Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-11
policeman LIGHTFOoT's CASE.
Protest Against His Acquittal on the Charge
of Brutality to . Prisoner.

Protest Against His Acquittsl on the Charge
of Brutality to . Prisoner.
Mr. T. T. Davis who made complaint against
Police Officer Lightfoot of the second precinct
for alleged ill treatment Of young man named
Clifton Stewart at the corner of 4th and Ridge
streets Christmas day. as published in The
STAR at the time. was not satisfied with the
action of Judge Miller in acquitting the officer.
although he says he intended to let the matter
drop after the courts decision. The subse-
queut prosecution of MIR. John ~ Boyd and the
fning him 80 by Judge Kimball caused Mr..
Davis to change his mind, and Saturday even
ing and yesterday he made partial canvass Of
the citizens in that reighborhood with two Pc
titions. He did SO after he had made COM
plant to the Commissioners, and Mr. Ross, he
said had EXPRESSED desire to learn what the
citizens had to say in the matter.
WHAT TEE PETITIONS SET FORTH.
A SrAR reporter went with Mr.. Davis Satur-
day night when he obtained four signatures
to the petitions.
One petition condemned the officers and
entered Il protest against the action OF Judge
Miller follows:
I'VE. the undersigned, peaceable, law-abiding
citizens of Washington. ID. c., hereby enter our
protest against the decision of Judge Miller
rendered in the Police Court December 20.
1891 acquitting Policeman Lightfoot of a
brutal assault upon two young men who were
said to have been intoxicated at the time, on
the corner of Ridge and 4th streets, December
D. 1891 Regarding the officers conduct to-
ward the aforesaid young men as brutal, un-
called for and without provocation. We earnestly
pray YOUR honorable body to further investi-
gate THIS matter, believing the officers con-
duct calculated to bring disgrace upon the
police force of this CITY,"
The other petition justified the officer and
read as follows:
I'VE the undersigned. are of the opinion
that the arrest OF two young men said to have
been intoxicated on the corner OF 18th and
Ridge streets December 25, 1891. by Officer
Lightfoot was justified and not accompanied
by any brutality or roughness on part of the
officer at the time and that the decision of
Judge Miller in acquItting the officer of the
alleged charge of brutality toward the prisoners
was right and just in view of the evidence
before the court.
A number of colored persons who live along
the square were called upon, but they protested
to know nothing of the affair, and a number of
white persons were not at home.
THOSE VINO SIGNED.
Mr.. Julius Emmner signed the first petition
without hesitation, and said that he was eter-
nally down on most of the police force and the
police knew it. He did not witness the affair.
Mr. Martin Leese signed the same petition,
and he though this manner of complaint would
operate To the officer disadvantage.
Mr.. ". ii. Groverman signed the protest after
being assured tnati would NOT involve him in
any manner. He did not witness the occur
renee but his younger sister did and she told
him about it.
The other signature was that of Mr.. J. ].
Kane. who witnessed the entire affair. He
signed the latter petition, and In doing so said
he thought the officer did not give the prisoner
as much as he deserved.
The names obtained to the protest Saturday
night and yesterday we're as follows:
Jos. W. King, pension office; Martin A. Leese,
1850 ith street northwest; +. 5. Collins, 921 +.
street northwest; F. b. Ryon, 718 1lth street
southeast Albert Collins, $40 l street northeast;
VI. VI. Leese, 1890 4th street northwest; Julius
Emmner. jr-, 1922 4th street northwest; VIM.
H. Groverman, 1888 4th street northwest; W.
q. Perry, 14l0 9Th street northwest; X. Max
well, 1921 5th street northwest; X. L. Small
wood, 1928 4th street northwest; J. b. Small
473 New York avenue northwest: j. E. Lacy,
473 New York avenue northwest; Il. Lavender,
1922 9th street northwest; Gustav E. Rott, 636
New York avenue northwest; j. ID. Boyd, 1925
4th street northwest; Jos. H. Bailey, 90S 5th
street northwest; Joshua Boyd, IS NJ street
northwest; C. W. Boyd, IS NJ street northwest;
II. Z. Brown, 80 VI street northwest; $. W. Mel
son, COMMISSIONER office; L. F. Hutchinson.
AS NJ street northwest; Z. L. Davis, 430 New
York avenue northwest.
Mr.. .. ID. jackson, the grocer, who witnessed
the occurrence, and who was known to be
friendly to the officer, was not called upon.
The petitions will be sent to the Commission
ers this week.