The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-15
Governor Albeit Hears the
Case of Germany
Against the H0-
boken Police.
SHOCKING BRUTALITY.
Many Witnesses Describe the Ter
rible Assault Upon Police
man Ryan.

the Hoboken City Hall this morning,
Governor Albeit commenced taking tes-
fipony in the case Of the alleged viola
ron Of treaty between this Government
and Germany, by the Hoboken police.
On tie morning Of October 5. 1889, Po-
liceman Dennis Ryan was beaten by
sailors Of the steamship Elbe. His brother
officers ran aboard the ship and dragged
Ryan's assailants from their hunks. In
doing this it is alleged that they used un-
necessary violence to the officers of the
!, Eibe and that the police clubbed the sad
Aors when they arrested them.
Chief Donovan was the first witness
called. He testified in substance as fol-
lows:-''All that | know of the case was
when l arrived on the morning of Octo-
Der 5. 1889, at the police station / heard
Sergeant Rathjen talking about making
an arrest of the two officers on board the
Eihe for interfering with him in making
arrests told him and his men to go be-
fore the Acting Recorder and make a
complaint They did so, ana the officers
were arrested on warrant, and gave bail
for trial. Policeman Ryan was on River
street the night of October 4.
kicked by sailors from the Elbe. He
jumped up and ran after them down the
dock and was again assaulted. l saw the
officer when he went on duty that night
and also saw him next morning at St
Mary's Hospital. He remained in the
hospital for about three weeks, but was
not able to report for duty for about four
months. The officers on duty aC the time
of the assault were Sergeant Rath1en,
Policemen Porter, DAWN, Tietjen, De-
tectives Gallagher and Kivlon and
koundsmen Tanning and Flattery. Our
relations with the steamship company
are pleasant. We frequently make ar
rest on their ships at their request"
A DOCTORS TESTIMONY.
DR.. William X. Fischer testified as fol-
lows:-'I am one of the surgeons at St.
Mary's Hospital. knew Dennis Ryan
He was brought to the hospital on the
night OF Octouer As, 69. The man had
evidently been badly beaten. 1 thought
his injuries dangerous. / have not ex-
aDined the man since that day"
Samuel Divers, Custom House in
spector. testified as follows:-'1 had
charge OF the steamer Elbe. was walk
ing around the dock on the night of Oc-
tober when l heard scuffiing. Then
saw several firemen running down the
dock followed by policeman with his
hat ofr and bleeding. he said to me that
he wanted to go aboard the ship. l told
him 10 20 and see the chief officer. Then
eight or ten firemen came off
the ship and attacked the
injured policeman, knocked him down,
jumped on him, kicked him and struck
him with mis- own cluD. Soon a squad of
policemen came down the DOCK and
4 wanted to 60 aboard the ship. They
stood IN the gangway and parleyed with
the officers. Then they struck the officers
and went on board ana came of with sew
eral fremen as prisoners"
George Miller testified:--'I reside at No.
227 Garden street On the nightof October
a. l Was passing River street and saw
Policeman Ryan in front OF Never and
Steneck's. l saluted him and he said,
where are those fellows making noise?'
He then went around to where the noise
came from. A gang of firemen then came
arouna. singing. He tnen told
them to keep quiet. Ryan was
then attacked as was myself and
We were surrounded aud beat and kicked.
Policeman Ryan then went down the
dock to try TO arrest one Of the gang
went with him. Then the crew came Off
the ship ana beat and kicked us again.
Ryan laid on the dock rs though he was
dead. Then Policeman Kip came down
aud the crew attacked him. Sergeant
Rathjen then came down aud asked for
an explanation. The crew did not ans
wer. but began to beat hathjen also."
WANTED TO THROW HIM OVERHEARD.
Policeman Kipp testified: - ION the
night of October heard policeman's
whistle, and | answered 1t. | ran down
crew. Sergeant Rathjen then arrived,
and they also attacked nim. Ithen heard
one OF tine firemen say in German, Throw
him in the water" Policeman Ryan was
in terrible condition. He was bleeding
and cut almost beyond recogni
tion. l only recognized him by his
uniform. Then squad of police came
down and we all went on board the ship
The officers on board the ship refused TO
allow us TO go on board. We then
pushed our way IN and arrested some of
The firemen. The officers ON board the
ship told us TO come around in the
morning and they would show US
all The crews. Then we could pick out our
men better. The officers ON board The
snip refused to allow us to go on board.
They did not attempt To stop the firemen
In attacking us. We thought Policeman
Ryan would die at the time and we want
ed to get the assailants. look Ryan
from the dock. He was unconscious
RYAN's OWN VERSION.
Policeman Dennis Ryan WAS the next
witness, and he testified as follows.-"I
have been on the police force for i've
years. At a quarter past eleven O'Clock,
on the night of October 4, 1889. a citizen
told me that number of nremen We're
making u disturbance in his saloon. Al a
quarter past twelve O'Clock these men
came ont and commenced to sing and
Yell. One OF lbe hremen made an
Insulting remark TO me and | paced my
Land on his shoulder and told him he was
under arrest One OF his companions
then struck me aud / struck HIM with my
club. Then the whole CROWD attacked
me. One Of them took my club from me
and struck me with 1t. They knocked
ME down and kicsed me. and / became
unconscious. When l came 10 / went
down the dock and asked for the first
officer. He was in his room at
the time He put on his clothes and
! stated my busine.s. He told me to go
ashore went of the ship, when l saw
the man who nrst assaulted me. He SAID
TO me, You struck me with club
said, Yes. and you are the man / want,
and ! placed him under arrest Then
about fifteen or twenty flremen came of
the ship, knocked me down aud beat me
with my own club, and l again became
unconscious Sergeant Rathjsn came
down later. There were two
Of the ships officers standing
on the ship looking over the rail. Tney
did not Interfere with The fifemeu while
was being assaulted. was then brought
TO the station house by Sergeant Rathjen
and the other officers and attended by DIR.
Heller aud then sent TO ST. Mary's Hospi-
tai, where was for three weeks. l re-
ported for duty two weeks after left the
lospitaln
JURISDICTION ONCE DECIDED.
M q 1at taaff