The herald., 1896-01-29
I HE TESTIMONY
Verbatim Statements of the Principal Wit
nesses, and Full ReYieW

Verbatim Statements of the Principal Wit
nesses, and Full Review
In the opening the commissioners started
to call witnesses to testify as to the facts of
the alteration between Goodman and Col
yer. To this Colver objected. His conten-
ton was that the decision of Judge Owens
had settled the battery case, and that set
tied the matter as far as the commission or
anybody else was concerned. The
was as to whether Russian police
were in vogue in the police department of
this city. That, and that alone, he in
sisted it was the only question for the COM
mittee to hear testimony on. The follow
ing is stenographic report of the more
important facts of the testimony:
Mr.. Colver. Gentlemen, I would like to
state that this matter as to Goodman's as
sault upon me has been settled in the
couts and as far as | am concerned. as
stated to you before, that is no statement
against Mr.. Goodman whatever on that ac-
count. That statement of facts was sub.
mitted to the police commissioners and
that allegation contained in the opening
there was merely placed there for the pur-
pose OF Introducing the more important
matter OF the illegal, unlawful and uncou-
stitutional arrests which had been made by
Mr.. Goodman and other members of the
police force, and which have apparently re-
ceved the sanction and approval of the
chief, The head of the department. The
arrest of citizens, the violation of their
guaranteed rights, is the subject which |
take it is to be investigated. The other
matter has been adjudicated in the courts.
Mr.. Goodman has been found guilty and
mild fine placed upon him, and as far as
am concerned would ask that your valua.
bic time be not wasted on that matter,
which is trivial as compared with the inn
portance of the other and real ques ion.
g, Was not that the beginning of the
Compton affair?
A. No sir, it was not. The Compton af-
fair began on Friday or Saturday morning,
as far as his arrest is concerned and this
lmbroglio between Mr.. Goodman and my
self happened on the following Wednes-
day.
Q. Was it not in regard to that?
A. 1t was, but 1t has no bearing upon the
question AT issue now.
Q. What question was If he asked you
that made you call him liar?
A. The question he asked me as near as
can remember 1T now, was ''HoW much did
you get out of Compton?
Mr.. Wirschng-Mr. Coiver. this paper
that you presented to the commission, the
first article states the difference that oc-
cured between you and Mr.. Goodman?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Now it seems to me that was laying
the foundation for the whole thing. Was
it not?
TRYING TO SIDETRACK THE ISSUE
A. In a measure, yes, but as | say that
matter has already been settled in the
courts. At the best it was personal mat.
ter. The question as to whether Mr..
Goodman slapped me and was justified in
slapping me is trivial. But the other
question as to whether he was justified or
not in making these illegal arrests is some-
thing broader and involves a vital princi-
pie, and it is to that that / call your atten-
ton.
Mr.. Long-Mr. Goodman, did you ask
him that question?
A. No, sir, did not, as God witnesses.
ihere were two witnesses there. never
made such statement
MIR. Colver-Ask the gentleman what he
did ask me.
Mr.. Goodman-When he made the re-
mark you are not going to employ any
more Russian tactics." l kind of smiled;
you get that article?" said 1; and ali at
once when said that, ,he called me liar and
bad names. | said to him, "Do you call me
liar?'' He repeated it, and said, .'Now,
sir, you have said that a second time, YOU
can 60 out of the Office. ! don't want any.
thing to do with you." He did not 90.
! got hold of his arm and said "Go out,''
and as | said SO, / struck him.
Mr.. Colver-Now, gentlemen, the evil
dence as heard by the court on the charge
OF battery, and of which MIR. Goodman was
found guilty, would not have been suifi-
cient to convict him if the statement he
has made was borne out by facts.
Y. Do you know whether the court fined
him for his alteration or for absence?
A. The court found him guilty on the
charge of battery as alleged. No other ex-
traneous matters were introduced. The
entry on the police court docket appears
"Found guilty as charged"
GOODMAN KNOWS WHY
Mr.. Goodman-I can state the reason
why the judge fined me. 1t was because
acknowledged after he had struck me,
that.
Mr.. Long-Ths man Compton, you ar
rested him. When was ii?
A. l arrested him at 2 80 on the 1th
and took him to the police station. There
were two officers with me.
lister? -
A. I'booked him.
Mr. Colver-On what book?