Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-09
The Strike Of the Sewer l.aborers.

The Strike OF the Sewer l.ab0rers.
THE CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST POLICEMAN SLACK
DECISION OF JUDGE MILLS
In the Police Court this afternoon Policeman
Jun1uS B. Slack was put on trial for assaulting a
colored man named Thomas Kyler, and also with
using profane language. The assault grew out OF
the action OF the officer at the strike Monday morn
Ing at the Boundary street sewer.
STATEMENTS OF THE STRIKERS
Kyler, who Is one OF the strikers, stated that he
and his companions had struck work, and were
standing on the sidewalk In front OF the Deaf and
Dumb asylum. when Slack came up and cursed
him and put pistol to bis heat and said he would
shoot him down II he didn't move on. The officer
was on his horse at the time, and the pistol was
put right agalnst witness head. John Gaskins.
another striker, said the officer rode up on them
fed that the oicer rode into large crowd Of COL
ored men on the sidewalk aud said he would shoot
every --1f they didn't get away from there.
STATEMENT OF THE OFFICER AND OTHER WIT
MISSES
The on1cer was sworn, and testified that he has
been on the force about i've years. He stated that
he was called on by two gentlemen-a boss at the
Washington Brick Machine company and a FORE
man on the sewer-to hasten to the sewer, as
there was riot there. When he arrived
there he discovered large crowd OF men on the
sidewalk, and did not use the language charged
but said You sons Of thieves disperse" after one
OF them caught his horses bride. He put Clifton
under arrest because he ordered the men to fall in
line after he (Slack) had ordered them to disperse
Mr. T. j. Acker, foreman on the sewer was
called by the Defense and stated that he saw Slack
in the midst OF the crowd and thought him in
dangerous position.
Mr. Pater, OF the Washington Brick Machine
company, testified to Summoning the officer TO
the scene, and also TO the good character of the
onicer. He also said that there was some appre-
tensions that the strikers would visit the brick
yards.
Mr.. L. Browning appeared for the ofIlcer and
made speech In Justification.
JUDGE MILLS ON STRIKERS RIGHTs
Judge Mills said: "II is not every arrest that an
officer makes without authority that will make
him responsible to the court In the case before
the court the other day the officer made mis-
take. In this case the facts are different The
men In this case had right to strike, and as
semble and march around il they were orderly
The calling OF the officer was proper precautiOn.
When there Is strike there Is always
apprehensl0ns OF q riot and violence while the
strikers are labOring under the excitement Now
the question Is, whether this is q case in which
the officer should be held guilty of assault The
officer was there In case OF great delicacy. IL
was stated that he fOurished his pistol Just how
far this Is tustihabe is question. do not think
the charge OF assault has been sustained by the
government"
In the charge Of profanity the court said the
language charged by the complainant was not
proven, but the officer admitted calling them
ssons Of thieves" and Q flna OF IS would nave to
be imposed in this case.
aDDeal was noted