Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1881-06-10
Police Commissioners.

Oficer jackson ON Trial for Abuse OF q
PrisOner-He Is Reprfmanded by the
Mayor and Resumes his Duties.
A special meeting of the Board of Police
Commissioners was held last evening. Pres
emit, His Honor the Mayor Cpresiding) Com.
missioners Bollman, Catlin, Sloat, Hart and
Kilbride
The meeting was called to hear charges
against Officer B. Jackson, made by Fayette
W. Brown, a student, who was arrested by
the officer The officer was charged with
1st-Malicious arrest.
2d-Using profane, violent and unusual
language.
3d-Using unnecessary and undue and
unprovoked violence and force in arresting
the complainant.
The complainant, Mr.. Brown, was first
called and gave a statement of facts. He
said that Jackson accused him of calling him
(the oficer) vile names, but he said that he
did not address the officer at all. He was
arrested and taken to the station house,
where he was charged with abusive language.
He said he was simply passing down Chapel
street with party of friends.
Brown said that there was no more singing
after being requested not to do SO.
Professor Brewer was called and
said he was not present at the
time, and all he could say was that Mr..
Brown graduated in 1873, and SO far as he
knew his reputation in college was good.
William Lowering was the next witness.
uo Cola 4bo+ tba1r /tI,o ,,ortvN oapoe from, Rad,
cliffe's, where they had refreshments, and be
(Lovering) made a remark in regard to the
number of police on the street. Mr.. Brown
replied in a manner that did not suit Jackson,
and he arrested Mr.. Brown.
In reply to question by Officer Jackson,
the witness stated that Mr.. Brown was fined
So and costs for breach of the peace, without
giving Mr.. Brown an opportunity to intro
duce witnesses.
In reply to Commissioner Bollman, the wit
ness said that neither Mr.. Brown or any Of
the party had been drinking SO far as he
knew.
William Sterling was the next witness an6
he testified to the fact of Officer jackson
throwing Mr.. Brown to the sidewalk and af
terward to the fact that jackson shook Brown
after he got him up from the sidewalk. He
said he did not see Mr.. Brown offer any re
sistance to the officer. Did hear the Officer
use profane language toward Mr.. Brown.
Mr.. Jamison testified in substance the same
as the previous witnesses. He said in add
ton that none of the party interfered will
Officer jackson when he made the arrest
either police officers or students. There
were police officers near when the arrest was
made, but none of them interfered. Ht
said there was no singing after they were
requested to stop.
A deposition was read from Francis D
Winslow, of New York city, who was witt
| the party at the time the arrest was made
It substantiated the evidence of previous
| witnesses
This closed the evidence for the plaintiff.
| Officer jackson, the accused, was called il
4 his own defense. He stated that the part.
with whom Mr.. Brown was were singing
| and noisy, and they were ordered to keel
| quiet as it was Sunday morning. He SAT-
| the prisoner called him vile name and b.
arrested him. The prisoner was intoxicated
| and in taking him to the station house tn
prisoner fell. He said he did not throw hin
down on the sidewalk at all.
In reply to Commissioner Bolman, Office
4 Jackson said Mr.. Brown was just enough in
toxicated to be funny. He did not stagger
| In reply to Commissioner Catlin, Office
jackson said he arrested Mr.. Brown for abu
| sive language. He said if Brown had no
| made the remark he did he should not hav
arrested him.
Officer George O. Bradley was called TO
| the defense. He said he was coming u
Church street on the night in question an
heard some men making a noise near Snow
corner and he ordered them to desist. FL
soon after saw squabble on Cutler corne
and saw Officer Jackson make the arrest FL
followed up, with Officer Phelps to the sta
ton house and then went back on his beat
He said one of them asked him if they coul
not sing low, and he told them no, not 9
that hour in the morning.
| In reply to Commissioners Catlin, witnes
said he took Mr.. Brown to be intoxicated.
Captain Hyde was next called for the d.
fense He said that Officer Jackson brougE
the man, inand stated that the prisoner( Brown
had called him vile name. He thought tbs
Brown and his friends were all under the il
fluence of liquor by their conversation an
actions.
Officer Phelps was called for the defense
and testified in substance had Ofice
Bradley. He said he heard Brown offer t
apologize and he told Officer Jackson to tax
no apology at all but let him apologize at tn
office
In reply to His Honor the Mayor, the wi
ness said if the vile remarks had not bee
made he presumed the officers would hav
passed them by.
In reply to Commissioner Catlin. the vii
ness said he considered all of the young me
under the influence of liquor, and in his opir
ion they should have been arrested for breac
of the peace.
Officer Grant was called for the defens
and testified in substance the same as the prt
| vious witnesses. He said that when Office
jackson arrested Mr.. Brown the latter fell o
his left side.
S. Sonnenberg was called for the defens'
He said he heard some talk between youn
men he supposed to be students. He hear
the remarks made by Mr.. Brown and hear
him apologize. He thought the students wei
intoxicated.
F. J. Brothers and James FL. Kelley test
fed in substance the same as previous wi
nesses.
This closed the evidence, and by permit
sion of the Mayor Professor Brewer state
that he had known these young men for SON
time, and if they said they had not bee
drinking he had perfect confidence in the
word.
The Board then went into executive Sc
sion and voted to reprimand Officer Jackso
for harshness in the arrest. The repriman
was made by His Honor the Mayor.