The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-22
STRUCK IN THE DARK.

The attention which the HERALD has called to the
unwarranted use of the locust by the police made
William Brown object of special interest yester-
day morning when he came to the Fifty-seventh
Street Police Court in Officer Laurence Clintons Gus
tody. Evidently he had made intimate acquaint-
with that officials baton, for he was covered
with blood stains, and from fillet of linen and lint
about his forehead stream still kept trickling. On
the blotter his occupation entered engineer
and his address No. 40 Fourth avenue. When
taken to the bar he stood up in bewldered stless
manner and in evident suffering from the wounds
upon his head. When Officer Clinton. who be-
longs to the Twenty-frst precinct. asked by
Justice Kilbreth what charge he had to make, he
said that the prisoner had been drunk and disc rdery
At about two O'Clock in the morning he had met him
on his post, and seeing bundle under his arm had
accosted him to inquire it's contents The other
tinued on his way though, and when he repeated
his query he received answer that he had ''beter
mind his own business" At that, the officer says
he tried to get hold OF Brown, when the latter made
q blow at him which knocked his hat OF.
"Did he strike at your head?' asked Justice Kill
breth.
'He did, :" said the officer.
"And his fist was shut, as If he meant mischief?"
THAT could not swear to-, Clinton rejoined;
"but thought 1t time to use my club and struck
him with 1T once"
did he resist your taking him into custody?"
mo. not after he was hit
Ibid you try to arrest him before hitting him?"
II uld not We were under an awning when the
trouble began 1t was dark night anyway. but i'll
that place couldnt tell what the looked like or
how big he II had got hold of him right
away he might have had u knife ready to use me,
30 all could do was to bide my time"
BROWNS VERSION.
"But, meanwhile, you thought it safest to stun
him, to make sure, the Court soliloquized,
and then Brown called upon for his statement.
He said that lac had been the west side of the city
ana on his way home had down Il doorstep to
rest. He had not been drinking liquor ana not
under the influence OF any stimu ant. He a lit
tie drowsy but had not fallen asleep when the
came up and struck him the soes of hts with
his club. He reused himself, got up and began to
chat good naturetly with the other. who, for his
part. seemed i'll suriy mood. At last Clinton be-
gan to skylark with him, and, in jocu!ar way he
told him that he would bet he could knock his hat
oil. lie then did strike it to tho ground,
when Clinton suddenly fared up and fell
upon him with his cinD. He struck him first over
the head and then upon the wrist. The prisoner
says he cried out that he not Resisting, and the
officer then got hold of him and hurried him to the
station house. His appearance there convinced the
sergeant ON duty that he was badly hurt and Clinton
was sent with him to Bellevue Hospital where bis
head was stitched. The cut on ii, which lie showed,
was several inches long, and his wrist was bruised
ana discolorcd where the club had come down
upon II.
When Justice Kilbreth had carried his inquiries
this far he said: ~ need not proceed. While /
ms well disposed toward the police force any one.
anu am inclined to encourage any member of 1T TO
use his club in protecting himself, am bound to
prevent such unnecessary severity you. Officer
Clinton, have shown. There is no evidence here to
show that you should have assaulted the prisoner in
this brutal manner. You will have answer for
this. let a complaint be drawn against this officer.
When Browns affidavit formally taken and
embodied in charge OF assault. His Honor said TO
Clinton, "In spite of the uniform you you
must give bail in $500 to answer"
A Twenty-nrst ward liquor dealer later sup
piled 1t.