Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-11
CONFLICTING TESTIMONY.
Ihe Alleged Assault OF Policeman Dean
on Sam Hutchinson.
HEARING BEFORE JUDGE MILLER-EvERY WIT
NESS FOR THE GOVERNMENT GIVES A DIFFER
Emf VERSION OF THE AFFAIR." woMAN's TEs-
TIMoNY ExcLUDED-LvELY TIMES IN COURT.

NIss FOX THE GOVERNMENT GIVES A DIFFER
ENr VERSION OF THE AFFAIR." woMANs TEs-
TIMoNY ExcLUDED-LvELY TIMES IN COURT.
The trial of Policeman Richard L. Dean,
charged with assaulting Sam Hutchinson, col
ored. as heretofore published in THE STAR, was
begun In the Police Court yesterday afternoon.
In the audience were many colored persons
who have attended the indignation meetings
heid to discuss this case. Mr.. Mullowney ap-
peared for the prosecution and Messrs. Moss,
Gloss and Sillers for the defendant.
SAM HUTCHINSON TELLS HIS STORY.
Sam Hutchinson, the prosecuting witness,
was first called and he described the alleged
assault, which occurred on the oath OF May. He
testified that on that day he was on N street
between 4th and 9Th streets with some other
persons, when the officer came along and spoke
to one OF the party named Simms. The officer
passed them and soon afterward he returned
and placed Simms and witness under arrest.
They were not doing anything at the time.
Then they started toward the station. but be-
fore reaching there witness ran off to make his
escape. The officer pursued him and fired two
shots to brighten him. At the corner of Ridge
and 4th streets the officer overlook him and
struck him with his pistol He struck him on
the back of his head. They walked across the
street and the officer struck him another blow
with his pistol. This blow was inflicted over
his eye. A third blow was inflicted over his
head and he was knocked senseless.
Counsel for the officer produced long court
record against Hutchinson, but the witness
could not remember every time he had been
arrested, he said. Counsel then mentioned the
names OF several criminals, and witness said he
knew all of them and that some of them were
his friends.
ELIZA KEENAN, AND REV. JOHNSON.
Eliza KEENAN,, colored. was the next witness
According to her testimony she saw the officer
do considerably more than Hutchinson knew of.
She did not hear any pistol shots. Her evil
dence was entirely different from Hutchinson's
and so surprised the judge that he himself con-
Quoted the cross-exaWlnation of the witness.
When Lawyer Moss questioned her about the
case he mentioned the name of the Rev.
johnson.
The witness, smiling, answered.: 81 know the
Rev. Johnson"
Mr.. Moss said he did not care to blacken the
name of the witness nor of the Rev. johnson.
This remark was the cause of Lawyer Kicks,
colored rising to denounce what Lawyer Moss
said. and he added that no one could blacken
the witness character.
Your honor" said Lawyer Moss, II object
to outsiders interference in this matter. This
Is not an Indignation meeting"
Lawyer Kicks persisted in making a noise
and Deputy Marshal Mccartney had to call him
to order.
Hutchinson, who did not hear the woman's
she had testified to- Judge Miller thereupon
excluded the woman's testimony.
REV. W. BISHOP JoHNsoN's VERSION OF IT.
Rev. ". Bishop johnson, pastor of the
Second Baptist Church. was then called and
his version of the affair was even worse than
that of the woman. He said he saw three
blows where the complainant only felt one and
the woman only saw two, and he said that
Hutchinson fell at the corner of Ridge street.
one square from where Hutchinson said he
fell Then he said the officer dragged the
prisoner square, to the corner of street,
where the assault was renewed. Witness said
that the officer kicked Hutchinson in the ribs
When questioned by the court witness said
he stood and watched the assault and did not
lnterpose because he knew he would get
arrested if he did, even ii he attempted to
assist the officer.
The judge read Hutchinson's evidence to
witness and the latter said he did not believe
that Hutchinson really knew what did happen.
You said you were visiting the members of
your congregation said Lawyer Moss to the
minister. Were you visiting some of the
sisters?"
Il was visiting the chairman of our church
trustees board was the minister's reply.
''How often do you go to see the sisters?'
AS often as l get ready"
TWO MORE REVEREND WITNESSES
Rev. W. W. Gaines. another coored minister
was called and he told what he saw of the
affair. He said that he saw the officer use
billy.
WAS it billy or billy goat?" asked Mr..
Moss
ut was not billy goat" was his answer.
Now" remarked Lawyer Moss. 'this is all
dream 20 you aud you can go on dreaming"
Rev. james l. Loving. also colored. was
called and his evidence differed from that of
all the other witnesses.
Judge Miller remarked that he wanted to get
at the facts, but he did not see how he was
going to do it with such difference in the testi-
mony.
OTHER WITNESSES
Lucinda Brown, colored, told new story of
the affair. She saw Hutchinson standing Oh
the corner three or four minutes before the
officer appeared. She said that the officer
struck him and knocked him down and then
stamped HIM on the head
Henrietta Blackwell colored, testified to the
part of the affair she saw. She swore that the
officer knocked Hutchinson down with the pis-
tol and then kicked him.
This closed the governments case and the
court adjourned until TODAY when the defend