Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-09
STAFFORD on THE RACK.
THE POLICE CONFESSIONS INQUIRY
INTO HIS CONDUCT.
The Examination Long Drawn Out, and
Mr.. Johnson's Side Not Concluded
at Midnight.

at Midnight.
The Board of Police Commissioners met
last evening in the Police Courtroom for
the purpose of investigating the charges
preferred against officer Stafford by Grove
L. johnson, of having arrested him at the
late Republican primary election, as alleged
by Mr.. Johnson, without justification.
Mayor Comstock called the meeting to
order and briefly stated its object. He also
read the complaint filed with the Commits
sion by Mr.. johnson.
Officer Stafford had as counsel General
A. L. Hart and c. T. Jones appeared on
behalf of Mr.. johnson.
Mr.. johnson took the witness. stand, and
in answer to questions by Mr. Jones, said:
II am a Republican, and at the recent Re-
publican primary election was a voter in
Precinct of the Eighteenth Assembly
District. | am acquainted with police Off
Ger Stafford. l took an interest in the pri-
mary election, went to the precinct men
toned to vote and in response to the
window and challenged persons whom
/ believed had no right to VOTE
Officer Frazee stood in front of me, when
man named Freud came up TO vote. There
was crowd OF persons around there who
were not residents of that precinct and
who were making great noise. They
started pushing and showing, and officer
Frazee was thrown forcibly against me,
throwing me against window. | tried to
get out of the jam, when suddenly some
body seized me from behind and dragged
me out of the crowd. At first thought it
was some friend who was trying to get me
out of harms way, but on turning around
| was saluted with: You are under arrest.
| had done nothing whatever to warrant
such arrest, and was making no noise at
all. The crowd of non-residents around
me were making great noise in full sight
and hearing of officer Stafford, yet he ar
rested none of them. When be was TAX
ing me off W. P. Harlow rushed up to US
and said 10 Stafford; Take him
away! Take him away Arrest him =
was put 10 carriage and driven off. On
the way TO the Police Station asked Off
Ger Stafford repeatedly what | was arrested
for, but he would give me no reason. l
did not believe he was in earnest, but soon
learned that he was. AT the Police Station
was charged with disturbing the peace,
and was released upon depositing $50 bail.
| afterwards appeared in the Police Court
several times but no charge was placed
against me-"
The parties who were creating all the
disturbance about the precinct, Mr.. John
son continued, were non-residents of that
precinct. To the best of his recollection
they were George Green, an ex .policeman
and now a resident of Folsom; Harry
Jones, prize-fghter, and, he believed, a
resident of San Francisco; man named
Flynn, Second Ward delegate, O'Meara,
a First Ward delegate. and W. P Harlow,
also nonresident of that precinct
Attorney Hart on cross examination
asked Mr.. Johnson to describe as we'll as
he could the scene at the precinct just prior
to his arrest.
Mr. Johnson replied that there was
general pushing and pulling bad language
in which the outsiders took an active part
A man named Goods was doing great
deal of it.
You say this Harry Jones is a resident
of San franciscan asked Mr. Hart.
$50 l am informed" replied Mr.. John
son.
Did you not grab hold of Harry Jones
that day p
mo, sir; touched nobody"
Continuing, Mr.. Johnson said he be-
lieved the row was preconcerted plan to
push him away from the polls and prevent
him from challenging votes. Did not or
der Timber Green placed under arrest
Did not place my hand on any body that
day and push them away from the polls.
well, about the facts of the matter are
that you got into that crowd and got ar
rested, aren't they, Mr.. Johnson ?" said Mr..
Hart.
'Oh, no, don't think SO, was the re-
ply. 1T was scheme to have me pushed
away from the polls, that's what l think"
Mr.. Hart wanted the witness to state why
he thought it was scheme, but Mr.. John.
son said he did not care to give hearsay
testimony.
Mr. Hart insisted, because, he said, he
had been given to understand that Mr.
Johnson had accused him of concoctipg
the scheme.
Mr. johnson replied that he only knew
what he had been told, and would prefer
that the witnesses would testify for them
selves.
Mr.. johnson was then excused from the
stand, and George K. Rider was called
Mr.. Rider testified that he went out to Mr..
Johnson's precinct that day out of mere
curiosity, and saw general pushing and
hauling going on-like the usual First
Ward primary-and saw Mr.. Johnson at
the window. where he had been challeng-
ing votes didn't see Mr.. Johnson doing
anything in particular. Timber" Green
and man named Goods were acting dis
gracefully, and the next thing the witness
knew Mr.. johnson was pulled cut of the
crowd by officer Stafford. If Mr. Johnson
~ ay,ufhtpnr IL,
witness thought he would have known it.
Under cross examination, Mr.. Rider said
he could not name any particular person
in the crowd, except Goods, who was max
ing any noise. There were lot of them
there, but he could not tell which of them
were making the noise.
Thomas II. Berkey testified that he was
a Judge at the precinct where the trouble
occurred. He noticed Mr. Johnson there,
but did not see him do anything to
warrant bis arrest. He was making
his challenges in gentlemanly way, and
was not talking loud or using offensive Ian
guage. He did not see Mr.. johnson at the
time OF his arrest. because the latter had
been hustled away from the window by
the crowd. The most conspicuous persons
in the disturbance were Green. Goods and
O'Meara. They would crowd into the
polls and push voters away from the win
dow. Officer Stafford was there at the time,
also officer Frazee.
In answer to questions by Mr.. Hart, Mr..
Berkey said he was in position to OBJ
serve from the window most of what was
going on outside. He believed that Mr..
Johnsons challenges were made in good
faith, but he could not say the same for
those on the other side-Green's challeng-
ing. He recited an incident. by way of
wherein an old-time Reput-