Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-29
OFFICER LIGHTFOOT'S ARREST.

OFFICER LIGnTFOOT's ARREST.
Judge Miller Makes Some Very Pertinent
Remarks and Disinisses the Case.
The case of Policeman J. L. Lishtfoot of the
second precinct, charged with assaulting Clifton
Stewart at Attn ard Ridge streets Christmas day,
as heretofore mentioned in THE SCAR, was
called for trial in the Police Court this morning
and Lawyer Gloss for tue defendant entered a
plea of not guilty.
Mr. Mullowney appeared for the prosecu-
ton.
STEWART TELLS HIS STORY.
Stewart testified that on Christmas day he
was taking Rober. Lavender home and when
they reached ith and Ridge streets Lavender
grabbed tree and they both fell to the side
walk The defendant. he said. then came up
ana arrested him and beat him with his fist.
When they reached the station he said the Off
Ger again struck him. and when he was plac ed
in the cell he shook his fist at witness Stewart
said he had drank two or three glasses of beer.
He denied that he had been i'll fight in the
street and had caused the stopping of street
car. Witness said he was seventeen years old.
WHAT Mr.. BOYD SAW.
John NJ Boyd testified tina, he saw the officer
saw the officer strike him. Witness did not
officer S mouth bleeding. Witness denied that
he iEterfered with the officer. He did not know
that there was a warrant out for his arrest.
Martin 4. Leese. jr., testified that he saw
tie officer grab Stewart with such force as
to make him lose his footing. He saw Stewart S
mouth bleeding, but did not see any blows ex-
changed The boys were drunk
SAYS TIE OFFICER STRUCK ONE OF THE BoYJ
Joshua Boyd, an elderly man, testified that
he saw the boys, whom he learned were cousins,
standing by tree, and one of them was trying
policeman came along and pulled one of the
boys down While the boy was down the Off
Ger hit him several times. Witness did not see
Stewart resist the officer and he thought he was
too drunk to resist anything.
SAW THE OFFICER STRIKE STEWART.
s. ". Nelson testified that he saw the drunken
boys on the street and one of the boys assaulted
and beat Stewart in the face. He also saw the
third boy kick at Stewards face. Witness also
witnessed the arrest and said that after getting
Stewart upon his feet the officer dealt him three
or four blows.on the back OF his head. Witness
thought the affair was rather funny until the
officer came UP ana stopped it and then he
said Stewart was brutally treated by the
policeman.
II u
line car Christmas day when the trouble oc-
CURED He did not see the first Of the diff
Guilty. but did witness the arrest. He said that
the officer struck the boy as he grabbed him,
and lie also struck him after he pulled him
down. Witness also saw the officer strike the
other boy Uavender).
Robert Maxwell also testified that The officer
assaulted Stewart while he was down. Witness
said he was within four feet of the officer dur
ing the occurrence. but lie did not see the Off
Ger strike Lavender, as described by Mr.. Davis
Witness said he had drunk three bottles OF beer
that day, but he was not intoxicated. lie said
lie was employed in a saloon.
THESE SAW THE OFFICER STRUCK.
Tbos. Matthews, driver Of Belt line car. tcs-
tilted that Stewart and another man were fight
ing On the car track and lie had to stop his
ear The other boy pounded Stewart. The
boys got up and went to the sidewalk. When
the officer arrested the Stewar: boy the latter
struck him, and the officer returned the blow
Stewart, he said struck the officer in the
mouth and drew blood. He did not see the
officer strike the boy when he was down.
Oscar ID. jackson. who keeps a grocery store.
in front OF which tie trouble occurred, testified
that he saw one of the boys strike the officer in
the face, but he did not see the officer strike
him. Stewart. he said. had been kicked in the
mouth during the fight previous to the arrest.
Witness said that Mr.. Boyd followed the officer
and he (wi;ness) warned him that he would get
in trouble.
John Kane testified that Stewart struck The
officer when he was placed under arrest and he
returned the blow. The officer did not strike
Stewart while tie latter was down.
W. II. Miller testified that he saw the frs. OF
il, when William Bell pounded Stewart and
kicked him in the face. When the officer ar
rested Stewart the latter struck the former in
the mouth and the blow WAS returned. Witness
saw the officers mouth bleed.
OFFICER LIGHTFooT' TESTIMONY.
The officer testified that while on his way
from his house to the station after lunch his
attention was attractedby cries of Police" and
Help" and when he returned he found Stewart
and Lavender holding around tree. Lavende,
did not resist. but Stewart did, and struck
witness in the mouth and kicked ut him. Afte,
Stewart struck him he dealt him oEe blow or
tho head. Mr. Boyd and a boy. he said made
the remark Don't so with him."
JUDGE MILLER's REMARKS
Judge Miller said that the testimony was con
fiicting. bu; the weight Of 1t favored the officer
The judge said that there seemed to be n great
change in the prosecution of offenses in thi,
| community. Instead OF prosecuting people fol
| violations OF the different laws the whole atten
ton seems TO be directed toward the police
| officers. and the moment an officer appears &c
execute the law howl commences Their.
seems to be dread and apprehension abou
the ponce force; shrinking from the wrath e
come, as it were, though the people wers
afraid Of tie officers hands getting in theil
collar some day. Policemen are not expected
10 be provided with fur-lined gloves to handle
prisoners with. Here in this cast
the yiolators Of the law were youth
| ful ones and were the very ones
| 10 be apprehended. They had fought abou
the street, 10 the amusement of some of the
spectators, and there is no telling how lone
\ they would have Tough. had ii not been for the
/ appearance of the officer. But the minute la
| appears the howl is raised Every body know.
| how troublesome i: Is &c manage drunken bows
AID 4 through his conduct he gets u scratch
| II IL mere incident of the arrest and is MOI
, trIabie IN this court In this case, however
the Ran said to have been brutally treated die
not even receive IA scratch. In conclusion tn,
judge said that Il an officer is shown tc hay,
| used cruel and reckless treatment, or Yields tc
| the impulses of his passions, he will be pun
ished. such were not the facts in this case.
The Charge against the officer was dismissed
mike" Dryer May Defy the Ediet.