The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-26
IT WAS NOT ISLANDER
AND THE TIMES DID NO INJUSTICE
TO POLICEMAN GRIFFIN.
So peeidsd the Jury Before Whom the Case
Was TrIed-1he Testimony ana
the Instructions.

The su,t filed by Policeman Maurice J.
Grimm against The Times Company. ask
ing for damages to the amount OF so,UD
for alleged l.bei. was tried in the Law
and Equity Court yesterday.
The plaintiff was represented by Mr..
l.. O. wondonburg. and the defendant by
Major Charles 5. stringfellow. assisted by
Mr.. Daniel Gr.rnan
Mr. Wcndcnburg stated I'm the outset
that tho action brought WAS 10 recover
5000 damages for an article which APP
pcarcd i'm The Times newspaper on No-
vcnber 49, 1893 Counsel for the plainiih
expected 10 prove that on November TO-
1893, Officers Griffin and sutton were de-
tailed for special duty at the Second Bap-
tist chtfch. and that while there IN the
discharge OF their duty. a member OF
The Times stan brushed. by officer Grif-
nm. who was standing near the western
door Of the church. when the people at
the wedding began TO leave the building
AID that the officer stopped him and re-
Quired him TO go back whereupOn the
newspaper man said he considered that
he had been roughly treated and insulted
On the following Saturday morning the
article below appeared in The Times.
This article is reproduced with no desire
~ VHfht tIlllliit Iul SIMPLY IN 0fief
that the public may know the cause OF
the suit:
Police at Weddings.
Ofhcer Griffin Adopts the Rufian Policy
at Church.
How a policeman should conduct him
self at church marriage Is a Question
by no means insignificant When one
attends such an occasion. and two or
three officers handle the audience with
courtesy and decorum, as is usually The
case in this city. one cannot help con-
graduating the Board OF Police Com
pensioners on having selected a competent
Iorce. But when an officer holding one
or the lower positions on the force pre-
sumes upon the fact that he is clad in a
blue coat and armed with a billy TO haul
people about the floor Of the vestlbule.
speak 20 them In savage tone OF voice
SHOW his temper with an emphasis born
OF a naturally bad disposition, and make
numbers Of those present at a marriage
without any proVocatiOn whatever--why
II Is then time for some steps 10 be taken
by way of correction
When the outer doors OF the Second
Baptist church were closed Thursday
evening. after bridal party had entered
the sanctuary. / was standing in the
orders Of the two policemen present
without any reason whatever. Officer
Srifhn rushed up. seized me by the arm.
hauled me half way across the Vestibule
hoor, and roared In a Mohawk Indian
tone. Don't you try to get out of that
Such rude treatment was a surprise to
me. Il had no intention OF doing So"
1 replied. I'm here on business in the
interest OF The Times; but you might
have been more gentiemanly in your
treatment OF decent people"
The ill-natured bluecoat. with a hard
cast Of countenance. frowned. twirled-
his billy in an authoritative manner
and grOwled out something about his
knowing his business as "an officer Of
tho law much 20 the disgust of several
oystanders. Il have no apologies TO
,9neg," said he grutiiy; but | didn't
know you were a newspaper man."
Policeman Griffin is no suitable man 10
send TO church weddings, where are
usually seen some of the best element
ladies and gentlemen In a manner recog-
nizing them as such, he adopted the
bully process, after the manner OF
reckless cowboy from the remote parts
or Northwestern Texas, or the Wids Of
Southern Arizona. The copper has either
been on the force a short time and
hasn't had enough experience 70 know
what the duties OF police officer con-
siXs OF. or he Is naturally unqualified
~ special duty on such occasions. He
mNnt acquit himself credtably in con-
trolling a mob about the front door of n
lower Franklin-street theatre comique:
he might gather laurels inspiring with
dread the dock rats In Cash Corner should
he keep his eyes Wide-Open, he might
midnight free fight in Jail Alley: under
very lucky conditions he could. probably.
arrest a darky crap shooter IN Sugar
Bottom. he might, under some circum-
stances. even maintain an appearance
OF order at puddlers' picnic on Rockets
wharf. Yes, I'm these capacities, officer
Griffin could possibly make his influence
felt and help maintain the dignity Of
the law. But when II comes 10 putting
him at a church wedding. where ladies
and gentlemen have reason to expect
treatment the hNprOaf Is
entirely out of mis- sphere and with a
few repetitions OF his performance Thurs
day evening, will reflect no little discredit
upon the position he holds.
Richmond has an excellent police force.
almost every member OF which is cour-
teous and well-kncwn for his decorum.
that he was not one of them, and Il
would be advisable to detail him for other
duty than that at a church wedding.
NrwsPAPEHs TOO BOLD.
After reading the article Mr.. Wenden-
burg stated. by way of an introduction,
that newspapers were getting too bold
I'm their statements. and were taking too
much liberty in critcsing public officials.
They had no right 10 publish such criti-
cisms. and there ought 20 be a stop put
10 that kind of thing. why" said he.
THE Times newspaper actually has the
snrontery 20 criticise the Democratic
Yarty Of Virginia. and has even gone so
fsr as 20 correct the Richmond Dis
patch"
Major StringfellOw. Of counsel for The
Times Company. stated that the com
ments made I'm the article under con-
sideraton related TO the conduct Of the
plaintiff as an officer of the law while in
public sarvice. The jury should consider
whether these comments were made 20
correct tho officer while serving in that
capacity.
GRIFFIN TKsrIIIEs.
Mr.. Griffin was then put upon the wit
ness stand. and stated that he had been
"A member Of the Richmond police force
since January II. 1870. lie had been sent
10 the Second Baptist church on the oc-
casion referred TO I'm order 10 keep back
the crowd Of people from the vestibule
until the bridal party had left the church.
and 10 preserve order generally. officer
Sutton was on the eastern side of the
vcstibule and the distance between them
was some twenty-three feet. The Times
representative passed by him. and was
going towards the eastern door Of the
church. when he caught hold of the in
trlder and forced him back firmly. but
gently. A conversation followed. in which
the newspaper man said the conduct was
very rough and ungentlemanly, where
upon witness replied he had no apologies
10 offer. adding that he did not know
that the young man was newspaper
man. Two days afterwards the article In
question appeared in The Times