Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-10

not KNOW WY uc was dffcotcu. hS eie
not see the arrest on account of the crowd
Chief Drew was there, and ordered officer
Frszee to come away from the polls.
Several witnesses were called who die
not materialize, so the defendant, officer
Stafford, was placed upon the witness
stand, He testified that he had been on
the police force year and half. On the
day of the Republican primary he was de.
tailed to the second precinct of the Third
Ward. II saw Mr.. johnson there" said
Mr.. Stafford He was challenging voters.
There was large crowd there, and every
time a mans vote was challenged the
crowd would rush up to the polls,
and there would be lively push
ing and pulling. The row. that
brought about Mr.. Johnson's ar
rest occurred about 2 O'Clock. Some
body was trying to vote, and then | heard
| Mr.. johnson shouting to officer Frszse to
arrest George Green, who was challenging
| on the other side. When Frazee seized
| Green, the crowd rushed in. Chief Drew
| and l rushed in to put the crowd back. l
was about half in when l turned around
and saw Mr.. johnson with his hands on
| Harry Jones' shoulders, and was pulling
him. Jones had hold of George Egan and
George Egan had hold of Frazee. They
| were all trying to pull Frazee away from
Green. l took hold of Mr.. johnson by the
wrist with one hand and around the back
with the other, and took him out of the
| crowd. did not intend to arrest him. but
when w. P. Harlow demanded that l ar
rest him, saying that he would prefer
charges against him, why could do moth
ing but do my duty. had no feeling in
| the matter whatever, and only arrested Mr..
| johnson because | had been commanded
| to do so by citizen. Mr.. Harlow told me
afterward that he bad neglected to file the
complaint having been absent from the
city. Mr.. johnson was discharged by the
Court, but since then Mr.. Harlow has
sworn to a complaint against him.
On cross examination by Mr.. Jones, Of
fcer Stafford stated that he was positive
that Mr.. Johnson was pulling Harry Jones
when he took him out of the crowd. The
arrest was made wholly upon Harlow's de-
mand and his declaration that he would
swear to complaint. When he saw of
ficer Frazee take hold of Green he thought
it was proper to take the other challenger
MIR. Johnson-away, too, so as to stop
the disturbance. 1t was not his intention
at that time to make any arrests.
w. P. Harlow was the next witness. He
was at the second precinct, Third Ward,
during the Republican primary, and saw
Mr.. Johnson there. The latter was chal-
longing. Early in the afternoon Mr..
Johnson became boisterous,' said the wit
ness. land finally ordered officer Frazee to
arrest George Green. FraZee started after
Green, and then there was a general row.
| saw Mr. johnson grab Harry Jones and
begin pulling him. When officer Stafford
took Mr.. Johnson out of the crowd, |
saw that he was not going to arrest him,
SO / walked up and demanded that he
be arrested, and l said 1 would swear to
to the complaint. When the case wss
about to be called in the Police Court, /
was in San Francisco, and could not swear
to the complaint. | told City Attorney
Hart about my trip to the Bay"
William Lamphrey was at the Ninth
street polling place nearly all day, and saw
Mr.. Johnson frequently. Mr.. johnson. he
said, was taking an active part in the cleo
ton, and was ''rustling" for the ticket
against which the witness was contending.
Witness described the arrest of Mr.. John
son. in effect the same as the witnesses who
preceded him. He was confident Mr.
johnson was talking as loudly and taking
about as active part as any one else. He
did not see him doing anything more than
the rest. There were no more rows after
Mr.. johnson was arrested, said the wit
ness.
General Hart here announced that he
wanted to examine one more witness be-
fore closing, but that this witness was not
present, although he expected him every
moment.
Mayor Comstock suggested that a re-
cess be taken for few minutes, and that
being agreeable to all parties, such an order
was made.
When the Commission reconvened, Mr..
Hart announced that his witness had not
yet put in an appearance, but he did not
wish to delay the investigation, and would
therefore submit the case on the testimony.
He did not wish to argue the case. either.
Mr.. Johnson's attorney, Mr.. Jones, said
he was willing to submit the case without
argument, too.
The Commissioners them held a short
whispered consultation, at the end of which
Mayor Comstock announced that the Com
mission was ready to vote on sustaining or
not sustaining the charges against officer
Stafford.
Clerk Jones called the roll, and the
Mayor and Judge Buckley voted to sustain
the charges, while Chief Drew voted in the
negative.
After another consultation the Commits
sion decided not to pronounce judgment
upon the officer until Monday morning,
and an adjournment was taken until that
time
MR.. JOHNSON NOT GUILTY.
When the Stafford matter was disposed
of, Judge Buckley re-organized the Police
Court and passed judgment in the case of
Grove L. Johnson, charged by w. P. Har-
low with disturbing the peace-the charge
upon which he was arrested by officer Stat
ford. Without making any comment, the
Judge found Mr.. johnson not guilty.