The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-22
SALEM
TROUT VS.. JOHNS ON.
Much interest in That Clubbing
Affair.
ROANOKE TIMES BUREAU,
HoTEI, LIICERNE. SALEM, VA

OAl'EHs ' ~.
The town talk in Salem yesterday
was the arrest of John Trout by Of
flcer johnson Wednesday night, in
which the officer struck Trout on the
hoad with his billy.
The affair took place at the corner
of billiard 81 Persinger's drug store
about half past eight o'clock, when a
good many people were just going homo
and large crowd gathered on the spot
and witnessed the affair. Numbers of
people thought the officer exceeded his
authority in clubbing Trout, who was
very drunk.
Trout was arra;gned yesterday morn
ing before Mayor Younger, char ged
with drunkenness, the use of obscene
and profano language and resistance OF
arrest. He was represented by w. M.
Montgomery.
Before the trial N. j. Moon swore out
information, charging the officer with
misconduct in Office end asking for his
suspension from duty by the mayor.
Mr.. Moon said he thought it his duty as
citizen to take this step, after hearing
all the circumstances of the affair, and
that he did this without any malice
against Mr.. Johnson.
1t was decided that the case against
Trout should be tried first. Trout
pleaded guilty to the charge of drunk
enness, but not guilty to the Charge of
using profano language and resisting
arrest
Captain Horner, tho first witness for
the town, testified that he heard OH
Ger johnson warn Trout twice to go
home, but though he went away once,
he returned to the Lucerne barroom,
where the officer MAS compelled to ar
rest him and take him away. When
Johnson took the prisoner by the arm
to lead him off he was not resisting.
Captain Horner testified that Trout was
''fearfully drunk"
Officer Johnson testified that he had
seen Trout that afternoon on the
dummy coming from Roanoke. He was
drunk then. lie saw that he had
long -bladed knife, With which he was
picking his teeth. After no arrested
Trout that night he began to pull away
from him, and to resist going TO Jail.
1t was dark and the lights on the streets
were poor. The officer said that he
thought he saw Trout aim to strike
him. He couldn't see Trout's hands at
all. Then he began to use his billy,
striking Trout on the hands and arms
to prevent his getting in any ticks with
the knifo which he saw Trout have that
afternoon.
He called upon bystanders for aid bu t.
mono responded until Deputy Sheriff
Weber came up, when they together
got him up from the ground, whore he
had fallen, and took him to jail.
MIR. .iebber said when he was calico
in by Johnson, he saw Trout down on
his knees on the pavement and Slipped
his nippors on him.
Officer Johnson further stated that he
knew Trout to be desperate character
and said My only object in striking
him was to defend myself Other wit
nesses were called in for the town whose
testimony was substantially as above.
Mr. Simpson appeared for johnson.
Mr.. Mcdonald was the. first witness
for the defence, and swore that Trout
did not make any resistance whatever.
resistance and only pulled back as near
ly every drunken man does when being
carried to jail. Thore was plenty OF
light on the corner.
G. ID. DON'T saw Trout pulling away
from Johnson'S blows upon his hands.
He did not see the lick upon his head,
but heard it when they were putting
the irons on Trout.
Il. 5. StearncS said that he saw the
blows STRUCK and remarked at the tin G,
Good God Almighty, that's the most
brutal thing | ever saw"
When asked by Mr.. Simpson if he
were not interested in Mr.. Trout TO the
extent OF paying his fine if necessary,
Mr.. Stearncs replied with vlgor that he
had offered his help to Trout, who said
he didn't need it. as he could pay his
fines himself.
Messrs. Wiley, Maury, Mendcnhall
and Oakley testified in behalf of Trout,
swearing that he did not forcibly ro-
Sist arrest.
The mayor said taking into considcra-
ton that Trout had been warned three
times by Johnson to go homo, besides
other things such as his desperate char
actcr, he would sustain the warrant as
to its charges of resisting arrest and
fined Trout $40 and costs.
His honor refused to hear the case
against Johnson maintaining that i.
was the place of the town council to
settle the question of his disposition
from Office He set tonight for the
hearing Of the case by the council.
Mr.. Bruces i Inc Colt.
Thomas Bruce yesterday received
from Alex and Ii. G. Stuarts stock
farm, in Russell county, Va, dark,
seal-brown two-ycar-old mare, Rosa