Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-11-25
WARD vs.. BLACKBURN.
The Case Against sergeant Blaokbu
for Assault on Paul Ward Dismissed

The Case Against sergeant blackburn
for Assault on Paul Ward Dismissed
The case of the state vs Sergeant
| Blackburn for assault aud battery on
Paul Ward at the Tenth ward polls,
| Third and Van Buren, streets, on the
morning OF November 5, came up last
evening at the Municipal Court and lasted
for over three hours City Solicitor
| lyman represented the state and Beuja-
min Nields appeared for Sergeant Black.
burn.
Paul Ward testified that on the morn
| ing of Novem Der he went from Fifth
and Market streets to the polls at Third
| and Van Buren, streets about l o'clock
About half an-hot afterwards Sergeant
| Blackburn came up in company with
fifteen or twenty policemen. lie gave
| the orders to halt, right face" aud
''disptrse the CROWD" in quick succession,
and Immediately without a moments
waiting, the police charged the crowd.
| Ward was leaning against tree In front
of the polls when the officer approached
him aud ordered him to 60 away. Wit
ness said he had right there, as he was
deputy sheriff. Tbs sergeant then
struck him several times with his baton
over the back, hand and shoulders, in
ficting several bruises. His hand was
so much hurt that it was yet swollen.
The sergeant then kicked him several
times about the legs and body, hurting
bis leg so severely that he was lame for
two weeks afuerward. While the sergeant
was clubbing him he put up his hand TO
protect bis head and was struck by the ser
geant over the hand When the officer
told Lin to 20, he said that be would do
so, but would not run He had not said
harsh or abusive word, and was acting
In peaceful and orderly manner He
was seventy FIVE feet from the polls when
the officer struck him over the head The
sergeant clubsed him four times In ell
Mr.. Nields cross examined him with the
view OF trying To show that Ward had
been involved In a quarrel at the Elevenlh
waI polls on that day and hfd received
his wounds there. No Ward admitted
having a slight quarrel. hut denied that
any alteration occurred Ia which he was
struck Several witnesses corroboraled
his testimony.
Deputy Marshsls George Alder, Isaac
Bowers. w. p. Bowers and Christian
jackson, swore that after o'clock that
aorning the crowd became very threaten
ing toward the deputy mai shals, and
limited that ualess they left they would
be carried away Fearing disturbance,
they went to Fourth and Adams streets,
aud telephoned for the police When
the latter got there the people we're asked
by Sergeant Blackburn three times to
dispense, and two or three minutes
elapsed between the time he gave the
order and ihs charge Sergeant Black
burn had used his cub lightly on Ward,
but to the best Of their knowledge, did
not kick him.
Officers Martin, Rittenhouse, Scott,
LoRue and Rsymoi all testified that
they were near to Sergeant Blackburn
during the time he was attempting TO get
Ward away. The sergeant struck him
several light blows wi his club. as the
latter refused to leave He did not kick
him DR. Blocksom said that be made
an examination of Ward the day after the
occurrence, but he could fnd neither
wounds nor bruises.
City Solicitor LYMAN said that In view
Of he corf citing character OF the testi-
mory, which was sufficient to raise
reasonable doubt. he would not press Tor
a conviction. Much ado about nothing, =
muttered few Disguised persons, as
Judge Ball dismissed the case.