The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-24
THE CHIEF ON HIS MUSCLE.
J. j. SULLIVAN KNOCKED OUT BY
CHEZ OF POLICE MDERMOTT.

mr. the A0AGA
Treated Him DiscOurteOusIy in Not
Replying to His snIutatIOn-The
Alteration Ended ina Fight in
Which the Officer Had the Hest OF
It--Detective BOsseIIs Arrest Or
dered and Two Others Arrested for
Threatening Policeman TuIIis.
The sensation Of yesterday was the en-
counter between the chief of police and
J. J. Sullivan.
The difficulty occurred at II O'clock on
the second floor of the Southern Bank
building. Chief McDermott was standing
in the corridor talking to Mr.. ]. T. Lewis,
superintendent of the City and Suburban
railway. Mr.. Sullivan passed them on his
way 10 the office Of Barrow & Osborne,
his object being to ascertain from MIR.
/ Osborne by what authority he published
Mr.. Sullivan as one Of those present az
| the Hartridge meeting at the colored ODD
Fellows hall on Harris street Friday
night
Mr.. Sullivan had found that Mr.. o.
| borne was the author of the account of
this meeting, which appeared as an adver-
/ tisement in Saturdays Press. AS he pass
/ ed Mr.. Lewis and Chief McDermott Mr..
/ Sullivan spoke to them, saying, How DO
/ you, Frank"
Chief McDermott replied, so both he
and MIR. Lewis state, and continued his
| conversation with Mr.. Lewis Mr. Suiii-
van, it seems, thought that he had not
replied to his salutauon and took excep-
lions. He came back and inquired OF
! Chief McDermott why he did not reply
to him, and why he had not treated him
/ as a gentleman, or words to that effect
/ Chief McDermOtt told him that he had
done so. Mr.. Sullivan denied that he had.
Words passed and Mr.. Sullivan called the
chief a liar
At the same time both parties raised
| their hands in position to strike. The
chief landed on Mr.. Sullivan's forehead,
knocking him some distance. They came
together and clinched. Mr.. Sullivan either
fell or was knocked down with Chief
McDermott on top Of him, and in that
position the chief landed several more
blows. People who had rushed out from
their offices got in between the two men
and separated them. Both seemed anx-
iouS to continue the night, however, and
there was considerable profanity used.
Mr.. Sullivan declared that he would get
his Winchester and come back for the
chief. He went down the steps wiz this
intention apparently, but was arrested
| by Policeman Tullis, who had heard of
the difficulty and came running up.
Mr. Sullivan was taken to the barracks,
where he was locked UP and charges or
cursing and abusing ana attempting TO
strike the chief of police were entered
against him. He was also charged with
being drunk and disorderly. Friends i'm
mediately volunteered TO go on his bond.
The sergeant on duty demurred to ac-
cepting bond at first, on the grounds
that the prisoner was under the influence
of liquor but after considering the mat
ter, he agreed to accept the bond, and
Sullivan was released.
Supt. Lewis, who was the only eye
witness OF the beginning of the difficulty,
was seen by a Morning News reporter,
and corroborated the account given
4 had no idea Of any difficulty" he
said. Il thought the two men were joK-
ing at first The chief called on me to
corroborate his assertion that he had re-
piled to Mr.. Sullivan's salutation, which
/ did Mr. Sullivan then called the chief
liar and when he did the chief knocked
him down. They came together and the
chief struck him several more blows. 1
| didn't attempt to interfere. If they
wanted to fight 1t out | had no objections.
l did not see the chief kick Mr. Sullivan
nor strike him with pistol"
Chief McDermott was seen at the police
barracks after the difficulty 4 was stand
| Osborne's Office he said, talking with
Mr.. Lewis of the City and Suburban rail-
road when Sullivan passed us He said,
''Howdy do" and l replied in the same
way, not taking any particular notice. He
went few steps beyond us, turned and
]
didn't reply when he spoke to me.
Il treated you like gentleman" he
said, land want to know why you didn t
said. mo you didn't" he replied
II didn't want to have any difficulty
80 asked Mr. Lewis if he didn't hear me
/ speak to Sullivan. He said he did. Sullivan
commenced cursing then and saying that
/ 1 must treat him like a gentleman, and
called me a liar, at the same time
making a movement as if to strike me.
With that l struck out and knocked him
down. He rose eursing and called me a
vile name. l ran to him and struck him
three or four times. After we were sepa-
rated Sullivan said that he was going
| down to get his Winchester. l did not fol-
GLOW him as 1 had no desire to continue the
difficulty"
used a weapon Of any kind or that he
was armed at the time of the fight. He
also denied having kicked Mr.. Sullivan
Mr.. sullivan said that he had no inten-
| tion of provoking any difficulty and that
he was entirely taken by surprise when
struck by Chief McDermott. He asserted
/, I positively that after he arose from the
first blow that Chief McDermott drew d
pistol and beat him over the head with
It, and that he was also kicked in the
side when down. Mr. Sullivan had Iumu
} on his forehead and the skin was cut
for the distance of about two inches,
which he said was the result of a blow
he received from pistol in the hands OF
the chief.
4. W. oyer ana refer Ddrfetl were ar
rested last night by Policeman Tullis and
orders were given by the sergeant to the
squad which went out at IL O'clock to ar
rest George w. BoSsen, the ex-city de-
tective. 1t seems that when Policeman
Tullis went to arrest Mr. Sullivan he
found him sitting ON his steps with a
| Winchester in his hand. He did not re-
| sist arrest, but asked permission to put
up his rifle which was granted Tuf-
lis charges that Bossell, Dyer and Bar
| rett cursed abused and threatened him.
\ advising Mr.. Sullivan not to submit to
arrest.
Recorder Wilson will investigate the az
| fray this morning and the testimony win
! 4loubtless be iRterestirAg.
rhe Greatest Discovery of the Nine
teenth Century,
why will you die with consumption. Ca