New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-20
OHARGES OF POLICE BRUTALITY.
THE RACQUET CLUB ARRESTS.

AGAINST THE OFFICERS DISMISSED.
The case of Jose Aymar and Thomas C.. Bach
against the officers of the Twenty-ninth Po-
lice Precinct, who arrested them in the
building of the Racquet Club on the night
of June 8, on the charge OF preventing
the arrest of John Whitehurst a colored waiter Of
Jefferson Market Police Court yesterday great
deal of testimony was taken, in which each side
fatty contradicted the other, John Whtehurst,
the coored waiter testified TO the arrest OF Messrs.
Aymar aud Bach and his own arrest By Officer
RiDger.
When the officer told me that he wanted for steal
that would go with him II he would wait till saw my
employers, Mr. Aymar and Mr.. Bach; and he walked
go with him, and he said that he should take me- as
was his prisoner He gave me two severe blows one on
with Mr.. Aymar and one dubbed him on the right
shoulder 1t that officer, Indicating Ohcer
LehneJ
Thomas c.. Bach testified that he was lawyer,
and not member ofthe Racquet Club. He said
I was in the dining room when Officer Ringer came
know If the officer had right to arrest him in that man
ner l asked the officer what the charge was, and he
any interference in the discharge OF my Guty.' said
that would send for Captain Williams and If lie said
the proper that would be satisfactory to
lie answered Inc i'll way that cannot repeat, AS do
not speak in that manner. L replied, d" 80 man
lac asked me if I Intended to murder him. / told
him that did not lie asked me il would let him out
prisoner, and l said " Yes If Captain Williams says
So" When the other ofccrs came dld not KNOW tncy
were officers aud did not open the door As We We're
about opening the door they pushed 1t IN HDgler
held up his hand If being struck Officer Ringler dld
not attempt to leave the room with the prisoner at ALL
After were in the cell lie aud said insulting
interfere with MIN IN the discharge OF his duty
Mr.. Aymar was next called. He corroborated Mr..
Bach's statements and declared in addition that he
was roughly pulled into the hall, and that nc did
not have the door locked at any time. lie saw
blow aimed at him by of the officers, whose
numbers were 212 and .06S. Mr.. Aymar also tes-
titled to rough usage in the statOn-houSe DR.. VAL
entine Mott testified that he examined Mr.. AyInars
shoulder aud arm the next day aud found woseycro
bruises, as If caused by blow from blunt lnsru-
ment. The flesh looked dark AID angry. John
Carson, OF No 2l2 West One-hundred-and-tw twenty
tifth-st, testified that Mr. Rushton handed him a
letter at the court which was signed . Charles +:
Ii requested Mr. Rushton to use his influence with
Mr.. Carson TO induce him not to press the charge
against the negro, promising personally 10 pay MIN
for any loss he might sustain, aud telling Nh Rush
ton that he would receive the kindest wishes OF
the Racquet Court by 50 DONG" After seeing Mr.
Jenkins, Mr.. Carson Withdrew the charge
John Z. Rushton testified as TO the hnding and
claiming OF the pocket-bOOk by the waiter
Officer Frederick RiiIgler testified to the arrest
of W hitehurst. He continued as follows:
ordered dinner Mr.. Bacn stood against the door i'll
side, and took char tnat was offered lie. Alter Tie
arrest there was cubDlng that [ saw. did not
strike the cOOred mn.
Werner Brandt Late janitOr at the Racquet Court
Club, who let IN the officer, and discharged for
that act testified that when the officers came out
there were twenty-five thirty club members
about, very excited. several raised their hands,
and he clubs lifted, and the officers gave warn
ing that they would use their clubs II the members
IuterIcrcJ.
Officer William Phelps testified that he was
struck on the hand rs he came out OF the room with
Dir. Bach i'll charge. Officer Phllander f. Weeks |
testified that as nc entered the room Mr. Aymar and
Mr.. Bach were Just getting back from the door. |
Onicer James ). Lehne testified that he neither |
struck nor saw any one struck by the policemen. |
Some members of the club rushed up and he put |
q In a. hal 4 Ln1 nfT lnn hIflI
hit. koundslnan CaIley testified that he saw no |
clubbing done.
Mr.. Aymar was recalled, and declared
f Msre Gi S'''0 ae ST. Bach 0 %as
recalled, and SAID that Sir. Aymar did not sit down
outside the door, and that II was not locked at any
time Eugene s. Blois testified that the officer was |
walking up and down. and he thought he was fool |
ish not to 90 out, as he could have done SO.
After argument by counsel on both sides, Justice |
Smith sad that the arrest lawful, and that
officer was justified lii making II. The acts of the
omplainants ereILesal. The case was dismissed |
anu all the officers we've discharged.
1t SAID the matter will be pressed further by the
complalnants.
CENSURED BY PRESIDENT FRENCH.
President French of the Board of Police, heard |
the testimony III the trial room at Police Headquar
tiers yesterday, and he found occasion to express |
strong condemnation OF the actions OF some police
men who were brought before hun citizens COM
plants Patrolman Slnder, of the Eighteenth Pre- |
cinct, was accused Of striking Albert Hancock a |
w
an awning at FOurth-ave. aud twenty sixth-st. on
July 8, during IA shower. Several other walters ut |
the club supported Hancock's complaint. The pO- |
lcenIan said that he used his club i'll driving Han
cock and his companions away from the corner be-
they Interrupted the directions lie was giving
to "a man who had lost his way. Mr. French SAID |
that the policeman's conduct was unjustlnable and
dlsgracetul 10 the force.
Iuchard j. Nicholson. the proprietor of stable III
F0urtl-st., said that Policeman Farrell, of the |
Eleventh Precinct, dubbed HIM and refused TO let
hun 20 the stable on the occasion of recent fire
in the street. Farrell and other policemen swOre
that Mr.. Nicholson was gwen permission 10 90 |
through the police lines to the stable, but that
turned back of his own accord. Nr. French said |
sharply that such a story was improbable.
John McAuliffe laDOrer, of No. 524 BroOme-st.,
charged Rounusman SlaussOn, of the Leonard Street
Ponce, with clubbing HIM July ) and iniurIng
his arm severely. The accused policeman SAID that |
lie remembered striking man while he was dspers-
ing crowd of strikers but he could not recognize
McAuhfle. Sir. French SAID that the rOundSnan
ought To have dispersed the crowd without resort
ing TO violence.