The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-07-19


that is one Of the largest employers in Chi
cago
OFFICE PEOPLES GAS LIGHT & COKE Co,l
CHICAGO, November "a, 1895,
To the Chairman Of the Committee, Chicago Trades
and Labor assembly:
SIR--In response to the request OF your COM
mittee for information as to the treatment re-
the hands OF Captain Bonfeld and by his
orders during the strike OF the Western Diyi-
sion Railway Company's employees In July
last, you are advised as follows:
On that day Of the strike In which there was
apparently an indiscriminate arresung OF per
sons who happened to be up on Madison street,
whether connected with the disturbance OF
peace, or engaged in Legitimate business,
number Of employees OF this company we're at
work upon said street near HOyne avenue,
opening trench for the laying Of gas pipe.
The tool box OF the employees was at the
southeast corner OF Hoyne and Madison streets
AS the men assembled for labor shortly before
a. m, they took their shovels and tools from
the tool box, arranged themselves along the
trench preparatory to going to work when the
hour OF should arrive. About this time
and little before the men began to work q
crowd Of men not employees OF the company,
came surging down the street from the west,
and selling such shovels and other tools OF the
men as lay upon the ground and about the
box, threw more or less OF the loose dirt, which
had before been taken from the trench, upon
time Captain Bonfeld and his forces appeared
upon the scene and began apparently an In
discriminate arrest OF persons. Among others
arrested were the following employees OF this
company: Edward Kane, Mike w. K1rWin,
Dan Diamond, James Hussey, Dennis Murray,
Patrick Brown and Pat Franey. No one OF
these persons had any connection with the
strike, or were guilty of Obstructing the cars
OF the railway company, or OF any disturbance
upon the street. Mr.. Kirwin had just arrived
at the tool box and had not yet taken his
shovel preparatory to going TO work, when he
was arrested while standing by the box and,
without resistance, was put upon street car
as prisoner. When upon the car he called TO
a friend among the Workmen, saying, stake
care Of my shovel" ThereupOn B0nheld struck
him violent blow with club upon his head,
inhiCting q serious wound, laying open his
scalp, and saying as he did sO,"I Will shovel
you,D or words to that effect Another of the
said employees, Edward Kane, was also arrested
by the tool box, two OF the police SELLING him,
one by each arm, and as he was being put upon
the car, third man, said by Kane and others
to be Bonfeld, struck him with club upon
the head, severely cutting his head. Both OF
these men were seriously Injured and, for o
time, disabled from attending to their busi-
ness. Both Of these men, with blood stream
ing from the cuts upon their heads, respect
lively, as also all Of the others above named,
were hustled of TO the police station and
locked up. The men were not "bo0ked" as
they were locked up, and their friends had
kEbHL III Huuluh bubule bO bAhb JUL
might be offered and they released. After
they were found communication with them
was denied for some time by BOnhelds order,
as was said, and for several hours they were
kept In confinement In the lookup upon Des-
PLANES street as criminals, when their friends
were deslrious OF getting them out. Subse-
quently they were all brought up for trial be-
fore Justice White. Upon the hearing the city
was represented by It's attorney, Bonheld him
self being present, and from the testimony IL
appeared that all these men had been arrested
under the circumstances aforesaid and with
out the least cause, and that Kane and Kirwtn
had been cruelty assaulted and beaten with
out the least justification therefor, and. OF
course, they were all discharged.
The officers OF this company, who are cog
nizant OF this outrages perpetrated upon these
men, feel that the party by whom the same
were committed ought not to remain In re-
sponsible position upon the police force.
PEOPLES GAS LIGHT & COKE COMPANY,
BY g. X. G. Billings, V. p.
INSTANCES OF POLICE BRUTALITY.
CHICAGO, November 10, 1885.
kept q market at 974 West Madison street. |
was In my place OF business waiting on Gus
toners and stepped to the door TO get Meas
ure Of vegetables. The first thing | knew. AS
stood on the step In front OF my store, re-
ceiYed blow over the shoulders with o club
and was seized and thrown OF the sidewalk
INTO ditch being dug there. | had my back
TO the person who struck me, but on regaining
my feet | saw that IL was B0nfeld who had
assaulted me- Two or three officers then came
up. | told them not TO hit me again. They