The record-union., 1893-08-14
7ALBOI'S EXAMINATION.
DriscoII Tells Of the Alleged Assault
Upon Him.
Officer Talbot Tells His Story, Too
Other Witnesses Testify-The Police
Commissioners to Meet Again.

The investigation Of the charges against
Police Officer Talbot was commenced be-
fore the Police Commissioners Saturday
afternoon and will probably be con-
cluded to-day.
The Commissioners met in the Police
Court, all three-the Mayor. Police
Judge and Chief Of Police-being pres
eut. There was a large crowd of specta-
tors, too.
General A. /. Hart appeared as attor-
ney for Talbot, while the Generals
brother, Senator Z. c. Hart, appeared for
James Driscoll, the man who brought
the charges against Talbot. The Hart
brothers afforded considerable amuse-
ment when they wrangled over the ad-
instability of certain evidence, and when
they would indulge in repartee.
The proceedings opened with the read
ing Of the accusation. It was that Talbot
without cause or provocahon adminis-
tered to Driscoll terrible beating. The
alleged assault happened on the night of
July 50th, at the corner of Eighth and J
streets.
The attorney for Driscon informed the
Commissioners that City Physician C. IS.
Nichols was a very important witness for
the prosecution, but was i'll and might
not be present. He wanted it understood
that the investigation should not close
without the DOCTORS evidence.
DRIscoLL's STORY.
Driscoll was then called to the witness
stand. He said he had been resident of
Sacramento thirteen years. He was hod-
carrier. He said he never knew Talbot
until the night of the arrest and alleged
beating. That night, about IL O'Clock,
said Driscoll, he was sitting on the edge
of the sidewalk. He did not see Talbot
until the latter came up from behind and
ordered the witness to get out o. that"
Tie witness said he was doing nothing
wrong, and said to Talbot, Il know who
you are.N Talbot then struck him, knock
ing him down. Then, he said, the officer
began to kick him. DriscoH said he
called to Talbot not to kill him, but the
officer said he would. The witness said
lie then screamed murder until he be-
came unconscious.
Continuing, Driscou said Talbot took
him 20 the City Prison, and after washing
him, put him in a cell. About o'clock
the next morning Talbot let him 90, and
told him there were no charges against
HIM. The witness declared that he could
not sec to walk home, because his eyes
were closed from the effects OF the blows.
Ii was laid up in bed Tor some time as a
result of the beating.
Being cross-examined Driscoll denied
that he was lighting drunk'' that uight
He said he lett mis- hotel at 10 o'clock and
only had two glasses OF beer up to the
time Talbot accosted him. He declared
that he did not attempt to fight Talbot
nor call him names. He said he never
fought anybody in his LIE. 1t was d. J.
MunnIx who told the witness to prose-
cute Talbot.
Didn't you clinch with Talbot that
night?' asked General Hart
- don't remember" replied Driscoll.
"WllI you swear you didn't?"
"Fll swear that / don't remember"
Senator Hart then asked some more
questions, in answer to which Driscon
said he vomited about pint and a half
OF blood after the beating.
now BITTNER SAW IT.
George a. Bittner was the next wit
ness. lie is a waiter in Sixth-street
restaurant. He knew Talbot and Dris-
coll by sight The witness saw those
two together on the night of the Both of
July. lie had been out TO Oak Park and
had just alighted from a car Driscoll
was sitting on the sidewalk, when Talbot
told him 10 get up. DriscOll said, ''You
, I'm not doing anything
wrong" Talbot showed his star and
said he was an officer. Driscon said he
didn't care. He was an American citizen
and was going to have his rights. Talbot
lifted Driscoll up then.
''What happened then?'' asked Senator
Hart.
'Oh. Driscoll made a pass at Talbot. but
missed him, and then Talbot got in his
work"
Continuing, witness said Driscoll was
knocked down by the blow, and then
Talbot kicked him about the body. After
that the two wrestled about the sidewalk
for some time, and Talbot called for some
body to come and help him handcuf
Driscoll.
In answer to questions asked by Tai
bots attorney, Bittner said Talbot tried
to handcutf Driscoll. but could not sue
ceed owing to DriscolPs struggles. Dris-
coll was yelling most of the time. He
SAID several times, BILLY, for Gods sake
don't kill me.'
"Did Mr.. Talbot seem to be exhausted
from the struggie?' asked General Hart.
well, he was putting pretty hard" re-
piled Bittuer.
"N as he very tired?'
"Oh, 1 don't think so. He smoked
cigar right away"
Then he was putting a cigar" sug-
gested the General, who never oyerlooks
an opportunity TO crack Il Joke.
Benjamin Bailey keeps the Golden State
Hotel, where Driscoll stops. He testified
that so far as his experience went DriscolI
was quiet and orderly. On the night of
the trouble with Talbot, Driscoll had been
drinking little, but was not drunk.
wATCHNIAN DoRAN WAS THERE.
Fred Doran, a night watchman. who
patrols X street, testified that he was at
tracted to the scene Of the struggle be-
tween Talbot and Driscon bv police
whistle w hen he arrived there DriscolI
was haDdcuned, but was using vile lam
guage. He called Talbot a a-
ana said II he would take the handcuffs
of he would 'do him up" Dorau said
he did not see Talbot strike DriscoH The
latter had been drinking little but the
witness could not tell whether he was
drunk or not.
Night Jailer Tom Burke testified that
ne was out 10 lunch when Driscoll was
brought in. n charge of "drunk'' had
been registered against him. The wit
ness went INTO Drlscolfs cell to look at
him. The prisoner was covered with
blood. and the bunk where he had been
lying was also bloody. Talbot came to
the jail between ! and > O'Clock that
morning, and, asking the witness for the
jail keys liberated Driscon. He also
asked the witness 10 rub the CHARGE Off
the slate. Drlscoll and Talbot seemed
quite friendly at that time
''ls il customary for officers TO come to
the Jail early in the morning and let pris-
oners out?' asked Mayor Steinman.
Mr.. Burke replied that that was the
only time he ever saw it DONE He did
not know that Talbot was going to let
Driscoll out. Still, he would not have
protested. as he considered that prisoners
were in charge OF the arrestiug officer un-
I'll brought into court Prisoners who
Were entered on the small slate'' were
frequently liberated, he said, but il was
a 4