The Evening critic., 1885-01-07
FARouHAR EXPLAINS.
ne is Heard By tho Police Trial
Hoard.

The Police Board, composed Of Captain
Charles Il. Vernon and Lieutenants Greor
and Guy, convened in the trial-room at
Police Headquarters at 10 o'clock this
morning. The first case called to tho at
tention of the board for trial was the grave
charges against Police Officer Charles Far
quhar, preferred by Mr.. S. II. Thomas, the
carpenter, of East Washington, the par
ticulars Of which were mentioned in The
CRITIC yesterday.
Mr.. Thomas was tho first witness called,
and upon being sworn stated that upon the
night of the 1st instant, about IL o'clock,
he arrived at the Baltimore & Potomac
Depot on the train from Richmond, and
started down the Avenue.
There was no car In sight and he walked
leisurely along stopping every once aud
awhile TO kill time, until an east-bound
car passed, which would carry him to his
homo In East Washington. Whom he ar
rived near tho Globe Office, between Third
ana Four-and-a-half streets, ho was ap-
preached by Officer Farquhar, who asked
him where he lived and what he had in
the satchel he had in his hand. He
(Thomas) said he lived ON the Navy-Yard
and was waiting for a street car. The Of
fcer pointed to herdic which was passing
and said, why don't you take that chariot?
II will take you home" He replied that he
did not want the herdic but would wait
for the car. The officer then deputized a
man who was standing near by to assist
him in arresting witness, and the officer
and man caught the witness by the coat
collar.
Witness kept his hands in his coat
pocket, where he had $40. Farquhar and
the man then dragged him to the threshold
of q hallway of restaurant He called
Police" several times, and Officer Hinkle
came up and identified him, but the officer
would not release him without first exam
lining the contents of the valise. II was not
before Officer Smith vouched for his Gharac-
ter that the officer released him.
The next witnesses called for the prose-
culion were Officers Hinkle and Smith,
both Of whom corroborated the above, only
that when the officer found out he was mis-
taken, he apologized to Mr.. Thomas, saying
he was mistaken.
A few other witnesses were called, but
knew nothing further. Officer Farquhar
was then sworn and stated that about
eleven or half after eleven he was coming
down the Avenue on his way to work. He
did not have on his uniform, but had his
badge under his coat. When near Morri-
sons bookstore he was approached by
man giving his name, he thinks, as john
son, who called his attention to Mr.. Thomas,
who was then standing between tho tree
boxes in front Of Bells photograph gallery,
few doors above.
He watched the actions of the man
some time before approaching him; his
actions were suspicious When he ap-
pro9ched Mr.. Thomas he asked in q polite
manner II he (Thomas) was stranger in
the city. He replied no; that he was
resident of East Washington and was wait
ing for street-car. A herdic was passing
at the time and he told Thomas that 1t
would take him to the Navy Yard. Thomas
then got indignant and said he knew the
way home. The officer then stepped off q
short space and Thomas proceeded on his
way up tho Avenue, crossing Four-and-a-
half street. The officer became more sus-
picious and made up his mind to see what
was in the satchel carried by the plaintiff.
He followed closely behind Thomas aud
put his hand on plaintiffs shoulder while
in front Of the Globe office, saying that he
was an officer, and that he wanted to know
little more about him. The plaintiff got
| indignant, and, jerking away, ran to the
street shouting "Policew The officer sprang
| after him, and, catching him by the coat
collar, started to take him to the place
| where he dropped his valise, as a crowd
was assembling and he wanted to secure
| the satchel. He blew distress call on his
| whistle, which brought Officers Hinkle
| and Smith to the place. Mr.. Thomas,
| pointing to Hinkle, SAID: THAT officer
| knows me-"
He asked Hinkle If he knew the name of
| tho plaintiff, and Hinkle said that he did
| not know his name, but he could vouch for
| his good character. He then released
| Thomas, begging his pardon for his mad
vertance. He started on his way to the
station. The plaintiff aud Officer Smith
went off up the Avenue together.
| The officer had quite large number of
respectable citizens at Police Headquarters
| this morning, all Of whom spoke very
| highly of the officers integrity and ell
cheney. Lieutenant Kelly said he had
| known the defendant as an officer for fifteen
| Yeas, and that his character for efficiency
was upquestionably good.
After the trial Officer Farquhar stated to
| a CRITIC reporter that his action in the case
was in strict obedience with his duty as an
officer. Mr.. Thomas was pointed out to him
as acting in manner which to him (the
officer was suspicious. He approached
him, and tried to convice him that he was
an officer, and that his intentions were to
do what was right, but he (Thomas) goi
excited and would not have it that way, and
forced the extremities on himself "rhai
is just the way with us officers" said he
"when We try to do our duty, we are sal
upon. Had l known tho gentleman had
the large amount of money in his pocket
and that he was respectable citizen,
would have done most anything to protect
him, but as it was he gave me no satisfac
tion to my inquiries, and thought it my
duty to arrest him. l would do the same
IL called on in such case again.
Mr.. Thomas said that he was satisfied
with the officers character, and would be
perfectly satisfied If the officer could pro
duce the man who first pointed him out
The officer will endeavOr to find tho man