The daily gazette., 1883-11-06
AN OFFICER OF THELAW
cATHcART FAILS TO PROVE
HIS CASE
AND IS SHOWN TO BE A MEDDIER
Hearing Of j. Alfred Collins, Before Es-
quire O'Neill, ON u Charge of DlsOrdorIy
Conduct Preferred by Onicsr Cathoart.

Conduct Preferred by onicsr Catheart.
Long before 7 O'Clock last evening. thu
hour set for the hearing of the case of police
officer Patrick Cathcart against J. Alfred
Collins, mail agent Of the ESeTy EveainQ
before Squire O'Neili, q large crowd had
gathered before the 'SQuires Office and bv
the time the witnesses IN the case haG made
their appearance the small room was 80
crowded that even the Chief with his com
handing presence had hard work In effect
Ing an entrance.
Officer Cathcart, after giving the 'Suuire
the names OF two witnesses he wished, was
sworn and testified as follows was stand
Ing on the corner of Fifth and Market streets
on Saturday afternoon last, a little past 4
O'CLOCK talking to some friends, after which
| started up Market street and had gotten
20 far as the Union National Bank when a
boy came running up to me and said q boy
bad stolen his papers and asked me to get
ID m for him. l retraced my steps and at
tho corner the boy pointed out the fellow
who had taken his pape In company
with the two boys then wentinto ihe press
room of the Every Evening and asked of
Collins which of the Two boys had
bought the Papers-Collins said "bOth
pr them." D. you, what business
10 1t OF yours" and then accused me Of
swearing, told him didn't, when he called
me liar and said, Get out of here, YOU
d loafer," aud then came around to the
gate and took hold OF my shoulder, while
Two men grabbed me aud pulled me back
behind the counter. The foreman then
came down and said could not arrest Col
Inns without warrrnt, so | went and got
Dne and went back. After | had read the
warrant laid my hand on his arm aud told
him to come along. He said let 90 my arm,
| can walk, and just as l started out the
door he hauled OFT to strike me, when Mr..
Young said 10 him, 'don't do that Collins"
The officer stated that he had testified to all,
when Collins asked him, s'Did you hear a
disturbance In the press-room before you
came down2" To which Cathcart answered
mo" When asked II he was instructed to
settle all quarrels between newsboys, the
fficer tried to evade an answer and finally
said cit is my business to preserve order,
and l believe IL part Of my duty to preserve
order, and am SO instructed by the chief"
The officer also testified to the fact that Col
Inns had ordered him out of the press room,
but said that he was there in the discharge
of his duty.
lhe Two witnesses for the prosecution were
Called but their testimony was by no Ineans
strong in defense of the officers actions.
For the defense John NJ. Whitford, bust
ness manager of tho EUery Egenino was
frat called and stated that he did not see
any OF the first part of the muss and only
saw the officer when he returned with the
warrant. "Would have seen Collins draw
back to strike Cathcart had he done so"said
tho witness la -sot.elSHste-.. -.
uu'nofo uoeO'neu Snao NaShcaIt
came down In the press room and said,
"Why In he'll don't you give this boy his
papers" Collins said, care they your boys"
Cathcart said, "no, but 1 am here to see
Justice done these boys" after some further
wrangling Cathcart came behind the screen
to arrest Collins, but did not have war
rant. When told TO 20 out Cathcart said he
''wOuld not until be was ready"
Harry Price testified substantially the
same, and several witnesses who were called
testified to the fact that thu first words
Cathcart sad when lie male his appearance
IN the press-room was, "Why in he'll cont
you give these boys their papers {" Testi.
moiy was also offered 10 tho effect that
Cathcart said to Collins, "I'il settle YOU be-
lore your hair turns white" and then went
out, but came back again, and 1uding the
screen door open, grabbed Collins by the
lapel OF the coat as If to pull him out of the
office, but WAS told that he could net with
out first getting warrant
X Harry Young, foreman of the compos-
tng-room, testified that he heard some loud
talk and arrived In the press room lust es
Cathcart came through the email screen
door and la hold of Collins as IT to arrest
him. The witness stated that he told Cath
cart that he would have to get warrant
before he could make the arrest, when the
officer Immediately let go his hold and went
for warrant. When Cathcart came back
Collins was still IN the press-room, and the
officer walked up to him and said: Come
along, / have the warrant" at
the same time taking hold Of Col
Inns. said: "Not so fast, come
to the business department and read the
warrant" The officer was In such hurry
that 1t was with difficulty that he at last
concluded the readiI 6, when he again took
hold Of Collins, who insisted on the officer
releasing his hold, which he finally did and
they started toward this Office.
Catheart asked the witness If Collins had
not made movement as If to hit him when
they started out OF the building, TO which
the witness answered emphatically
mo" This denial of the truth of the
officers statement produced smile among
the audience, and then to recover, as It were,
his lost ground, the officer asked the Wit
ness If Collins had not threatened to
click" him when he met him without his
uniform. The witness was unable to say
what Coil ms had said, but remembered that
Cathcart had used taunting remarks to the
prisoner all the way from the EUery Evening
Office to the 'SQuire's office, and had once
stated that he could lick Collins any day,
and was willing TO take of his star and coat
right where they were and fight it out. This
produced another audible smile at the ex-
pense Of the valiant officer, who rested his
body gracefully upon the table In the
'Squire's Office and smiled benignantly upon
each witness as they testified. The testimony
varying but little, the Chef, who sat near
Cathcart, said; They have been well
posted" J" and then remained silent through
out the remainder of the case.
Before all the witnesses for the defence
had been heard the Squire dismissed the
case, saying, as sort OF charge: "If Cath
cart bad gone to the Office asa private citI-
zen TO adjust a quarrel between two boys,
he had perfect right 10 receive treatment
as civil as that accorded a private citizen;
bis errand was praiseworthy, but 1t appears
to me that both men were o little fast.
Although Cathcart says he did not say,
"Why in hell don't you give these bows
their papers," Several witnesses foI the de-
fense swear that he did. They are both to
blame. Had either used a few soft words
this trouble would not have occurred, and I
consider one as bad as tn other.
Indications.
lUnited Press Dispatch to the Gazette
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6.-10 a. m.-For the