The evening world., 1894-07-21
WOES OF A PRIVATE.
Lawson Says He Is Prosecuted
by a Provost Marshal.
Put in Jail Twice and Forced to
Pay Fines and Dues.
Claims that He Owes Nothing and
Is Entitled to IA Discharge.

A mil!t!aman's lot In New York is not
particularly happy one. II Private
Frederick Lawson. OF Company 4.
Twelfth Regiment, n. q. $. y. V. gives
a correct version of his troubles He
says :hat though his five years enlist
ment term in the regiment expired last
October he has been twice arrested by
the Regiments Provost Marshal, ,x-
Police Sergeant John A. Croker cked
up In Ludlow Street Jail. and after be-
ing Imprisoned several days, only e.
leased when he had paid fines aggre-
eating $50 for non-attendance a; drills
Lawson Is a butcher and works in
kallman Bros meat market at 1891
Third avenue. He was seen there by
an Evening World' reporter this morn
ing and told his woes in detail as fol-
lows:
"A week before | left the regiment
told my captain, l.. e. Smith. dentist
at 50 West Thirty-fifth street, that I
was going out, and asked how much
was In arrears, as | wished to square up
accounts. | said | thought owed about
S., and Smith answered. IN think about
that / saw him twice again on the
same subject and received the same
I'm February last Provost Marshal
John A. Croker told me he was going
to arrest me for owing So. told him
l owed nothing. but finally paid II when
he threatened me.
''On July . Croker arrested me and
took me to Ludlow street jail saying J.
owed 81. l stayed in jail till July 4. and
paid the money under protest. ON July
Il Croker again arrested me, and with,
out giving me any opportunity to send
word to my wife or friends. rushed me
off to Ludlow Street Jail again. This
time he said owed $50. | paid the
money next day under protest again.
never received any notice up to that
ment. Yesterday, for. the first time,
received "A due notice from the regiment
for sos. | suppose Croker VIII be
around again to arrest me.
due me, because my attendance percent,
age for my first three years was 100
and Tor the last two years 60; which
entities me to an honora BILE discharge.
ruined me and would have cost me my
situation but for the kindness of my
employers. who believe as ] do. that !
have been most outrageously treated,
and have stood by me. My lawyer is
to see the District Attorney and ascer-
tain II Croker has not acted Illegally. and
try to have him indicted"
Provost Marshal Croker resides In
Rutherford, n. j., and has q mail ad.
dress at lS5 Eighth avenue. He was not
to be found by an Evening World' re-
porter this morning. Capt. T.. G. Smith
lives on Long Island. He Is away on
vacation and did not go to his Thirty
fifth street office to-day.
Col. Heman Dowi, OF the Twelfth
Regiment, was seen at his office, 25 Mas
sau street. He said he knew nothing of
the status OF Lawson's case. The De-
linquent Board OF the Regiment tried all
cases of non-payment OF dues and de-
linquents who did not pay were arrested
on a warrant issued by the Board and
executed by the Provost Marshal, who
locked them up In Jail until they set
tied. Such procedure was entirely legal.
Col Dowd said Provost Marshal Croker
was an ex.Pollce Sergeant with a clean
record. II Lawson had been Illegally
locked up he had remedy by proceed
ing against the Warden of Ludlow
Street Jail for taking him in without the
necessary warrant. He said that he be-
lieved that 1t would be clearly, proven
that Lawson had not been unlawfully
dealt with.