The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-16
THE CHARGES AGAINST REILLY.
The Mayor LooISs Into the Case and
Reserves His Decision.


Mayor Myers investigated the charges
yesterday afternoon against Policeman J.
I D. Reilly. growing ont Of the racket be-
/ tween the Forest City Light Infantry and
4 several intoxicated citizens returning from
I Thunder5olt about three weeks ago
There were two charges against Police
man Reilly. the first and most serious
I charge being thai Of releasing a prisoner
who had been turned over 10 him after
having been arrested by another police
man, and the second charge. that OF strik-
ing a prisoner whom he had under arrest.
without prOvOcation.
1t viii be remembered that Lieut. c. b.
Satterlee had The company out on inspcc-
tion al Liberty and East Broad streets,
when party OF young men returning from
/ Ihunderbolt IN two bugeies. ran into the
rear of the company, knocking down two
men and breaking the ranks. The offend
ers drove Off rapidly. They were followed
however by a squad Of the company. in
charge OF Sergeant, with instructions to
arrest and bring back the men who had
run into the company.
The squad found one Of the buggies in
4 front Of Ben Jrum's place on Houston
street near South Broad street, and at
tempted TO carry out their orders. The
white men resisted and the sight Of col
Ored soldiers attempting 70 arrest white
men caused a crowd TO gather rapidly
with general disposition 20 resist the at
tempt The soldiers persisted in their at
tempt and succeeded Ia arrestiug one
white man, whom they took TO be James
Mcclure. with whom they started TO the
barracks. There was every appearance of
riot when the police arrived on the
scene. AT the corner Of South Broad and
NnrH. rs
turned over TO "A policeman. but was
either released or got away. The negroes
charged that the man was released by
Policeman J. y. Reilly. and preferred
charges to that effect. The next morning
Policeman Reilly saw A. r. Coles, one Of
the colored sergeants with the squad the
night before standing on the street oD-
posite the barracks. He arrested Coles
and preferred charge Of disorderly con-
duct against him. Coles protested against
his arrest and was struck by officer
Reilly with his fist while passing through
the sallyport. The policeman said that
the man was resisting arrest Coles
claimed that he was struck without cause.
The hearing was private, but general
idea of what took place was gathered
from those present. The testimony was
conflicting as might Nave been expected.
Col. J. H. DeveauM ana the members of
the squad which was sent out to arrest
the white mon by instructions Of Lieut..
Satterlee, testified positively to seeing Po>
liceman Reilly release the prisoner after
he had been turned over to him to carry
to the barracks. Some of them testified
TO seeing the policeman thrut the prs
cner into the side door of McBride's bar
room. Some of the witnesses were a little
mixed i'm their minds as to whether il was
Policeman Barrett or Policeman
Reilly whom they saw with the
10 l.
which was Reilly and which was Barrett.
They had also been under the impression
that the man they had under arrest was
James Mcclure and not W. +. Corbett, as
was afterwards shown 10 be the case.
Recorder Wilson was not able to ascer-
tain in the police court who the man
was that the negroes had under arrest
and who managed to make his ecape,
this fact being successfully concealed by
the witnesses. Mr. Corbett went upon the
stand. however, in defense of Policeman
Reilly and stated that he was the man
whom the squad had under arrest. He
said that he was turned over to Policeman
Speight, from whom he managed to free
himself and make his escape. Policeman
Speight repeated the statement which he
made in the police court when the other
cases were heard. lie said that when he
arrived on the scene white prisoner
was turned over to him by the squad. lie
did not recognize the man. Policeman
Reilly came up, and as the crowd was
boisterous, he turned the prisoner over to
his brother officer, while he endeavored 10
restore order He said that after the row
had ouieted down somewhat he met Reilly
and asked him what had become of the
prisoner receiving an eVasive reply. Po-
liceman Speight was very positive in his
statements.
Policeman Reilly was equally positive in
contradicting the statements of Policeman
Speight He denied positively that any
prisoner was turned over to him by
Speight The only prisoner he had in
charge, he said, was member of the
squad, whom he arrested for disorderly
conduct.
Policemen Barrett Eivers aud Maher,
James Mcbride, w T. Sullivan and James
Humphries corroborated Reilly's state
ments. The three policemen named left
the quarters about the same time with
Reilly. They testified that they did not
see Reilly have any other prisoner in his
charge, other than the negro whom he
afterward brought to the barracks.
Mayor Myers reserved his decision and
will take time to consider the case.