The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-10
POLICEMAN STERLING.
A Preliminary Investigation Before the
Police Committee.

Police Committee.
Yesterday afternoon, at o'clock, Mayor
Deering, Aldermen Gould and Winslow, CON
shutting the committee on police held pre-
liminary investigation in the case of Officer
Luther A. Sterling who had been charged
with brutal treatment of George T. Atus, o
colored man, in March last, A petition. head
ed by Mr.. Smith, the hair-dresser, and signed
by several other citizens. was presented to the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen at former
meeting requesting that steps be taken to as
certain whether Mr.. Atus had been badly
beaten with a billy by Officer Sterling and
seriously injured. The petition was referred
to the committee ON police.
The Mayor requested the City Clerk to read
the petition, which was done.
Mr.. George L. Atus, the complainant, was
asked to tell his story.
Mr.. Atus said no went to the house, where
he was arrested, to pay for some glass he broke
the night before. The woman asked S5,which
he refused to pay as only two panes were
broken, and she then called In Officer Sterling
who told him TO leave. He wanted time to
put ON his overcoat. but Mr. Sterling would
not allow him to do SO, and took him out of
the house. Outside Mr.. Sterling drew his
billy and struck him on the wrist He (the
witness) then said Don't strike me again. +"
Mr.. Sterling then struck him on the nose,
knocked him down and then jumped on him.
On cross examination Mr.. Atus said he
thought he was treated roughly at the station.
he was taken ont of team, thrown into a
cell and jumped on. He couldn't tell
cell by Capt. Black, Officers Sterling and Mer'
rill. He had been drinking little, perhaps
two or three glasses Of rum. which he bought
up the street. Thought. the injury was in
tiicted on him by Sterling. Didn't know
whether his side was hurt in the affair with
the officer or at the station. He had nothing
in his hands or pockets at the time; didn't
strike anybody; was never arrested but on co
when told to do SO. on Middle street, by an
officer. Was not put before the court for the
offence; work at Mr.. Clay's stable and have
for two years,
DIR. Cammett was next called.
DIR. Cammett testified he called on Atus
March Goth, or four days after the injury. He
was aoed and apparently asleep Judged the
bridge OF his nose was broken, but there would
Dc no daformity as the bones were ia place.
The injuries ware not serioas. The man had
10 be fed He first seemed unable TO answer
questions, but us he got interested, and off his
guard, answered as well as any one. His tenn
perature aud pulse were normal Concluded
Atus was nervous and weak and appearing
sicker than he was. This was evidenced by
his after improvement. Did not fear inflamma-
ton of the brain. Told his friends he was in
no danger Called again on the 18th and he
was then entirely out of danger.
On cross-examination as TO whether he didn I
say, the day after he first saw Atus, that his
rib was broken, said he didn't think he made q
positive statement to that effect, but thought
It might DO broken. In answer to Atus the
doctor said he didn't say his nose and rib were
hrnkau oni hat ha uoh
DR.. Cummings was the next witness.
The doctor saw Atus about three days. after
the injury. Atus was in bed apparently stu
pid. He answered questions but not in loud
voice, bat as soon as he got interested he an
swered readily. Found no fracture of rib; the
nose was bruised and swollen but not fractured
Temperature and pulse were normal Atus
seemed more like a man recovering from q
debauch. Didn't..think from his injuries the
man had been treated with more force than an
officer should use in making an arrest. Had a
better chance TO see Atus than DIR. Cammett
How Atus received his bruises couldn't be told
He couldn't have been seriously injured with
out fever resulting and decided changes in his
condition. In his, the doctors opinion, the
debauoh had more to do with the mans inJa-
ries than the arrest.
On cross-examination the doctor said the in
juries were partly due to the blows from the
billy. and OF course such bruises as he received
bruise blows. Have seen worse blows from a
fist.
Miss Atus, the complainaut's sister, was
called.
Miss Atus didn't see the affair with the
officer which caused the arrest. She said she
saw him thrown into the cell at the station
like dog. Officer Sterling was the one who
did the throwing, and when he came out of the
cell he said" meant TO kill the son OF a b-h, -"
at the same time pulling handkerchief from
his pocket. Sterling was close by the window
when he said these words. Can't tell who
were present when he made the remark. There
were officers and, think, Mr.. Libby, who
drives hack, heard it. Don't know Libby,
nor his first name. Don't see how he could
help hearing the remark.
Atus interrupted and said II was George
Staples. not Libby, who heard the remark.
John Roach, bright boy OF about fifteen,
was called.
Roach said he was Atns' nephew. He mar
rated the row at the house, and said when
officer Sterling came he caught Atus by the
collar and hauled him out of the door. Atus
said, s'leave 90 my coat till put IL on" Then
Sterling struck Atus twice with his billy, and
hit him after he was down. Atus told Ster-
ling not to hit him. The boy said he heard
Sterling said Atus drew razor on him, and
Atus replied he hadn't any. Atus didn't resist
until he got TO the station. When the officers
got Atus in the station they knocked him
down. The officers were Sterling and Crowell.
On cross-examination he said he saw them
pull him down but no blows were struck.
Officer Sterling, when called for to give his
version of the affair, narrated it in substance
as follows:
Was on the farther part Of Washington
street and met q colored woman who appeared
much disturbed and told me there was trouble,
and upon going further We met another color
ate
ment, saying "For Gods sake come into the
house." following this with like remarks. We
went into the house and there saw drunken
colored man raising a row. Went to the man
to take him out, but the man caught the door
casing and would not bulge. When, by as
sistance of others, his grasp on the casing was
| broken, he asked for chance 10 put ON his
| coat and released him. The coat was brought
| but he would not put it on, nor accompany me
/ attempted to seize him and at the same time
keep the hands OF the man from my throat.
After repeated warnings to quit his grasp, the
hand was raped with the billy and il dropped.
The man then put his right hand in his pocket,
struggle ensued, the hand was withdrawn
| with quick movement, and razor fell, some
| i've feet behind him. At this point again
used my billy, then took ont irons and tried to
| put them on, but an unfriendly crowd and
| evident danger made me give up the attempt.
| After getting my prisoner into the street
| placed him on candy-team, near by, and
| from the team but held him and placed him
| in the puDg Of Mr.. Geo. johnson which was
near at hand and with the woman and boy
whose testimony has been given again started
| The prisoner was extremely violent, made
| desperate exertions to escape, and shouted
| wildly all the way to the station. On our way
| we met fellow officer, and together succeeded
| in getting the man into the Deputy Marshal's
| room. where a desperate struggle took place,
| but finally handled the man. With the assis.
tance Of Deputy Marshal Black, the man was
| at last lodged in his cell. considered the
man very rough customer, and from first to
last used as little force as possible
Questioned by the Mayor Mr.. Sterling said
he made no such remark as Miss Atus had tes-
| tilted to, and Mr.. Staples, Mr.. King, and Mr.
| Fay, who were witnesses of the scene at the
| station house, corroborated his statement Ia
| this regard, and also said that In their opinion
| no more force was used than the occasion
| called for.
| William West and Joseph West witnesses
OF the ARRAY at the house, gave evidence which
| supported that of Mr.. Sterling, though neither
| saw the razor Of which the officer spoke.
Mr.. Sterling did not take the razor because
| he was unable to do 80, or at least judged the
| attempt to take 1t would draw him into trouble
| with the whole crowd.