, 1888-12-14
HIT WITH A BILLY.
Officer ThOmason Clubs A. D.
Adams0n.
The POliCeman's Action Both Criti-
cised and Endorsed.
A Bad Accident Followed by an
Unpleasant Event.

The clubbing officer is a feature of met
ropolitan life which fortunately has never
been observable in the composition of the
Magic City. There have been incompe-
tent officers and laundering officers whose
careers have been shortlived, but until
yesterday the clubbing policemen has
never been developed. On the whole
Cheyenne has been blessed with a DO.
lice force of Shich any city might be
proud. The members were courageous, hon
est, dutiful and possessed of good judg-
ment. But to the story.
Yesterday morning A. D. Adamson, the
well known Horse creek ranchman. met
with a serious accident while branding
calves. By some unlucky kink of q rope
the thumb of his right hand was almost
torn from It's place. Despite the pain
MIR. Adamson, accompanied by a couple.
of friends. drove to town to have his
wound treated. 1t is said that en- route
he drank considerable liquor to deaden
the pain. In the city DR.. Marston ampu-
tated the member and dressed the wound.
On leaving the surgeons Office Mr..
Adamson stepped into a livery rig stand
ing in front of the Pearse & Magill drug
store-probably thinking it was his own
team-and started to drive away. The
animals baked and finally brought up on
the sidewalk of Henry Harrington's
clothing store. Adamson vaulted to the
ground and grasped the more demonstra-
tive horse.
At this i%uncture Officer Thomson APP
peared and trouble commenced. After
some parley he tried to take charge of the
team and arrested Adamson. The latter
refused to loosen his hold on the horse
and move. Thomson struggled and argu-
ally struck him three times with his billy.
The rancilman was stunned. His fingers
relaxed and he was started toward the
city jail. Officer Deitrick appeared about
this time and placed ''nippers" on the
wrist of the wounded hand. Adamson
still struggling, was placed in the lock up.
Adamson's friends and a number of the
spectators characterized Thomson action
as brutal and ~unprovoked. They main
tain that in his struggles with the wounded
and liquor crazed man he should have
called for assistance from the bystanders.
There was some pretty warm talk and for
a time it looked as though there would be
trouble.
On the other hand many reputable citi.
zens assert that the officer simply did his
duty. They say that if he had not been
arrested Adamson would have injured
himself and hurt others with his team.
Mr.. Thomson told a LEADER reporter
that he simply did what any other officer
would have done under the circumstances.
He regretted the occurrence, but believed
that he had acted judiciously. He strug-
gled with the ranchman for some time
before striking him.
Marshal Schnitger, chief of police, had
not investigated the matter when seen by
the reporter. Mr.. Thomson had, he
said, always been a good officer of excel
lent Judgment. and while not being con-
versant with all OF the facts he was in
clined to the belief that the policeman
could not be censured for his action.
Thomson has been on the force for
nine years and has never before been crit
icised.
Adamson is well known and deservedly
popular. While he has been involved in
trouble before. his life for several years
has been that of apeaceful and law abid
ing citizen. Yesterdays event Is deeply
regretted by the friends of both men.