The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-08-23
POLICE BRUTALITY
Two Men Assaulted in a Cell
II By a Policeman


Court W. F. O'Halleron and
Thomas Peck were fined 50 each
and costs, on charge of interior.
ing with the police while in the
discharge of their duties.
The alleged offense was commit
ted on last Saturday night, and ii
seems that the policeman who
made the arrest was not satisfied
with locking the men up, but after
wards brutally assaulted them
while in their cell.
w. F. O'Halleron, one of the ar
rested men, stated last night that
he and Peck were placed in one
cell about 9 o'clock in the evening,
and were not disturbed until about
II o'clock, when another prisoner
was locked in the same cell.
Everything was quiet then until
about midnight as near as O'Hal-
leron remembers, when the door
was opened and in walked a native
policeman, who commenced to
violently assault him with a club
or pair of brass knuckles; the
first blow landed on his head. and
dazed him somewhat. This blow
was followed by one on his nose,
causing that organ to bleed in
profuse manner, and not satisfied
with the damage already done, the
brutal native finished O'Halleron
by striking him on the ear, LAGER
ating it and drawing blood.
The policeman then started to
go out, and as parting salutation
struck Peck a blow under one of
his eyes which left mark and a
singing reminder of the savageness
of his assailant.
Occasionally there are vague
rumors afioat concerning rough
treatment arrested men receive
at the hands of the police,
but in this case there is no
room for doubt, as both men tell
a straightforward story and are
positive as to the identity of the
brutal officer.
WITHOUT FOOD FOR HOURS.
Another instance of the inhu-
man actions of the police is
in regard to the arrest of
a young man named Harry Greg
son. 1t will be remembered
he was arrested several weeks ago at
Officer Toussaint's house with sup
posed opium in his possession, the
stuff turned out to be mixture of
poi and tar. The police could not
make the original charge stick so
placed one of vagrancy against the
young man, but in the mean time
tried to make him confess that
man named Gardiner was impli-
Gated in a scheme to defraud Chi
nese. This Gregson would not do
and according to his statement he
was subjected to all sorts of indig-
mites from the hands of the police.
He was badgered from pillar to
post, asked questions, literally put
on a rock, and told he might as
we'll tell the truth, as Gardiner
since Gregson's arrest had "given
away the whole business" But
Gregson said he had nothing to
''give away" and knew of nothing
to incriminate Gardiner, which
was a blow to the dear police.
After almost a twenty-four fast,
Gregson states that he asked an
officer for some food, when the
kind-hearted official remarked,
&C. d you, you don't de-
serve any food" But he got some
food at last and relieved the crav-
ings of hunger During the day
he made requests to the police that
he be allowed to see his friends or
communicate with the British Con-
sui, but this was refused, and only
one gentleman hearing of his pre-
dicament called to see him and
asked if he could do anything for
him. The next day Gregson was
tried and was allowed his freedom.
The above are simple statements
made by the men and are not col
ored the least bit by the ADvER-
TIsER, and are published to give
the public an idea how the police
department is conducted at the
present time.