Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-13
Bernhardt Principles
ALL THE RAGE EAST.
. for 25C.,
A~TCOLEMAN'S.
steinway pian0s, hOlIsnberg's. &9
OVERRIDING N.
Rather Strange and Uuwarlant-
able.

Rather Strange and Uuwarlant-
able.
Shortly after dark last night an in-
cident occurred in the Peabody hotel
yestibule, which smaeks of an assump-
ton Of authority wholly beyond the
province Of the official who assumed
it, and which demands immediate re
dress, or other satisfactory explana-
ton. Mr.. Lee Webster, a merchant
of Kent's Landing, on the river be-
low here, strolled in and mixed with
the crowd which usually cOngregAtes
there in the evening. Soon aiterward
8 policeman stepped up and quietly
told Mr.. Webster that he would like
to speak with him privately outside.
The merchant stepped to the sidewalk
in front of the hotel, where another
officer appeared to be in waiting.
Without explanation Mr.. Webster
was suddenly paved over from head to
foot, by the two policemen, after the
style usual in searching a culprit for
weapons at the s~tationhouse.
The visitor was rather taken aback
at the conduct of the policemen.
They found no weapons upon his per
son, and they made no apology or ex-
PLANTATION Of their conduct Mr.. Web
ster, after he had time to recover
from the surprise of the unexpected
act, naturally felt indignant, and he
expressed his feelings in words. Sew
eral gentlemen friends and aeqaint-
ances of Mr.. Webster witnessed the
outrage, and they expressed equal in
dignation about the matter.
The officers who acted so summari-
" are Henry Cullen and James Smith
and it is said Detective McCune had
a hand in the affair, though he did
not participate in the search. The
matter demands more explanation
than the officers are likely to give.
1t was stated that the only excuse
| offered by the officers was that they
suspected Mr.. Webster OF being a des
perado who went loaded down viii
firearms, and was at the time in searel
Of some foe intending to attack hin
on the spot. Mr.. Webster, however
claims that be has never been in tn
habit of carrying firearms or Othe
weapons, either here OF elsewhere
His friends state ~emphatically that b.
is a worthy and a very ~peaeeably dis
posed person, who never engages il
quarrels Of any kind.
There can be no excuse whateve
for the conduct melted ont to Nh
Webster. The right of seaFchiDgpe pei
sons on the public highways is no
among the privileges bestowed upo.
the police or any other class Of off
cials, and it is not 70 be tolerated b
anybody, either citizen or visitor.
ANOTHER STATEMENT.
Since the above was written all tn
officers interested in the affair hay
been interviewed, and there seems +:
be another side to the matter. On.
Of the policemen who searched Nj
WebsteS had just been shown a letts
addressed to a man, formerly a ban
keeper for John Rourke, in which h
subscriber said he would be in Men
phis yesterday and would shoot biz
on sight. This information was con
muuicated to Sergeant Scott, VII
placed Officers Cullen and Smith Q
guard at the Peabody, as be had see
the barkeeper in that neighborhoo
and knew the man wanted WI
in the city and would, perhap
stop at the Peabody. Deputy Coront
G. T. Smith, who also had seen Il
lettef end had a description Of Il
man, passed just after they had take
their stand, and, pointing to Mr.. Wei
ster, said, There's your man, now.
Cullen then politely asked Ar. Wei
ster outside and ran his hands oy,
his clothes to see if he had a weapo.
but finding he had made a mistal
begged Mr.. Webster's pardon ar
left. They refused to tell Mr.. We
ster why they had searched him,
they we're afraid it might lead to Il
escape ofthe real criminal.