Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-12
CONFLICT OF OFFICERS.
POLICEMAN ROUGHLY HANDLED.
Officer Patrick Dohsrty and Deputy
Sheriff 6oYland Engage in Rough
and Tumble Fight.


most unfortunate and disgraceful affair
took place at Boyland d McConville's ss-
loon. at 33 Grandville avenue, yesterday
forenoon, about 1910 O'Clock. The fact
that the principal participants in the melee
were peace officers. and should have been
doing all In their power TO preserve rather
than break the laws, makes the case all the
more shameful. Patrolman Patrick Doherty,
whose beat covered Grandyille avenue. yes
terday morning, was going his rounds, and,
as IL expected of patrolmen on Sundays, en-
tered the yard enclosing the saloon Of Boy
land a McConviIle, for the purpose of see
ing whether or not the back door was open.
While in this yard he met Edward Boyland,
one of the proprietors of the saloon, and
Deputy Sheriff Francis Boyland, his broth
or, and pitched battle was engaged in. All
parties received some severe blows and the
Boylands seemed to be fast getting the bet
ter of Doherty when James Hennessey, a
deputy marshal, came along and separated
the men, the other witnesses TO the fight not
interfering. As there is always
two sides TO every story, q represen-
tative of THK TKLsGRAN started out
with the intention of obtaining the state
ments of the two officers of the law who were
principals in the affray. Patrolman
Doherty's written statement left with Supt.
Perry was first obtained and is as follows:
"At about 1890 o'clock a. IN. was going
south on Grandville avenue and saw a man
coming out of Boyland Il McConville's door
i'll the fence surrounding the saloon, corner
of Grandville avenue and Goodrich
street. / went in at the gate and
tried the side door of the saloon; Ed. Boy
land rushed in from the street and called 10
his brother, come Frank, now we have got
the son - - when Frank Boyland said
You dirty son - you are drunk now,
l can smell your breath Ed. then said.
Yes, he just came out of Colleton's.' Frank
then said, Get out of here you son - -
- l told them / was there in the dis
charge of my duties and was obeying orders.
Frank struck me with his fist, when Ed.
joined him and both struck me several
times: l pulled out my revolver but
took second thought and
put it back, thinking it better to suffer a
whipping than to shoot someone. When
pulled out my revolver Frank Boyland said
to me You - =, what are you GO
ing to do with that?' / then arrested him.
when he resisted saying, '-- you,
have more power to arrest than you have.
Mr.. McConville was also there but did not
tade part in the fight The Boylands would
probably have killed me had not James Hen
messy happened along and separated us.
called on several parties presrnt TO help me
out, but could get no help"
The representative of THE TlIEoRAM next
went to the Jail, in hopes Of finding Deputy
Sheriff Francis Boyland. the other principal
but found he was not in the city. Sheriff
Kinney, who had retired for the night, was
aroused from his slumbers and Boyland's
version of the ARRAY, rs related TO the sheriff
was obtained. 1t is substantially a. fol-
lows:
/ had been out driving and went TO the
barn to put out my horse; saw Patrolmsn
Doherty come out of Colleton's saloon and
stagger into the yard surrounding the saloon
of Boyland d McConville; told him he had
no more right in there than any other man
no man had any right in there on Sunday
and he must leave. Doherty used insulting
language, called myself and brother hard
names, and when we were trying to make
him leave, he struck me over The head with
his club several times, and finally pulled his
revolver and pointed it at US. Doherty was
under the influence of liquor and his breath
was very strong.
Patrolman Doherty, in company with
James Hennessey, reported at once at head
quarters and made his statement. which was
taken in writing, the facts in which were
corroborsted by Mr.. Hennessey The Sup
erintendent, Clerk, and other members of
the police department, who we're prese nj
when Patrolman Doherty made his report,
say he was not intoxicated, had no smell of
liquor about him. and is not a man addicted
to the use of liquor. One other Pstrolmsn
says he has been told by the Boylands "a
keep away from their saloon, if be wished 70
act as pstrolman IN the future.
The relations between the city police de-
partment and the sherif's department have
been most friendly. and the two have been
working in perfect harmony, especially dur
ing the past tvo years. II is thought this un-
fortunate affair will IN no manner serve r.
antagonize these departments, and for the
sake Of Justice and deceney il is to re hoped
the guilty in this instance may be punished
and speedily removed from the Office ne nov
holds. II is nov thought warrants viIl be
sworn ont hy both parties. and the end is not
yet.