The New York herald., 1879-09-26
'DRUNK OR CRAZY"

A woMAN's COMPLAINT AGAINST PATROL
MAN GoULD-BEArEN AND KICKED FOR NO
CAUSE.
The dismissal recently Of several members Of the
police force for undue qualification Of their club
bing propensities has had marked effect upon the
force q body: but still crop out OCCASION
ally, and one which needs . thorough investigation
came to light yesterday. The complainant is poor
woman named Johanna Donovan, who lives on the
top floor Of tenement house No. 60 Baxter street.
and the accused patroman is Christopher Gould, Of
the Fourteenth precinct. The officer in this in
stance is charged with offence worse even than an
unwarranted OF his club-that is, beating and
kicking two women without cause or provocation OF
any kind. The occurrence. as related by Mrs. Dono-
van, follows:-On Wednesday morning. be-
tween ten and eleven O'Clock. she left her apart
ments to purchase jacket for OF her children.
in q store in Mulberry street. near Bayard. When
coming out Of the store she the officer pushing
a woman along the sidewalk. and because She did
not move fast enough to suit him he struck her
several times and knocked her down. While she was
down he kicked her several times. Mrs. Donovan
demonstrated and said to the officer "You must be
man to strike q defenceless woman like that.
Ii she has done wrong or deserves arrest why do you
not take her in?" TO this. Mrs. Donovan says, the
officer repled:- :-"If you interfere will serve you
in the same way, at the same time striking
tho side Of the face. From the force of the
last blow she staggered and only saved herself from
falling by graspng o barrel. While endeavoring to
her balance the officer. she alleges. kicked
her twice-once the small OF the back" and again
the leg, between the knee and ankle. leaving
marks of his foot upon her. Mrs. Donovan never
before the woman in whose behalf she spoke to
the officer and does not know her name she may
van. ''but that did not justify tho brutal
manner OF the officer. Whoever she was, poor
creature. ne had no business to abuse her. He evil
IDENTIFY thought one OF her kind, but he will
find he mistaken. am . sober aud an industri-
Gus woman. and for sixteen years have mado my
own living. have eight children to caro- tor. and
my husband does little or nothing to aid me. am
well known and can bring good reference as to my
Why. when went to see Superintendent walling
this morning he knew my face At once. aud remem-
bered having seen me often.' ~
NOT DRINKING woMAN
Liquor? More than glass OF cider have not
tasted in Eve years. 1t takes all the money can
to fl the many Little mouths have to feed.
Sure of all have said? Why, made oath before
the clerk to what I've told you. and am uncertain
yet OF the extent of my injuries. l am q strong.
stout woman, aud we'll Ii 10 40, for weaker
would not be able to sit up aftsr such an experience
Besides lodging complaint At Police Headquarters
have consulted lawyer and made affidavit to the
facts Of the case for the purpose Of bringing an
action for damages"
Patroiman Gould was in bed asleep when tho re-
porter called at the station house to him last
evening The o.ficer In charge stated that the
did not amount to anything; that two or three
drunken women were blocking up doorway and
order to clear the passage. The woman, Mrs. Dono-
van, had colnplAned that the officer was drunk, and
Superintendent Walling ordered him to Headquar-
ters forthwith to Ace in what condition he was.
That was only short time after the alleged occur
renee aud the officer perfectly sober. Mrs.
Donovan.w hen asked II she had charged that the
officer was drunk said '.No:" she had only said he
must either be drunk or crazy to act as he did