Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-08
THE USE OF THE CLUB.
why Policemen should Have Some
knowledge Of Anasomy-One Officers
Method.
Eepm the New York World.

fspm the New York World
The grave charge brought against the police
from time to time OF the too frequent use Of
their clubs on refractory prisoners. and in some
cases on perfectly innocent citizens whom their
own want of judgment has misled them to re-
gard as criminals. induced a reporter Yesterday
to make inquiries as to the instructions issue
by the commissioners of police to newly-ap-
pointed police officers respecting the use of
their clubs. Nothing more explicit than gen.
eral order authorizing the use of club on
violent and refractory prisoner to such extent
as may be Necessary for his secure conveyance
TO the police station could be found No in
sfructIOns As 20 the manner of using the club
have. so far aS could be discovered BY the re-
porter. ever been issued, it being lett to the
judgment of the policeman whether he strike
his prisoner on the arm or on the temple.
From q conversation with a well known phy-
sician il was learned that the greatest danger
must necessarily always tend the use of so
formidable a weapon the club ordinarily car
ried by the New York police. At the same time
knowledge of the vital parts of man by police
officers would doubtless save the life of MANY
man. DR.. Wooster Beach. of No. 161 east 10th
street, related a case of clubbing which came
under his observation some fifteen or sixteen
years ago. "A Young man, about % years of
age, said DR.. Beach, while somewhat under
the Influence of liquor, created dis
turbance In the street. for which he was arrest
ed by a policeman He became abusive
to the officer, and refused to be taken
to the statiOn-hOuse- The assistance of three
other policemen was secured, and the four
seized the young man, two taking him by the
arms and two by the legs, carrying him i'm this
way through the street On the way he was
very noisy and struggled some. but was easily
controlled Suddenly one of the policemen
raised his club and struck him blow as near
as could be ascertained. directly over the
stomach. Instantly he ceased his noise his
body became limp and pOwerless. and in this
apparent fifeless condition he was carried on to
the statlOn-house a distance of less than a
quarter OF mile. Arriving there it was found
that he was dead. A post norton showed the
body 20 be that OF a well-develOped, apparently
healthy man. Now. here was a case in which
the most elementary knowledge of the vital
parts of man on the part OF the policeman would
have saved his prisoner from death and himself
from term in state prison."
An ex-pOlceman, who had eighteen years ex-
perience In New York city was next visited.
"Have ever had occasion to use NV club?' he
echoed, by way of reply to the reporters query
Rather. should guess just have. No pO-
hceman ever yet patrOlled the streets OF New
York by night without being called upon to use
his club occasionally. If ] clearly perceived
that my man was runner, and he actually at
tempted to get away. | would strike him on the
mp, and, without inflicting upon him any last
ing Injury. would damage his present speed so
per cent; or, if he was fighter and aimed q
uioH 1T INC. NOuiu SITIke MIN on the arms
ABOVE the elbow and spoil that little game Al
though / never received any specific instruc-
lions to that effect my common sense and hui
manlty always led me to evoid striking man
on the temple, the abdomen or in the region of
the heart. except when was opposed by some
buriy rufiian of superior strength who had de-
termined to escape from me. Rather than suf-
Ter this would use my club upon him in any
way i could, and under such circumstances /
have dealt out some hard knocks in nv time /
assure YOU"
DO You not think that many policemen use
their clubs unnecessarily and i'm many cases
when necessary, injudic!Ously?" asked the re-
porter.
Yes, have no doubt they do" was the re-
ply; "but if you selected every policeman from
school of anatomy, | doubt if you would
thereby insure prisoners never being struck on
vital part. The aggravations to which police
Officers. especially on night duty, are cOntinu-
ally subjected could not be exaggerated; and
the wonder to NE is that there are so few cases
OF clubbing Of course, if police officer gets
drunk when on duty. he deserves the punish
mont he Is awarded, if discovered: and it,
without the grayest necessity, he strikes a man
fndiserimInately. he is unit for his position
anu, should say, under existing regulat ions
wonid not long be permitted to retain it,