The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-02

Violence OF Action asd Lang axe Disap-
proved-The Police Cos,,rnittees.
The police commissioners :let last night
at the assembly room at police head
quarters, and, after q heating, censured
Officer Fawcett for unnecessary violence
in making an arrest Tha mayor an.
nounced the committees slrsady ordered.
Those present were Acting Mayor Lean
der Miller and Commissioners Holmes.
Cheasty and Wallineford.
Acting in accordance wish the resolu-
tions of the board at its meeting Of April
10. the acting mayor annouoeed the COM
mittees of the board rs follows:
On books and finances. Caeasty: on leg
islation. Relfe; on patrolclan, Walling-
ford: on detectives, Holmes,
The clerk then read an affidavit from
Nelson Vineyard, a colored man, stating
that on April II. AT Secol.A and Union
streets. he was approached nv Officer Faw-
cett. who asked him whether he was fol-
lowing disreputable women. On being
told that it was not inc Oft Hcr's business,
that he was going home, the atfiant swears
that the officer beat and arrested him.
Vineyard was before the municipal court
next day and was acquitted Of the charge
of drunkenness brought by Fawcett. The
affidavit says further that the officer adj
mitted that he had beaten the man. Of
ficer Fawcert was present aad pleaded not
guilty. Vineyard then made Q statement,
substantially repeating tia, ALLEGATIONS in
the affidavit. He alleged tia: 1t was early
in the night, about 10 o'a.ock: that he
was going hons to mis- supper,
and had not been drinking. He
was questioned by Commissioners
Cheasty and Holmes and Sross-examined
by Officer Fawcett, but adhered mistaken
to his story. In fact O:.icer Fawcett's
questions were of a kind tending to show
that the statements were tue. The officer
was sworn and said tbas he had seen
Vineyard come Out of tbs alley between
Second and Third, and when asked what
he was doing refused to give any answer
except that it was none cr the officers
business. The witness said he then ar
rested Vineyard. and die strike him two
or three times. Or questioning by Com
missioner Holmes, Fawcefs admitted that
he had called Whey ard hack
well, If you were arressing me, said
Mr.. Holmes, "wou.d you call me a white
Il don't know, SIR" replied Fawcett.
at would depend on tba amount of re-
sistance You made
Commissioner Cheasty asked whether
he had succeeded In showing that the man
was drunk, and he replird that he had
not, that the mulsicipal court had dis
charged Vineyard. He also said that he
did not think the man was drunk enough
TO be . nuisance. Officer Fawcett sum-
moned a man named Ans:, who keeps a
fruit stand at the corner Of Second and
Union streets, but VineFlard's questions
almost broke down the witness and practi-
cally made him admit thai i:e did not hear
wha. Fawcett sad in accusing Vineyard.
The complainant's questions were very
amusing and the sympathies Of those
present were plainly with him. Commits
sioner Wallingford moved. as he said, in
order TO bring the naster up, that
Fawcett be exonerated. Commissioner
Holmes objected. lie thought that while
the arrest was more or less justifable, it
was needlessly violent aaa thought the
officer ought TO he cens.red. This was
moved and passed. The commission then
adjourned.