The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-18
What Eye Witnesses Say of the Madison
Square Clubbing Outrage.
SIN A POOL OF BLOOD"
Captain Williams "Weakens" and Puts
the Blame on Fleming.
THE OUTRAGE WHOLLY USSiiI.0y0KED

y. NJ. W. smith.
being III on tho
s o YORK rfs
This official entry in the blotter of the Twenty
ninth police precinct station house Is simple
enough and there little in it to arouse the in
dgnation of the average reader. Yet beneath its'
quiet wording there lies the record OF . brutal and
outrageous assault upon peaceful and law abiding
citizen who was unfortunate enough to stand In the
front rank with some of his fellow citizens who
viewing military procession.
The story of Captain Williams and Officer Flem-
In g's fierce onslaught Mr.. Charles W. Smith is
blood spattered tragedy. and figures even conspicu-
ously among the and frequent recent police
crimes of like nature. No one give any reason
why the man dubbed. There have been
many clubbing affairs Of late that the people have
learned to regard them a matter Of course under
certain pretexts and certain circumstances in some
precincts, particularly the precinct in which this
case occurred There has rarely been . clubbing
case where the policeman has not entered plea Of
some kind in justification of his crime. In the abb
sehce of such plea lies the popularity Of the
present case.
Mr.. Smith. young man attracted by the promise
Of an imposing military spectacle. takes his place
among hundreds of others. and, 1t may be- stood on
portion Of the reserved space He is in the very
front rank. and when the order to fall back given
endeavors to do 80. OF course the pressure from
behind prevents to certain extent. The
backward movement is too slow for the
police and they make . rush. The terri
bls clubs. which have become the emblems
Of death to the innocent hourished in air and
the men in blue, who paid generous salaries to
protect their employers advance the crowd now
struggling to escape. Smith-unhappy mortal-is
tnthe direct line Of the charge The police captain
roughly pushes him and orders him on. He does
his best toobey. for though he lives in Brooklyn.
hcknows OF the clubbers Of the Twenty ninth pre-
clint. The captain pushes him again. and then q
brutal henchman rushes ut him with uplifted
club. Smith sees it coming, but cannot
avoid it. Il falls and moan Of pain
follows as he staggers back unconscious. When he
swakes he finds himself prisoner in hospital.
made SO by the policeman. Finally at the instance
of the frightened captain Of police. the victim
is released from arrest removed to better ward
In the hospital and eventually to his home.
The outrage suggests these questions why was
Smith dubbed? Why was he arrested? and how
long are such outrages to be tolerated by the cit
Gems OF New York?
TO thoroughly sift the facts and lay them before
the public reporters OF the HERALD were yesterday
despatched to obtain the statements of the several
principals in the affair. well the testimony Of
bystanders who were eye-witnesses. The results Of
their Investigations herewith given The victim
tolls his story and Captain williams his. The wit
nesses give IN their evidence but the chief actor,
Fleming, IL silent.
STATEMENT OF THE VICTIM.
Mr. Charles W. Smith. who is living at No. 40 Will
low place. Brooklyn, able to be about yesterday,
he made the Following statement to our reporter
Mr.. SMITH, am sorry to be made the subject OF
30 much notoriety, but have been outrageously
treated. and will give the HERALD the facts they
are impressed on my memory: On Wednesday af-
ternoon went up the reviewing stand
and was standing in front. was on the
sidewalk. and there were number of people
In front of me the street and the sidewalk.
saw Captain Williams with appraised club pushing
back the crowd on the street in front OF me. He
and those who were standing in front the side
walk or on the curbstone. AS no pushed them back
he cried out, 'Get back there get back there!''
and. reaching over the heads OF two other men, he
struck on tho breast with his club. said to him.
in this mannsrY'' He shouted. ..what did You say.
God damn your and then, turning around sharply,
he made another blow ut me and struck the
lett side. Then he caught hold Of me by the lapel
OF my coat and dragged me backward. AS he did so
dealt terrible blow from Sshina on the right sds
OF the head by Officer Fleming. "No: 3d."
I judge it was Fleming from what I
Williams who made the first assault. He is big.
stout able bodied man. with pale and about six
feet high. forgot to say that when Williams struck
ME the second time as looked at him said. my
God what shame!'' When he was about to deal
me third blow with his club gentleman at
an outrapeY, eyes said another citizen: "the
damned rascal!' What followed after received
Fleming's blow don't know. 1 knocked
senSeess. / remember nothing more until between
eleven and twelve o'clock that night. when found
myself in the City Hospital. am not certain to
the precise time. but when came to saw gentle
man whom supposed to be a physician. as ne was
There was another doctor there. and OGicer Fleming
was with them. DIR. Fisher said to one OF the at
the srs wb iss
they place over the mouth and nostrils
IN applying the ether. The Doctor then said.
'Come now, while we have got him down, apply
II immediately" The ether was applied feeling
OF suffocaion came over me- and became insensible
You can sec here. how was treated at the hospital
when was hrst brought in. Instead OF applying
plaster or water to my head. they put cloths satu
rated with ether around my head"
"When you again regained consciousness. what
"When I came to again found that had been
Invested of my clothing. and was lying upon bed
which wet under Inc. was in u cell. spoke
to nurse about the dampness OF the bed and he
got me piece of oilcloth aud spread IL under
me. Making me lie down on 1t. he went ont of the
cell leaving me in darkness. l was only semi-con-
bandage. soaked In ether. about my head.
they told me / had torn the other of.
Captain Williams came into tho cell In company
with DR.. Fisher and hospital attendant. and tho
Doctor leaned over mo and asked, "have you been
drinkngr" answered No, sir; have not been
lire. Then drank ale only. The Doctor aud
Williams then conversed in whispers DR.. Fisher.
addressing again. asked, "Do you remember who
it was that struck youY' I answered IAN officer
that know by hcsrsay. know him Tor some years
~ Captain Williams, of Now York, and the officer
who struck me the terrible blow ordinary
officer. but would know him by sight II should
him again."
''Ani' said voice near by. but did not 500 who
spoke che remembers everything. DIR. Fisher said
% Captain Williams. "Do You know whether he had
been drinking or was under the influence of liquor.
Captain" 'sThnt l cant answer. Doctor" was
williams reply. The Doctor said to me, .'rho In
Jury which you received Ia not very bad; can say
that. The stroke you got was not worry bad.
1t was not as serious what l thought
1t was. DO You understand mcY an
swcrcd. Eyes, SIR" "How do you feel toward
this officer for strikingy' inquired DIR. Fisher.
Toward captain Williams for striking mew said Il
but the Doctor turned round then and left tho cell
III company with Captain Williams. Hall an hour
later should suppose but don't know the time
very WE'LL being rtupeficd from tho ether nurse en-
tered the cell and getting up on my feet put an
old gray blanket round ine aud led into another
apartment. where he took of my shirt and
undershirt and put loose wrap instead I
found out the next day why my clothes were
changed. II was because both my shirts and my
- l a 1917 4l 44 L -