The daily critic., 1890-08-06
AN ILLEGAL ARREST.
A NEWSPAPER MANS ALLEGED OBJ
STRUCTION OF THE SIDEWALK,
rested Him, Halt an Hour Later
in the station House.

Since the Dean case was decided in
favor Of the officer, and there was
disposition on the part Of the Court to
uphold the officers in their struggle with
the criminal classes, some Of the men
connected with the Second Precinct
have arrived at the conclusion that they
were clothed with the power Of a petty
potentate and have run things pretty
much to suit themselves.
Last night one of them, Officer Car
son, distinguished himself by making
an illegal arrest, and one that before it
is finally settled will cause him consider
able trouble. William @. MCGill, it, Of
Tine CRITIC staff, and Gleason, the ball
player, were standing az the corner of
Seventh and N streets quietly convers-
ing. They had left Manager Sullivan
only a few minutes previously and
walked up Seventh to ~ Mr. McGill
lives on that street, and as Gleason lives
farther UP Seventh, they naturally
stopped TO finish the conversation.
Both men were standing under the
electric light on the curbstone and
quietly talking when Officer Carson
came along.
"You men will have to get Off of this
corner, he said gruiily. Inasmuch as
neither one Of them had said or done
ANYTHING that could be construed into
the slightest infringement of any law
they declined to move.
I'VE are not doing anything, aud
there Is no loud or profaue talking, and
We have a right 10 stand here as long
as we want" said Mr.. McGill.
I'll. ynfaff fltVauf.n.sl a.. VHt "a hnNh AZ
| them In, whCrCupOu his number was
requested
"pll show you my number, he re
| piled, raising his club as II 10 strike,
| and following Il up with demand that
| they leave Finally he gave his mum
| Der as 2j7 and then the trio walkUd
| over 10 a space between the bay window
/ and the corner, where the matter was
manner, the officer explaining that he
| had instructions from the lieutenant to
| not allow any one TO congregate on the
| corner, and the citizens insisting they
/ had a right to remain there Ii they
| pleased, especially If there were only
| two of them.
About ten minutes were spent In argu-
/ ing the question, and then they sepa-
I AAlAAF WI AAANhaRh AAAAAuA hAA AAA4A AAN
| did not believe the officer gave his right
| number, and II was proposed 10 90 to
the station house and see, inasmuch as
| Il had been previously determined to
enter a complaint against the officer.
/ Upon arriving at the station Mr., Nc
| Gill went In 20 see the station keeper,
| and while talking to him Carson walked
/ In from the rear and placed him under
arrest on a charge Of obstTucting the
sidewalk. lie evidently suspected that
a complaint would be made against
him and thought he would make an
arrest In order TO put 1t iu a better light.
| Five dollars were left as collateral and
Mr.. MeGill released from custody. The
arrest was not made at the time the
offense, If there was any, was COM
mitted and not for over half an hour
thereafter, and then at the station
| house.
In the Police Court this morning the
case was continued until Friday. Mr..
McGill does not propose TO allow the
matter 10 rest, however. He will pre-
fer charges against the officer 20 the
Commissioners, and, If 1t Is possible,
legally prosecute him for false arrest.
| When the officer gets through with the
case he will know that the prerOgatiyes
Of policeman do not extend to arrest
| ing respectable citizens In order TO head
| off complaints against himself.