The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-20
BEAT A HELPLESS PRISONER.
A DTsGR4CEFUI AFFAIR Nv THE
SHADOW OF A POLICE COURE


Sergeant McCarton Held for Brutniiy At
tnckinE Prisoner While Two Other
Policeman Held the Mas Wands-Ius-
uce Voorhir Acts Promptly In the Matter.
prisoner was tho victim OF vicious as
sault yesterday afternoon in the corridor
leading from the Jefferson Market Police
Court room to the court cells. and Sergeant
Francis McCarton OF tho Mercer strcet station
10 under $500 bonds for trial in the Court OF
Special Sessions on a charge OF having COM
m,ted tho assault. Tho victim Is David Bryant.
80 years old. OF T57 Greenwich street. driver OF
q cross-town car.
There was blockade at Ninth avenue and
Fourteenth street yesterday, In which Bry-
ants car was stuck fast Sergeant McCarton.
who was taking day of and was not in uni
form. was coming up Ninth avenue, carrying a
ham. He had been drinking. Whom he reached
the blockade he seized the bride Of tho horse
attached to Bryants car and swung the ami
nal out Of the track. The driver remonstrat-
ed with him. As to what then happened nc
counts differ McCarton says that Bryant
jumped OF the car and attacked him. Bryant
says and in this he is supported by witnesses.
that the Sergeant hit him in the face and
pulled him off the car. After that there was
very lively fight. in which the Sergeant camo
out poor second. Up to this point Bryant did
not know that he had been fighting with an
officer but he learned it when Policeman Hop
per of the Charles street station arrested him
ah Brnt Ws take 10 sesan VIA Market Court
and arraigned before Justice Noorhis, who held
him in $500 bail for trial on Mccat2n's com
plant of assault. He had a hr,llsc on his check
where. he said. McCarton had hit him. Nc.
Cartons eye was marked with scratch which
had lost his ham After Bryant ease was dis
posed Of the Sergeant took hold OF him To- take
h@ * h' fS a na' SsskandG Gr to
somebody in the audience. whcreupon Me-
Carton gave him a savage, push that
Ho was showed out into the passage. whore
three other policemen seized him and took hin,
through the door leading into the court coli
corridor. In the court room business was GO
ing on as usual when series OF shrieks from
What's thatl What's thatr cried Justice
Mr.. Lucien Adkins. n police court reporter
Just in time 50 he afterward testified. to see
McCarton strike BRYANT. whose arms were held
Sm To- the o OG awysr IF ThdmS
Gibbons of IU5 West Tenth street. said that no
saw the assnnit also Sa Then the ofrGr at the
But .hoy heard the man still shriekii.g. and
even, in the court room his cries for mercy
don't hit mo again" they heard him cry.
For Gol,s sake lst me up. Give me chance.
Mr. Adkins and Lawyer Gibbons ran back
into the court room crying out to Justice
,ES to stop the outrnseS an Performance
Bring that Sergeant and the prisoner back
here at once"
court officer had seized McCarton and dragged
hin, away from his victim. Both men were
painfully. his mouth was covered with blood.
and his front teeth were looseued from the
cowardly blow he had received He soDbsd
"Soe what they've done to me. Judge. They
held me- and Sergeant MssartS T, hi, m me IN the
r mo ,ers f IN the side and face pOHs send
fesk If l're AI f n1E n alter that"
Justice voorhIs- You make q complaint
against this man" Then. turning to Sergeant
ssns so e e"Ra
Now see what nn error l made"
yoa thHs Tss better
enough Of your violence to the prisoner right
here in this room to know that you overstepped
We'll. didn't hit him. Judge" said TIC
ment he raised his right hand. it was COW
cred with the blood from Bryant,s face
MGCar to nv was held in 200 bail for tFia In
lo!e them into hushnG up the matter After
leaving the e. court room he said to another Off.
assault spoke, to Justice voorhis ,Afterward.
men n Who o Went out into the Corridor with with
Bryant are William II. Klan and Patrick ].
Murphy of the Mercer street station. and
Henry Hopper Of the Charles street station.
the man who arrested Bryant. Bryant and
the Sergeant were both baied out.
None of tho court officers would admit that
thcyiknew Of tho assault. although it occurred
in plain sight Of half n dozen. They ridiculcd
tho idea OF anything being donc To the Ser
geunt. There arc ilitocn policemen t. swear
that the Sergeant didn't hit him" they said
- He can get all the police witnesses no wants.
Lawyer Gibbons won't dare testify. McCarton
may go before tho Police Commissioners. but
that's all it will amount to-
mitted the truth Of this statement about him
self. 81 admit I'm afraid Of the police. and
can't say anything new he said. I'm de-
pendent, on them for Il living and SO is every
other police court lawyer. But il i comes TO
trial. and I'm called as witness. III tell what
SAW. Just now dare not speak"
1t is not probable. however. that Sergeant
McCarton will get of 80 easily. Sergeant
Charles U. Combs Of tho court squad has sent a
report Of the affair to Police Headquarters, and
the case will undoubtedly como before tho Po-
lice Commissioners Justice Soorhis says that |
he will appear as witness " necessary. both |
in Special Sessions and before the Police Board.
McCarton Is about 30 years old. He has been |
on the force about ten years, was policeman |
in the Charles street station. went as rounds |
man 10 the Church street station. and about a |
year ago was appointed "a Sergeant in the Mcr-
Ger street station by Commissioner Shechan. |
McCarton's friends say that his record is good.
They also say that lie never drinks.