The Portland daily press., 1895-05-06
HE sAYs:HE's: PROSECUTED.
And that the Young Toughs Call Him An
A. p A. They Gather Round His House
At Night And Insult His Family.

At about g. 80 last evening, two rough
looking young men came around the
corner of the City Building on Myrtle
street, evidently intending to enter the
police station. One was tall ana stout
and very red OF face and hail, the other
was slighter and very dark and evil look
ing. He refused to go into the police
station, though his companion urged
him to do SO. Finally the big red-head-
ed youth went in alone and with bold
manner told Turnkey Emery sthat he
wanted to make complaint. He said
fellow struck him without provoca-
tion and he didn't strike back for fear
of being arrested. He wanted his as
sailant arrested. He added: Him and
his father are comi' now to complain
of me-"
Just then small middle-aged quiet
appearing man entered. He was H.J.
White who works for the Portland
Cooperage Company and lives OH Han
over street. He declared quietly that
Tommy McDermott, the big red-headed
fellow had knocked his son down and
was beating him on the sidewalk. He
had asked his son to shake hands with
him, and because the latter refused
he attacked him. He further declared
that McDermott and his friends who
called themselves a crowd of toughs.
had prosecuted him and his family for
three years, also that McDermott had
been in Jail. All of this McDermott de-
MED.
The son, who was waiting in the entry,
came in at this point. He was small.
than McDermott.
Though at least II years old, he was
whimpering as he held on to the back of
his head. He declared that McDermott
had struckshim there and. THAT blow
at that point always made his head ache
for week.
Turnkey Emery told them TO wait till
the deputy marshal came.
Mr.. White told the PRESS reporter
that he had been prosecuted by young
gang of toughs for three years. They
would hoot around his house at night,
sing ribald songs, call himself and his
wife vulgar names and abuse the whole
family. They frequently called A.P.
A.with various disagreeable adjectives
prefixed. sMr. White said he was not
al A.P. A, but since he wore an 40.
wv. button and big district deputy
40. W. badge on his breast, he sup
posed the young toughs thought he
xyoc A oil &c hou in,
sisted that the button was an "A. P. a.
button and theyrpersocutd him and his
family. He said that ne was afraid to
be out at night for fear of getting a
blick ill the head. He had got about
tired of it. When he came home from
work at night he wanted to rest quiet
ly in his house and not have to go out
and fight off a crowd oftyoung toughs.
A year ago one of the toughs jumped on
his back as he went through his gate.
He was getting the best of him when
another of them struck him with a
stout stick on the back of the neck. He
complained of them to the police, be
said, but nothing was done about it.
At one time when he was sick this same
McDermott kicked in his window.
Last evening his sister and daughter
learned of his sons being beaten by Nc
uermott, and with other women rushed
to the smaller youths assistance.
White came up later. he is lame in one
leg and taking his son started for the
police station. At this McDermott ran
ahead with one of his crowd and got
there first and made complaint of be-
ing attacked and struck by the smaller
boy and not striking back for fear Of
being arrested. Deputy Hartnett when
he arrived at the station, told the two
complainants that he could only make
it case of affray, in which case they
would both have to appear in court.
They both withdrew their complaints
and went home.