Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-13
NEGRO AND POLICEMAN.
Colored Men Complain That They Get
More Than Their Share Of Clubbing.

poLcemen.
| A STATEMENT OF GRIEvEASCEs.
The special committee appointed some time
/ ago made a report, which set forth that lit has
become the custom OF some OF the police Off
GERS of the District of Columbia in making ar
| rests to wantonly and unnecessarily beat. club
and otherwise punish the persons arrested,
| peciaily when such persons are colored: such
officers do not contine their their cruel, unwar-
| ranted and inhuman treatment TO males, but
| also use their bstons and nlppers upon females,
| whose physical weakness is conclusive evidence
| of their inability to offer any appreciable
sistance; that many charges of disorderly con-
duct and assaults made by such officers
against persons arrested are the results
and outgrowth of the manner the Off
GERS approach the defendant. and that
several inoffensive citizens have re-
Gently been arrested and treated by officers as
above stated i'll the presence of good, respecta-
bic citizens. who can and will testify to the
facts" The committee prepared a resolution
that we appoint q committee of nine to pre-
sent our grievances to the honorable Commits
sioners of the District Of Columbia as herein
set forth and ask that these evils be remedied,
and lay charges against such officers may be
considered guilty OF violating the laws Of the
police regulations"
OBJECTIONS TO THE REPORT.
Lawyers Hewlett and Kicks objected to the
report. The former spoke of the case OF Officer
Dean. who, he said, had dubbed Mr.. Hutchin-
SOL, and SAID that since the last meeting the
case had been nolle pressed by Prosecuting At
torney Armes, VINO tried it in his own Office
He referred to Mr.. Armes as a man preiudiced
against the colored race, and spoke in the high
est term of Judge Hoge. He said that another
warrant had been obtained against Officer Dean
and he only wanted to see what Mr.. Armes was
going to do with that. He may nolle pros the
second one, too. but then they could go higher,
and even to the President ii necessary.
THE COLOR LINE.
lawyer Kicks said he wanted it understood
that the color line vas not being drawn in this
matter. 1t had been stated, he said, from the
Supreme Cour. bench that the coiored paopie
compose tbe larger part of the criminal class,
which he said vas SO because it ill the
power OF white people 20 make the records lie.
tie had no fault 70 ind with the Judges, nor did
he want 1t understood that he was speaking in
behalf of criminals. He said that when a ruff
fan deserved only what lie got he vould not
raise his voice in defense of HIM unless he was
paid good fee for dong Sc, and he would de-
fend white man just as soon he would
negro.
Lawyer r. d. Il uffin said the Commissioners
were the officials to Z 20, they could dis
miss the officer. He complimented Judge
Miner as being one OF the best men who ever
held cour:. He charged that nine-tenths of
the policemen who maze these assaults swear
falsely to MAKE their cases.
TO HUNT THE POLICEMAN DOWN.
Rev. Bishop Johnson said they intended to
hunt the policeman like bloodhound until
the matter is rishted. If the case again fails
in the Police Court it will be taken higher
These meetings" the speaker continued
have been held before and the Commissioners
have always given them the sugar bag and told
them to suck II. They did and it put them
to sleep. That is not the case with us. This
meeting is composed OF class of people who
are stlckers. We will not take no for an answer
We are here for the purpose Of creating a feel
ing against this Policeman white man and
an freshman. l don't say he drunk nor do
| say that he is usually full of whisky, but am
tempted to say SO.
THESE regulations here called police regu-
latIons are nuisance. They may be good in
themselves, but Ill general they are nuisance.
For instance, they won't allow a chicken to
crow III the back yard and get fattened for the
preacher" [Laughter.l
The resolution was thereupon adopted.
GENERAL ATTACK on THE FORCE.
Mr.. Geo VI. Arnold SAID a great deal had
been said against the police, but nothing had
been said about the force. The police force
he said, lis composed Of the trash of the
world Some of the officers have been kicked
out of their city; kicked out of society: are out
casts or fugitiNes from justice but they went
III the army and they are on the police force
now. The law requires man to reside in the
District for two years, yet there is man on
the force who has only been IN the country for
two years. But Maj Moore wanted him to do
his clubbing ard he got him"
Continuing he said; This is q hell-cursed
city. Public sentiment is against the negro
and the record against him is made by a crowd
of democratic policemen
He said that the cOlored people in this CITY
can never hope to get fair treatment at the
hands OF the Commissioners. He cited the
case OF Robert Brown. colOred man, who
was refused a liquor license, and SAID that a
white man was granted license to sell rum
next to a cOiored church; and that man he
said does his best business when there lis a
niger funeral at the church. He concluded
by Offering resolution for the calling of a
convention.
TO FORM PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
The matter was discussed at length and it
was finally decided to invite the ministers to
form protective association for the objects
stated
The chair appointed the following committee
to wait on the Commissioners as provided for
i'll the resolution. Rev. W. Il. Johnson T. D.
Euiin. J. VI. Kicks, Wilson Smith. L. NJ. Hew-
lett. W. {. Martin. Rev. S. CT. Iampkn, d. f.
Bats and q. VI. Arnold.
The color line was again spoken of and Law
yer Hewlett said that the color line was not
being drawn because. they were after police
men. and II mattered not whether the officer
was white or colOrcd.
The meeting adjourned until next Thursday
with the understanding that the chairman. Mr..
j. W. Cromwell. will appoint a committee of
ministers and others and report their names
before sunday.
III for thxf nrt,