmaiod houses OF prostitution and gamblers and
upon a moderate salary they bought ana lived Ia
| brown stone houscs charged that the whole system
was dcmorazed and corrupt All this did under
| oath.
In 1873 committee OF the Senate appointed Il
! investigate the charges made. They mover met
The following year l again went TO Albany and 70
| itcratcd the charges. committee, called the
Committee Crime, appointed, with tho iabors
ana conclusions OF which the public are familiar,
through the able and exhaustive report published
The expense to tho State was $4,000; to me, per
sonaliy about 81, 200
The suggestions OF that committee have never beer
acted upon They reported several captains and dc.
! tcctivcs unit 10 hold their positions Their sug
gcstons never acted upon. The captains and de-
tcctlves thus reported upon remained undisturbcd
| succeeded in having Captain McCungh put upon
trial before the Police Commissioners Ny case was
thoroughly proved. No action taken upon 1t for
eight months by the then Police Commissioners and
| the present refused to act
| appealed TO the Counc OF Political Reform, TO the
Citizens Association TO the leaders of both democratic
aud republican organizations, as well 10 many
prominent aud Influential czens to carry on the
IN the Interests of the community.
They ali saw the hopccssncss OF attempting TO light
this formidable organ ization and declined 10 act.
Might ask, thcn, what possible chance ord.
nary private ctiZcn have against the nigh handed
brutality and iacie perjury OF this orce2
Mr.. Andrews has been exceptionally fortunate, but
his one out Of ten thousand.
1 have already trespassed sufficiently upon your
space for to-day. But while the public mind is aware
columns with facts, upon which II will be we'll TO
dwell Tho police system OF this city is radically bad
principle, thoroughly corrupt in its working and Is
rather danger than protection to the community
at large Or this undertake to give abundant proof
ID. J. 7.