The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-24
THE POLICE SENSATION.
Mayor Myers TO Investigate Count
hans Assault on RyaIs.

hans Assault on RyaIs-
Mayor Myers will hold a special session
of the police court this afternoon to hear
charges preferred against Policeman Cou-
nihan By Policeman Ryals. The latter
charges the former with assaulting and
beating him. The affair has been the
sensation OF the police department since
It's occurrence Wednesday night, and has
been geneally discussed throughout the
city, as well
Policeman Counihan has the reputation
Of being the best man physically on the
police force. He has made good officer,
but. unfortunately, has taste Tor liquor,
which sometimes gets the better OF him.
This was the case Wednesday night He
had come off duty at O'Clock in the af-
ternOOn. and when he reported at the
barracks at night was evidently under
the influence OF liquor. He was not due
to go on duty again until Z o'clock the
next morning and his friends tried TO
keep him in quarters. Unfortunately he did
not take their advice hut slipped out and
joined a party of friends
Between 10 and II o'clock at night PO-
liceman Ryals, who was on duty in the
Fort district, heard sounds as of a diff
Guilty in the neighborhOod of South Broad
and Houston streets. He thought he heard
Counihan's voice calling for assistance.
anu ran nbNn I1OualOD street. lOWdIu
South Broad street. Before he reached
the corner he met Counihan running to-
ward him in his shirt sleeves He was
surprised, to say the least, when he
reached Counihan. to receive a heavy
blow in the face. As he delivered the blow
Counihan exclaimed:
60 - you, Fleming. I've got you"
Ryals, Counihan and Fleming all do duty
in the Second or Fort district, being on
duty eight hours each, and Ryals would
have been relieved by Fleming al II
O'Clock. Ryals saw that there was some
mistake and exclaimed. why, Joe, this
isn't Fleming. This is Ryals"
For answer he received another blow in
the face, quickly followed by a third blow.
The last blow fioored him and put him
out of the game. Ryals is a good man
physically himself but ne couldn't stand
up against the sledge hammer blows of
COunihan delivered i'm this manner. Ryals
might have been more seriously hurt, but
crowd of Counihan's friends, who had
been with him. ran up at this time, and
dragged him away. Ryals was carried
to a neighboring drug store, where his
wounds were treated, after which he went
to the police barracks and reported the
matter.
Chief McDermott was asked about the
matter by a Morning News reporter, but
declined to discuss it, saying that 1t had
Deen reported 10 the mayor 1Or dclon-
The reporter also made an effort TO find
Ryals. but did not succeed He was said
by those who had seen him to be pretty
badly bruised up, one eye being badly
bunged up. Counihan was met at the
barracks. Naturally he was anxious that
nothing should be said about the matter.
He seemed to regret the affair very much
and said that il was all his fault.
Il was crazy drunk" he said, "and did
NOT KnOW WhO 7 striking awning
about it," Counihan and Ryals are both
popular with their brother officers, and
have many friends outside the force as
well