Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-05
THE COLORED MANS COMPLAINT.
Fastor Brooks Makes Some Serious
Statements About the Police Force.

AT meeting Thursday night at the Second
Coiored Baptist Church of the Citizens Pro-
tective Association" the organization brought
INTO existence on account of the alleged brutal
treatment OF colored prisoners by white police
men, a letter was read from District Attorney
Hoge respecting the case of Officer Dean. This
letter said:
After conference between Mr.. Armes and
myself and an examination of the memoranda
OF evidence submitted, it has been deter mined
that the complaint Against Oflicer Dean should
De passed upon by the Police Court Upon the
application of Hutchinson. the party stated to
have been aggrieved. warrant will be issued
and the case fully heard"
RESOLUTIONS adopted by the Baptist ministers
conference pledging moral and pecuniary sur
port to the Citizens Protective Association
were read
REV. Mr.. BROOKS CHARGES.
letter was read from Rev. Walter II.
Brooks. pastor Of the Nineteenth Street. Bap-
fist Church, in which he said: 1T is a sad and
very significant state of affairs that renders it
necessary for the colored people Of Washington
city, the capital of the nation, to assemble in
mass meeting and to form permanent protect
i've associations at time when republican
administration holds the reins Of government
and therefore is responsible, morally and
politically. for the treatment the black man re-
ceives in the District of Columbia"
Il think that it is true" wrote the Rev. Mr..
Brooks, that C) Some of our policemen be-
long to and were selected from the criminal
class; (2) that certain species of crime exist
III the District Of Columbia to the detri-
ment of our people, by the tacit consent
of the police force. that those who live
by a criminal business may be thereby
enriched; 60 that in making arrests
policemen often beat our people in very cruel
manner when there is absolutely no necessity
for violence; "a that there is good reason to
believe i'll many instances the liberties Of the
colored citizen are taken from him for time
on the false statement of the officer of the law,
who has some special ill-will toward the
criminal; 90 that this lawlessness in the
handling of a lawless class is contagious and
that 1t would not be surprising if some day the
very judge, sitting upon his seat to administer
the law. would SO far forget the oath OF his Of
nee and the influence of his words as to vent
his feelings against some malicious criminal
by advising the injured citizens of this COM
munity to disregard the law and rcdden their
spotless hands with the blood of assassination
or lead iynching mob by the light OF the
moon"
Rev. Mr.. Brooks letter was received With
much favor and discussed at length.
TO LIE OVER.
Col. Arnold called for report on his resolu-
tons, referred at the last meeting to the COM
mlttee on grievances, with q view to having
them laid before the President, calling his at
tentlon to the ill-treatment of colored people
In the District by the police. Mr.. Ruftin stated
that the committee had decided to let these
resolutions lie over, rs District Attorney Hoge
had granted their request to have the case of
Policeman Dean prosecuted Speeches were
made by Rev. Drs. johnson and Laws, Col.
Arnold and others.