The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-08
POLICEMAN N,oooL DISMISSED.
The Arrest Of Mr. Mercer Results in
Hls Discharge.


Policeman Joseph McCooI was dlsm. ssed
from the force last nIght by the police
commits 0n. after hearing the charges
preferred against him hy Sir. T. L. Mer-
Ger. on account OF the unreasonable con-
duct OF the policeman iu arresting Mr..
Mercer and sending him 20 the barracks
without cause.
The arrest was last Wednesday night,
and a Gun account OF the affair was pub
Lshci in the Morning News. MT. Mercer
was on bis way 20 his home on Whta-
ker street. about midnight. having. as US
ual. remained 1t tne OE.ethorpe cluD un-
tl that hour. As nearly everyone knows
be is a sufferer from rheumatism. and is
barely able 90 make his way about with
the aid OF cane. He was near his home
and was crossing Whitaker street, al
Gwinnett. when OHcer AIcCo0l rode upon
him suddenly and demanded 10 know
S. hat he was doing there. Mr.. Mercer
was surprised az This sudden attack. and
promptly demanded % know Of the Of
ncer what be meant hy riding upon him
ln this sudden manner and almost scar
ing him 90 death.
There were some words about this. and
the officer ordered Ar. Mercer 20 90 home
which the latter, considering himself TO
be a free and independent citizen In pos
session Of his right mind, emphatcauy
declined 10 do. After more words had
passed McCOOi carried Mr. Mercer 20 the
Hail street box and sent him 90 the bar
racks ia the red maria.
Policeman McCool. IN his statement,
said that he took Mr.. Mercer for a sus-
plcious character, and acted on this be-
lief. He did not know Mr.. Mercer he
said, nor did he know that he was a Grip
pie. After being cursed at by Mr.. Mer-
GER who dared him 10 arrest him, he
ha Harh fas
making the arrest
Two young men. Messrs Wright and
Barbee, appeared as witnesses before the
commission. and substantiated Mr.. Mer-
GERS statement OF the affair They came
up while the alteration, IL such it could
be called, between Mr.. Mercer and the po-
liceman was In progress. Viewing Mr..
MERGERS arrest as an outrage they &C
companied him TO the barracks.
The action OF the comm ssion will be
generally Endorsed. At the same time Mr..
MCCOOl has a number of friends who VIII
regret his dismissal. The peculiar feature
of the case, and something which the
commissioners could not understand, Is
that McCOOl has been "A member OF the
force for five years and has an excellent
record. He is not a drinking man, and there
was nothing TO show that he was intOxi-
Gated. He was known to be quiet and well
behaved and for this reason the commits
sloners were at loss 10 understand why
he should have made such a break. They
NAAiatAANA NAA tlldl as an experienced OllGtE
ne should have known that there was no
reason for Mr.. Mercer's arrest. He was
near his home and even II his conduct had
been less than circumspeCt, there was no
reason why he should not have been al
lowed TO 90 70 his home. In the third place
he was cripple. which accounted for his
awkward gait, and II the officer had
thought there was any reason to bring a
charge against him there was no necessity
for sending him to the barracks. when, af-
ter discovering that he was "A well known
citizen, he could have been accorded the
courtesy OF being notified to appear in
court In the morning, which Is not unusual.
All these things, when considered by the
commission, put such a bad face upon
McCoofs case that the commissioners did
not see that they could do otherwise than
dismiss him
Only Commissioners Vetsburg and Jack
son were present at the hearing, Major
karow being out of the city.
The charges brought against Policeman
Masters by Mr.. A. Fantl OF assaulting him
upon the street with a cowhide were heard.
Masters plead guilty to the assault No de-
cision was announced.