The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-15
YOUNG HEWITT ARRESTED.
THE Ex-MlYoR'S SON MARCHED UP
BROhDWAY BIZ A POLICEMAN.

An Alteration with n ChbEah in Front ct
tho Madison Square Theatre that Faded
In Blows-PolicemRn RoHk Accused of
Handling His Prisoner Roughly.
Peter Cooper Hewitt tho twenty-eight-
year old son OF ex-Mayor Hewitt was under
arrest for half an hour yesterday afternoon,
and went through tho ordeal OF walking up
Broadway from Twenty-fourth street to Thir-
10th street at 5h o'clock. when the thorough
fare was most crowded with promeDaders,
with a big policeman keeping tight hold Of his
right arm. lie was made a prisoner In front of
the Madison Square Theatre on charge OF
assaultnR cRbman, was discharged at the
West Thirtleth street station house. and went
away intmating that he would make a
charge against Policeman Ronk Sylvanus OF
using unnecessary violence in making the ar
rest and OF pushing him with his club.
The arrest was made just at the close Of the
concert and private theatrical entertainment
given by Mics Hewitt, the OK. Mayors daughter,
and her young women friends Young Hewitt
was manager OF the entertainment, and had
lsbored industriously ut tho task Of getting tho
well-known society people who attended tho
entertainment safely into their carriages.
There was n big Jam OF carriages in front ofthe
theatre and they we're badly tangled up.
At 81 O'Clock Mr. Hewitt came out OF the
theatre escorting two young women. whose
carriage CHANGED to be standing at tho curb on
the opposite side OF the street. Cabman John
OConnell OF 1926 Ninth avenue was sitting on
tho box Of his cab. which was directly in front
of the theatre Mr.. Hewitt asked him to back
his horses. 40 that the young women
might cross to their carriage. O'Con-
nell refused. and he and Mr.. Ilew-
TT got into m alteration that
ended in blows. Each says the other struck
first Mr.. Hewitt says that his blows were in
set-defence. and he is backed up in the asser-
ton by several well known men. Mr.. Hewitt
caught the bride of the nearest horse when
oC9npolI refused to- back the tea team g. md
nell lashed him with his whip across the chest,
and Mr.; Hewitt raised his walking stick and
struck OConnell across the forehead. The
blow raise ridge over the cabman'S eye.
roIsS%sn 0n6 stencil up @nn TefG S
he he be arrested Tor assault 0Gonnei said that
he had been struck by Mr., Hewitt before he
used his whip. Konk took Mr.. Hewitt by the
the Thirtieth street station. James P. Town
send OF lg8 East Ninth street followed; The
Hewitt with anot her policeman on the box;
Mr.. Hewltt's friends asked TO be allowed to call
a cab to drive the prisoner to the station house,
but the request was refused. he says.
Cabman OlConneIl showed the lump on his
forehead to Sergeant Scnmittberger when lie
minutes later, with little Knot Of straggiers
at his heels, lie told the Sergeant that he was
married ana lived at III Lexington avenue
Il only struck this man i'll self-defence. he
said. after he had struck me with his whip,
edmit that did wrong to touch bis horses"
statement. Neither O'Connell nor Mr. Hewitt
would make complaint o. assault against the
them 6oth Youne r Hewitt consud
moment with Mr.. Townsend, and then turning
to the Sergeant. SAID that he desired to make
his club. He laid the club against my neck and
rough in fact. that the, other policeman told
him TO be more gentle. We wanted toEet a car
Eisge to save The Grde ot IF wSknG along Broad
II consider" said Mr. Townsend, that the
policeman acted in a most outrageous manner;
Mr.. Hewitt only had Policeman Ronk's num-
Der. Sergeant SchmittberGer gave him Ronk's
name, and told him that the proper course was
Mr.. Hewitt then went away with Mr.. Iownsend
In the mean time the to b whom Mr ewi
drove ranidly to the home of ex;May9r Hewitt;
On their arrival there they told Mr. Hewitt OF
o ols %sh rend Mr. HGn or the station
He arrived at qcl9cE nus ust as the night ola
A sun reporter told him what had taken place
there: ,,,,, ,,,,,o,
against the other However am very glad
to see that the n0ee arrest So, sGme ,b
that the matter was settled and that young
Mr. Hewitt had gone home.
The boy" replied Mr. Hewitt. " is generally
very good tempered. lie should respect the
law at all times and II he did not this
should be very good lesson 10 him."
Mr. Hunt said that hc had seen the arrest,
and added that he considered that the police
man bad HHnn4IeI young Mr. Hewitt very
to Justify it. He simply, drew back when the
natural repuEnnnce thar any citizen has 10 be-
ing handled in that wav."
Policeman ltonk said that he hal half n
dozen witnesses to prove that he was not IN
necessarily rough.
Z" l saw Mr.. Hewitt strike the cabman first"
he added. He hrokehs cane over the cHbnlan's
head. He renewed the fight ten minutes after
the first alteration, and ii was not until then
that arrested him."
Ronk was appointed in August 1887. and has
always been In tho Nineteenth precinct. He
has had the reputation Of being o-headed
policeman his superiors say
Nh Hewitt said at his home last night that
he had not yet determined what steps to take
regarding EOnk's conduct.
The. policeman dragged me to tho sidewalk
after the encounter. he added. and at
tempted to throw me down. Failing in this he
elbow and ribs. A button was, forced from
my vest in the struggle. and my neck !
tie and collar were disarranRed. ! think (
he rubbed my head with his club. /
have been in both boxing and wrestling
matches, but was never more roughly handled
in my life. twice appealed for aid TO nm ON
Ger near by. who | Judged BY his uniform 70
be 2 roupdsman; but he did nothing. and IL
nRlly walked away"