The Portland daily press., 1897-10-30
UNMAKING A POLICEMAN.
And Compile atoms Arising There
from.
THE DEERING PEOPLE SEEK
JUDGE WHITEHOUSE.

1t Takes All Day to Put the Stories in
and Then They Don't Fit-Oficer Yer :
rilI's Sojourn in the Cage and What
Came of 1t.
Statesmen, politicians, policemen and
ordinary citizens of Deering- abounded in
the Supreme Court room when Judge
Whitehouse opened court yesterday morn
ing. The occasion was the long-expected
trial of the case of ex Policeman Wads-
worth Verrill against Mayor Henry j.
Davis and City Marshal Leander NJ.
Clark of Deering.
In order to begin the trial the jury re-
ouired little changing. Juror Horati
Maxwell, of Deering, wished to be ex-
cussd. as he would be embarrassed. John
S. Snow was substituted, but he also
asked to be excused, and Frank j. Whit
ney was substituted.
Edward f. Tompson, ESQ.,, and E. G.
Reynolds, ESQ.,, appeared for Verrill. and
.Seiders & Chase for the Mayor and Mar
shall
Mr.. Thompson, in opening the case,
made the following statement:
This is an action on the case brought by
Wadsworth Verrill against Henry J..
Davis, mayor, and Leander M. Clark,
city marshal of Deering. The complaint
recites that on April %, 1857, the de-
PENDANTS committed an assault and bat
cry upon him, and deprived him of his
liberty by shutting him in cell two
hours. against the law of the land and
Z against the will of the said plaintiff.
The defendants reply that they are
not guilty in the form and manner al
legged. Leander M. Clark claims that he
was on April 20. 1897, duly qualified
marshal, and that the said complainant
committed an assault on him; and that
then complainant was arrested and con-
fined at the station for brief period.
In May, 1S 8, Wadsworth Verrill was
appointed on the regular police force of
Deering. He still claims that he is a
regular p olice officer, never having been
removed. On the evening of April 20,
1897, the plaintiff was called to the door.
He found there Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Davis, doing the talking, demanded
his billy, badge, handouts and other
property as a policeman. Mr.. Verrill
was surprised, as Mr.. Clark had said that
the next day would be time enough fol-
the surrender Of the articles. After somt
conversation, the Mayor ordered tn,
Marshal to arrest the plaintiff and take
him to the station. This the marshal did
the plaintiff making no resistance. Thel
they proceeded with him to the polio
station; but did not take the most direc
way Mr.. Verrill's house was on Cherry
street, and the direct route would hav
been about 360U feet. But instead of thi
they walked him to Oak street on tt
Stevens Plains avenue, along LELAND
street, Central avenue, etc., in all making
distance of $500 feet, or twice as far al
necessary. All the time they were lead
ing him along this roundabout way the,
were using violent language towards hin
and even committed physical assault
upon \. Then they took him to tn
police station. When they arrived, the.
found there Officer Brown, DR.. Coleman
and Alderman Aver. "Lock Verrill up,
said Marshal Clark to Officer Brown, ant
Verrill was put in cell like common
offender.
Mr.. Thompson then went on to relat
that the plaintiff was soon after released
without a word of apology; and not on
word of apology had been offered since.
Mr.. Tompson then went on to sa,
that the offence alleged against plaintiff
was not such an one as would justif.
criminal action. A civil suit was tn
most that could be invoked. Judge Hop
kins. of the Deering Municipal Court
had expressly refused to issue warran
for Verrill
Having closed the case Mr.. Tompsor