Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-30
AssAULTNG a POLICEMAN
Killing Of Dempsey Recalled in Court
Today.
Trial Of the Men Charged with Beat
ing Policeman vermfllfon-
The Omcer's Testimony.

John Early, alias Jimmy John; Richard
Hurley and Maurice Davis were placed on
trial before Judge Cox in Criminal Court
No. 2 this morning charged with assaulting
Policeman William Vermillion the 22d OF
last September
This is the occurrence in which Timothy
Dempsey, "A young man, was killed by the
alleged accidental discharge of the police
mans pistol, while he and the companioas
OF Dempsey were, as the officer says, en-
gs ged in scuffle for 1t.
The policemen was subsequently exoner-
ated by coroner's jury.
The defendants were represented today
by Messrs. A. A. Lipscomb JOSEPH ShiI-
lington and Chas. E. Turner, Assistant
District Attorneys Jeffords and Laskey ap-
peariEg on behalf Of the government In
opening the case to the jury. Mr.. Jeffords
stated that the government expected to
prove that about 1 O'Clock Of the morning
in question the officer found Dempsey and
bis companions acting in a very dis,rderly
manner on the Malone lot at LIST and L
street northeast. They had a small keg of
beer. and were drinking and cursing The
o1ilcer told them to dispense, when Demp-
sey threatened to do the officer up. He at
tempted to place Dempsey under arrest,
When the latter twice knocked him down.
The crowd jumped on him and were beat
ing him. when the policeman drew his re-
volver, threatening to use it unless they
for assistance, but before his fellow officers
arrived. Vermillion's pistol was accidental
ly discharged in the scuffle, Dempsey be-
iEg struck In the thigh. dying from the
eHects OF the wound about eight hours
later. One Of Dempsey's companions stat
ed Mr.. Jeffords, surrendered himself at
the police station, stating that there had
been planned scheme to kill the officer.
and that he would have been killed had
not other policemen arrived when they did
Defense Opening.
The defendants would show, explained
Mr. Turner, that Vermillion, known as
Buddy Vermillion, has reputation as
shooter and as a brute, and that he left
the station that night intending to add to
his reputation as such.
Mr. Jeffords objected to Mr. Turner's lam
guage, when Judge Cox remarked that he
should be more temperate in his opening.
Mr.. Turner retorted that the defense ex-
pected to show in evidence all he had
stated, and that Vermllion started the
trouble by beating Dempsey on the 1eet
with his night stick 1t is true. he said
that Dempsey resented such treatment,
and knocked the policeman down. They
would also show, said Mr.. Turner that
Dempsey then ran off, and was deliberately
shot by termillion as he was running
away, and that not until the young man
had been shot Gid he blow his whistle for
assistance They would also show, said
Mr.. Turner, that Vermillion left his regular
beat to arrest the men.
Officers Testimony.
Policeman Vermillon was the first wit
ness called on behalf of the government
He stated that he had been policeman for
about two years. Hearing cursng and
swearing, he said, he went down to where
the men were. He found Dempsey and the
defendants drinking beer from a small keg.
He cautioned them to be quiet, when Demp-
r. Sh,t
tended to do him up He attempted to
place Dempsey under arrest, when he was
assaulted by him and his companions. He
was twice knocked down, and the four men
jumped on him and beat him. He drew
his revolver. threatening to shoot unless
they ceased assaultfng him. He twice
blew the distress call, and in the scuffle
the pistol was discharged, while Dempsey
WAS on top Of him.
The policeman was subjected to a very
loEg and searching cross-eXamination by
Mr.. Lipscomb and Mr.. Shillington. but he
Insisted that he did not Intentionally do
the shooting, and he also denied that the
revolver was fired while Dempsey was rum
ming away. He admitted visiting Kernan's
Theater the afternoon before and drinking
bottle of beer there, but denied that he
WAS drunk or diSor1erly.
The examination by Mr.. 1ipscomb was
unusually spirited, and during 1T he took
occasion to charge the district attorneys
office with refusing to prosecute the police
man. IF we had had the assistance of
your Office he said to Mir. Jeffords, I'VE
would have had this officer indicted for
murder"
1.-The case was before the grand jury" re-
piled Mr.. Jeffords, land they having re-
fused to indict the officer that should be
sufficient"
Mr.. Turner also cross-examined the Off
GER and the latter denied having ever
boosted of shooting at negroes in South
Washington or with threatening to shoot
an Irishman in Swamppoodle.
After Officer Vermillion left the stand wit
nesses bearing out Mr. Jeffords' statement
were examined, and at ; o'clock the case
was adjourned until tomorrow morning.