New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-04
DID THE OFFICER KILL HIM
A STORY OF A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
POLICEMAN WOOD ARRESTED-THE ARoNsoNS
CHARGE THAT HE CLUBBED THEIR
FATHER TO DEATH

POLICEMAN WOOD ARREsTED-rnE ARoSsoSs
CHARGE THAT HE CLUBBED THEIR
FATHER TO DEATH.
| When Coroner Levy went to the home OF
Max Aronson at No. 10 Heater ST. soon after noon yes
terday take his norton statement. Max Aron-
had sunk into unconscious state and the expert
onced OF the Coroner the sgns OF approaching
death In the mans The coroner had Deeh sent ior
in haste, as Mr.. Aronson wanted to tell the story
| Of o brutal assault which was made upon nun,
but in few moments after he had expressed
desire to the Coroner, he became unconscious and
never spoke again. Mr. Aronson slowly sank ana az
| p No. gave slight gasp for breath and died.
Samuel L. Aronson tho dead mans son. who saw the
assault told tho following story 10 regard to tho cause
OF his fathers DEATH His father 10 the owner Oh htue
grocery store No Is Hesters. and has been tnere
for many years II has been his custom for long whe
to have bread upon counter outside or the store sae
during the morning hours On Wednesday last about lo
m. boy in passing the store grabbed one OF the
leves OF bread and started away with it. The son saw
the boys act and called to him to drop the bread MI
Aronsop, the father, who fifty years old and
feeble other side OF the street at the time,
walking aud down carrying his little granddaughter
In his arms He started to cross the street. Inc boy,
who knew who he saw him coming, ran 10 the gut
ter picked up stone aud threwit at the old man. Inc
stone did not strike him; the boy picked up anothcr
| one and about throw it, when Mr. Aron-
| sons got the boy and made MIN
put the stone down The boy yelled at the son. called
! him vile names and dched him to touch HIM crowd
| gathered, aud among thom was stout lrishwomau
who demanded what right Aronson had TO Interfere VIII
the boy. Aronson told her that the boy had stolen
loaf Of bread from and that he ought to nave
been arrested The woman became angry, and as she
started away said "rLl send his mother mere anu sue
make II hot for you"
| About an hour aiterward woman came In
front Of Mr.. Aronson's store aud shouted
| that she was the mother or the boy, who,
she asserted had abused and demanded satisac-
tion. sne talked in "a loud voice and attracleu
large crowd people in front Of The store NO a'eh
tion paid at first by those IN tile store, Dut
as she continued to rave. Mr.. ArOnson the old man,
walked quietly out and spoke to her. lie told her what
her sou had done that he robbed him. many other
boys In the neghborhooi had done, aud that lie would
| overlook all If woman would only go away and
mind her business Sne became violent ana Wouu hoI Ho
away, but continued to rave until tho arrival OF fonce-
man George W, Wood. OF the Thirteenth Precinct
| "Why did you hit that womanl" asked Wool In
| clustering tone in an angry mlnner
/ 81 did not hit her." said the Old man.
"Well you trel to hit her." said the officer drawing
his club.
| "You are mistaken" said MI Aronson. II had ho'n
ing TO do with her."
The woman kept shouting all the time, and Mr.. Aron-
son tried to mako policeman understand what all
the trouble was about. Even while the old man was
| speaking tho officer raised his club ana struck
| the excited and leeD4e man VloieHb pio"
| on the head The people who were standing around
cried "Oh Shame " as the sound Of the blow rang In
their ears and the old fell to the walk at the OIL
GERS feet. lie limp ami unconscious and did not
| seem to breathe The officer Is big man Weighing
nearly pounds AMI tho force of the blow ho gave
was terrific. Not conteut with the blow with the CLUB
Officer Wood stopped and shook ths prostrate man
by the coat collar He did stir and the oicer Kicked
him with his heavy boot and shouted get up" Inc
old man did and the officer raised his heavy club
| and struck the prostrate man another blow
| All this mad taken but moment, and the son OF Mr.
Aronson was lust OF the store when he saw
the officer striking his father as he lay Oh the walk
The sight ma him aud he rushed upon the ocer
and gave push with all his strength, whlch sent
him into the gutter his back Then the son picked
I'D his father carried HIN into the sore. The bloc
| was flowing from the wounds In tho old mans head,
| and the son went up stairs to get a towel to
stanch It, While he up stairs Wood. who hal
been Joined by oaer entered the soro and ac-
cording to the statement OF young Aronsjn TO tho
Coroner while OF the policemen held the old man
tie other dubbed him numerically on the head.
Blood flowed from the oil mans mouth. eyes and ears
and his tongue hung out OF bis mouth. Whom the son
of Mr. Arons0u came down stairs his two other son
were entering Seeing their father upon the
floor, while the oloers were beating him
unned on ths officers to defend their
father and succeeded In driving the officers. clubs and
ALL into the street. The officers away from the
| place.
one o, the sons ran for Dr. Harry Freeman. Of No.
1913 East Broadway. The doctor hurried back. and
hastenei to bandage up the old mans wounds While
thus engaged Officer Wood returned forced his way into
the and attempted to arrest tue old man without
giving Dr. Freeman q chance stop the flow OF blood
| aud dress tue wounds. The doctor demonstrated,
| and told Wood that the u.ans skull was
fractured that he was In no condition to be
moved. and that 1t would endanger his
mia hv nfh
ofcers Insisted upon making the arrest. and. despite
protest OF Dr. Freeman they dragged the old man to
the Thirteenth Precinct Police Station The entire fam
lily OF Aronsons arrested and were prisoners In the
Essex Market Prison for iorty-eSht n. h hours: in:
Iombs Mr. Aronsoa the elder OF m ms rs. mean @
asked for ana a Sas II g ans nna s
entire family returned 10 tneiE home .,. A..
he Ssd to Ss Od put to Se at onco and Dr. freeman
sent for Inc Old man sank gradually all the time ana
| yesterday morning DR. Freeman gave up the case and
Dr. Bsrnch was called in There was no hope for nun
| and he died - -.
rage, said Dr. freeman last night, apd pece OF ur
warrantabe brutality He WA: seriously Injured 1 ana m
| opportunity to make even superficial e1amins-
Ga %a of ay his wSod Ga%das' and up nj.
officers hustled him of to the lookup cannot ipagne
fractured skull, and recognized how serious the
case was determined 10 give It up .. -. u,
Aronsons went to Police ieadquarters aud stated
the to Inspector Dks who at once ordered the ar
rest OF Officer Wood Inspector Dks also telegrapned
10 Captain Petty to place the officer under arrest 60
Officer Wood we5t into tho Thirteenth Precinct STA
tion late OF two detectives VINO ar
rested him at his in the evening after Captain
Petty had received his orders from Inspector Dlks'
The right side Of face badly swollen ana tho
flesh about and neck vas niscolored from the
blows lie received from Aronsons sons.
He looked II he ought 10 he In bed Instead OF In tho
station He had not been able 10 report Tor duy
since the morning OF the hgnf He has been
on the force eighteen years ana captain
Petty speaks highly officer. Or late he mas
|
law Relating TO encumbrances III thc streets IN inc lnir
teenth Precinct. lie on that duty on wednesday
morning stopped IN Hestcrst to speak to soms
men who work on building there To nave thom
remove pile OF dirt that 0bstructlng tue Walk
| 90 Wine TALKING to tho men, he said last night "
overheard Arunson tell woman that lie would strike
her and when demonstrated with him, he SAID tnit ne
would take the law into bis own hands and thrash