The sun., 1879-06-10
CLUBBING AND SHOOTING.
Counter Charges Against II roIice Omcer In
the General Sessions.

Officer William Finncgan OF the Fifth street
police was a complainant. yesterday. in tho
General Sessions lie was in uniform. and he
carried conspicuously the pocket memorandum
book that the Police Commissioners reqnire
police officers to use through every season. like
the heavy. bell-crowncd hats manufactured by
n favored contractor The left side OF Ofilcer
Finnegans face. from the outer corner OF his
eyelids to the fatty crease at the side OF his
mouth. was disilgured by n WIDE livid welt As
soon AS lie reached the witness stand. Onlccr
Finnegan opened tho book. and porcd over
page in it. possibly with view to giving the
jury mn impression that he would be partcu-
larry exact in his testimony in the trinl OF
Charles Bermnier. an Allen street shoemaker.
churged with cutting him. with intent to Kill.
on the morning of the 23d ut.
Finnegan testified that he saw Bermaier. on
the morning Of the 23d ult walking in Tump-
kins square. near Eighth street Bermaier
looked AZ him several times. rs though he wett
keeping watch on him. He followed Ber-
maicr to Avenue b and Tenth street. and there
Bermaier faced about and stood still. He put
out his left hand to cntch hold Of Bermaier, in
tending to ask why Bermaier looked ut him.
ThercupQn Bcrmaier cut him upon the left
side ot his fnce with n shoe knife. Bcrmaier
turned and ran down Tenth street Hc called
70 Bermai"r TO stop. but the latter ran faster.
He then fred n shot from his revolver at Ber-
mHter. aiming over his head. BermHier stopped
running. He raped for assist lnce and Rounds
man Schauweck and Detective sheridan ap-
police station. shoe knife. stained with blood.
was taken from one o. his pockets. Rounds
man Schauwcck and Detective Sheridan cor
rohnrated Officer Tlnncgan.
Bermaier testified. through an intorpretor,
that he visited Central Park on the evening ui
the 22d ult, and then attended u coffee party
IN Sixth avenue. As he was hurryng across
Tompkins square. toward his home. at about |
o'clock on the morning of the 23d ult. he heard
quick footsteps behind him. lle looked over
his shoulder, and saw Officer Finnegan run
mug toward him. He Jumped inside. and
Ohlcer Finnegnn struck him upon the head
with his club. He fell 10 tho ground. but re-
gained his feet. he hH ked AWAY from Iinnc-
gan. crying Murderl" Fnnegan followed
him up try ne to get in another blow upon his
head with The club Then. believing that Fin
ncgan intended TO kill him. he cut Finnegan.
Just thrnRoundsman Schauw-ck and Detective
sheridan ran into the square. Finncgan.
drawing his revolver. shot Nt him. woundinG
him IN TIE left hand. The bullet is still there.
As the ronndsman and tho detective ap-
preached. Fnnrgan shouted. " Is This the
man 2" Detective sheridan said No. II IL
not and then Finnegan stopped clubbing him.
BY Judge Gilderslneye's direction. Bprmaicr
showed the Jury tho scar whore be said the bull
let from Onlcer Finnegans revolver entered
his hand.
The jnry acquitted Bermaicr Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Herring. the prosecutor. told a
reporter that he heartily coiuctdcd in the vVr-
diet Tn" evidence did not disclose that Ofllcer
Finnegan had any good reason whatever f1r
even looking 1T Bermaer as the latter passed
him on the morning Of the 23d ult.