The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-07
BRUTALLY ASSAULTED.
A Policeman While Trying TO Secure Esl-
denGs. Set Upon and Beaten.
SEVERAL PARTIES ARE UNDER ARREST.
Charged with the OFense- omcer
Hobbs the Victim OF Sunday
Nights Row I'm the County-Onl.
Ger simpson Also, Assaulted TRo
Coses Continued Until Friday.

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AS result Of brutal assault, Sub-5
stNute Policeman Hobbs Is lying at st.
Vihcent's Hospital with his head ana
race mass of bruises and cuts and ono
IT'D fractured. The assault was com.
mitted Just outside of the city limits In
Norfolk County, and three parties are
heid FOR the offense, one of them being
sent to jail In default of bail. The
principal In the assault is alleged to be
~. B. Miars, the keeper OF q barroom at
chapel street and Princess Anne road.
Ihe building Is located on the county
line. grocery In front being In tho city
limits, while the bar in the rear Ii on
the county side. g
Miars is also charged with feloniously
assaulting Police Officer Simpson yes-
terday morning. when that officer nfs
tempted to place him under arrest.
The first assault occurred about
O'Clock Sunday night. officer Hobbs
had been sent TO the place to secure evil
dence of Sunday liquor selling. although
Mayor Petit, Police Commissioners BoiSi
ton and Chief King denied yesterday
that they had given him any such order.
II was said that the order was given
by Commissioner Bolton without con-
suting the Chief or other Commissions 4
ers. F9 RI
However, this may be, 1t is, known
right. But az to what took place after
his arrival there Is some doubt. Tao
police say that Hobbs entered the place.
saw whisltey drinking. and attempted
TO buy. when he was set upon by O .
crowd Of roughs and numerically beat,
en-. the barkeeper, 1t Is alleged, striking
him over the head with q bung starter,
Mars friends tell another story. They
say that Hobbs climbed to the roof OF
a shed In the rear OF the building and
began peeping In the window of AIRS. &
Miars. who, seeing a man trying to get
In. as she thought, screamed for help.S
Miars rushed out, and, catching the Of
flcer looking into his wifes chamber,
and not recognizing him. gave him the
beating. ~, e.t.5
These are the stories told by the two
sides to the affair. But about an the
police seem to! know or are willing to
make public is'the fact that in response
to a wagon call about Q o'clock Sunday
night. they went to the Ocean View rail-
road depot, and there found Officer
Hobbs in a dazed condition, with face,
hands and clothing covered with blood.
Charters was called in, who advised that
he be taken to st. Vincent's. At the
latter place 1t was found necessary to
take thirty-nine stitches In eixteen
wounds which covered his head.
The news of the assault spread
niiIDuSHoul tuS city, duQ every AVdllhblc
policeman was taken in the patrol wagon
to the scene of the trouble, but no arrests
were made until O'clock yesterday
| morning. when William H. Norris.
| the bartender. and NJ. ]. Palette, were
taken into custody. Mr.. John T. Lewis
was arrested in the lower part of the
city earlier In the evening, but was re-
leased on bail by Judge Hanckel, and
yesterday dismissed from custody, he
having satisfactorily proved an alibi.
Messrs. Norris and Palette were locked
up the former being bailed by Judge
1ianckel Yesterday in the sum Of SEQ
until next Saturday morning.
Yesterday morning officer Simpson
went out to look for Mars. When he
reached East's barrel factory on Chapel
street he was approached by Mars, and
also terribly assaulted. A patrol wagon
loaded down with dozen policemen.
was dispatched to the locality, and
brought the second injured officer to the
station. Miars made his escape, ana
going to the office of Justice Hawks. In
the county, surrendered himself.
At the hearing. Mr.. ]. G. Tilton ap.
peared to represent the Commonwealth,
but, question of Jurisdiction arising q
the case was postponed until 4 O'clock
yesterday afternoon. At that hour, how
ever none of the witnesses or the Com
monwealth's Attorney of Norfolk conn-
ty appeared, and the case was again
postponed until Friday afternoon at
o'clock. 5i
1t is said that when Officer Hobbs
was assaulted. he had two pistols In his
pocket, and that both were taken frora
him and used to beat him With. M
There seems to be conflict or author
ify. as both city and county claim the
prisoner. Justice Hawks yesterday COR
suited Captain r. c. Marshall, Com
monweaIth's Attorney , for Norfolk
county, and was told that he had fi1isl
jurisdiction In the case. He thereforo
refused to surrender Mars to the CITY
authorities. Justice Hawks holds no
warrant for Norris or Palette, but Tka
police have two warrants for Mars,