The morning times., 1896-06-06
TOO FREE WITH HIS GUN
Judge Miller Fines Policeman
EIgn for Assault.
HE LECTURED THE FORCE
Bryant EIgin Assault Case Drew
Crowd of Officers to the Police
Cuurt-Hls Honor Gave the Blue
coat sharp Lecture and Threat
ened Jail for Like Offenders.

Judge Miller broke the hearts of number
Of policemen yesterday afternoon III I'M
posing q fine of SO on OFFICER Frank Elgn,
charged with aSsaulting William Bryant Il
coored man. Bryant, too, was held under
q similar charge, and the case was u cross
fire between the two.
Bryant has long unsavory record, ana
the clerks at the police court have done con
siderable bookkeeping on his account. lie
enjoys Il reputation us prize fighter, ana
the members Of the force in the Third pre-
cinct where the occurrence happened We're
exceedingly mortified at the courts ruling.
Almost all of them off duty listened 10 the
proceedings aLd stood ready to TESTIFY 10
their comrades excellent character ana
BryantS tough life.
Judge Miller III imposing sentence dWeiL
on the danger OF policemen dischargthE
pistols rccklessly and threw out a general
warning for the benefit of the bluecoats
THAI tuc luIce would be severely dcaltWlth
by him if they trduSgressed as Elgln lad
and whc escaped lightly because OF his
good record and Bryants bad standing III
the community.
Bryant WAS fined $50, and in default
sixty days III jail. IL was bitter hight on
both SidcS and the cIosS-fire between the
attorneys defending the men required care
ful handling on the part of Judge Miller.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWED.
Mcssrs John A. Clarke ana Albert Sellers
appeared for Egin, Mr.. L. NJ. Holland rep
resenting Bryant.
On May 80, about 5 O'Clock in the after
noon, Elyin arrested Bryant in front or
James Hayes saloon, near the corner OF
Eighteenth and + streets northwest. ElGm
claimed he was OnStruCting the sidewalk.
There was IA tusse, which resulted in Bryant
no hold
running down street. ElEin drew his
pistol and fired, in the air. he says, con
tradicting Il number OF witnesses who swore
the revolver was aimed point blank a the
fugitive.
Before BRYANT ran blows were exchanged
on both sides, and he claims the officer
struck the first one, While the latter said
IN his attempt to take Bryant into custody
the prisoner struck him i'll the face. and in
sclf-defenSe he hit back. There was no
evidence offered that the policeman used
his club. which was a good point in Itis
favor. He had several witnesses on the
stand. all white and al! swearing Bryant
was the aggreSsur.
Bryant was not deficient in friends, ana
his lawyer produced bakers dozen OF
has own race. all testifyne directly oppG-
site to the other side. But there was no
question about the pistol shot. and that,
according 10 the manner Judge Miller
viewed the affair. was tie most important
incident OF the assault.
Lawyer SilicrS opened the bah at a
lively rate hen he stated The charge
against his client was solely the result OF
race prejudice. Holland grew very angry
AT tins. His bearded face whitcned in
anger as he arose and shook his finger
across the table at Sillcrs.
MADE HOLLAND ANGRY
n
raise tnat question in this court in long
while" said Holland, his voice trembling
with temper.
Sillcrs said IL WAS so nevertheless. and
added. You lave fifteen witnesses and
the majority of them have served time
in the workhoGSe or the JAIL
Judge Miller raped the lawyers TO or
der, ending tie discussion by taking Il
recess.
The most interesting witness was FentDn
Jackson, an old-time darkey, who STAN
mcred redrfuiIy. Fenr0n showed his abil-
ity i'll coping with Mr.. SilerS' questions,
giving that gentleman rs good as he sent.
He narrated the trouble explicitly, tell
ing how a party OF men were congregated
around the entrance OF Hayes place when
Elgn ordered them to move on.
II went inside wild mahself," Stammercd
Fenton, AN den | cum out an seed
teIlm' him ne wuz under arrest. Willie
say what TO, an Elgin haint tole him Wit
According to this witness Elgin hit
Bryant, tripped him up, flung BIN on the
ground. and choked him.
stand up. Bryant said Judge Miller
after the arguments were concluded. How
many more times are you coming in this
court? You are an awful fighter and |
am going to give YOU sixty days in Jail if
you can't pay ii fine of 500
LECTURED BY THE COURT.
Bryant sat down sava gely and Elgin arose
in obedience To the courts command.
''Elgin' remarked the judge Sternly, Il
lad made up my mind TO fine you severely.
hut il considering your good record
have thOught differently. | want you
and every other policeman 10 understand
you have no right to fire at a fleeing
prisoner accused OF a MisdemcanOr. No
more right, l tell you, than you have to
shoot at an innocent man.
Il have said this before, but the of
ficers don't seem 10 pay any attention 10
the courts admonitions. The next time
it happens" and his hODor's voice hardened,
somebody will go to jail
The policemen shifted uneasily in their
chairs and the fall of Il snow flake could
have been heard, so silent was the room.
Suppose you had killed this fellow
~ u
murder. Or, suppose you had shot Orange
| or some Of his family. l tell you, | am
| going to make an example of | iCemcn
| who shoot i'll the streets of Washington
| This is the only city it happens in, and il
| wouldn't be tolerated anywhere else. You
| certainly must nave lost your reas on tC
do such a foOlhardy act, when you fired
that pistol you committed an assault Ii
the hope what ] say will be appreciated
| and in view of your excellent reputation
| / am going to let you off with a fine
of $40.
POLICE WERE CHAGRINED.
| Elgin's pale face flushed as he fumhlCC
in his pocket. Some of his fellow Off
GERS, thinking he had no money, rushed
| forward with wads Of greenhacks, while
| Mr.. Colgate, the docket clerk, exhibited
roll, took out $40 bill and showed i
toward the clerk But Elgin found hi
money and paid the fine.
Bryant, since the 9Th of January, 1890
has been arrested fourteen times o.
SIX occasions fer assault ana battery. one
on Policeman Russell, ElgiD's partner
| twice for Vagrancy, five times fer bein,
drunk and disorderiy, and once for high
| way robbery. III ten instances he wa
convicted, three times he was acquitted
| and one case was Dole pressed.
| o
Family Excursions to River View
The first of the family day excursions t.
| River View for the season OF 1886 viii b
| given today under the personal direCtio
of the management, and for the benefit @
| parents who wish to give their childre
q days outing in the fresh air, tt,
tickets on the 10 a. nj. and 2 p. m trip
will be sold for 10 cents The childre
will be given all the privileges of tn
grounds, aud In order that they ma
enjoy the new sensational amusement
tickets for rides in it will be sold at
cents. On the 6:45 p. M. trip of th
PentZ, the fare will, as usual, be 81
cents On Sunday the Pentz will leav