The Washington bee., 1898-10-01
LAUGHED AT A POLICEMAN.
SOUTHERN JUSTICE SAMPLED IN THIS
cITY.-THE coLoRED MAN CLUBBED


SOUTHERN JUSTICE SAMPLED IN THIS
c1TY.-THE coLoRED MAN CLUBBED
AND FINED.
Samuel Alexander, colored =
black, was Tuesday arraigned before
Judge Scott on the charge OF disorder
Iv conduct and assaulting Officer Cliff
ford Grant. The latter stated that he
is the special officer at the railway
crossing at 9TH and F streets north
west. On last Friday while he (the
officer was on the discharge OF his
duty, Alexander laughed at him Of
fensively. Grant warned Alexander
not to do so any more and informed
him that if he did so he would arrest
him. alexander replied that Grant
had no right to arrest him and he
would not go with him, because he
had not done any thing to be arrested
for. The officer then took him In GUS
today. The latter put his hand on
Grants arm, it is said, and Grant
struck him in the head with his club.
A number of witnesses, none of
whom saw the beginning of the diff
Guilty, testified that they saw the po-
lice officer strike Alexander over the
head with his club. AT the conclusion
of the hearing of the government s
side of the case Attorney Chase, coun-
sci for the defense, asked that the
case be dismissed.
The motion was overruled by Judge
Scott, and Mr.. Charles F Hayden, an
attache of Of the petent office, was
called as the first witness for the de-
fense. Mr. Hayden said he saw the
whole transaction, and the first re.
mark he heard was by Officer Grant,
who said. "What the-are you
laughing at me for?'
Alexander answered that he was
not laughing at Grant. The latter
replied:
"If you don't shut up l will arrest
you"
Witness then related the circum-
stances of the arrest and clubbing as
already stated.
Abraham Meyers, a messenger boy
in the patent office, gave testimony
similar to that of Mr.. Hayden, added
that the defendant used no profane
language.
Walter Groesbeck, an examiner
in the patent office, was also a witness
to the entire trouble. His testimony
was similar to that of the proceeding
witnesses for the defense, with the ad-
dition tnat in lowering an awning a
small rope attached to the awning fell
across the officers hamlet and Shoul-
ders. The officer then turned and put
Alexander under, arrest and the cin0-
bing followed.
Mr.. Miller K. Sullivan, an attache OF
the patent office, said at the time OF the
affair he was sitting at his desk In the
Interior Department. He was a wit
ness of the whole transaction, saw the
officer grasp Alexander roughly by
his collar and strike him violently over
| the head with his club. He was ask
. how he and the others in his room
! who saw the occurrence regarded 1t,
/ and replied that there were humber
| of persons in the room at the time,
and each exclaimed that it was an
outrage.
Attorney Chase announced that he
| had at least dozen more witnesses
for the defense, but was so well salts
| fed that his client would be acquitted
| that he would not call them.
| After remarks by Messrs. Mullouny
and Chase, Judge Scott said 1t was
/ evident that Alexander had been dis
orderly, and for this he would tne
him S. The charge for assultlng the
officer vas dismissed. The fine was
paid by Mr.. VIM. Dietz, one OF the
witnesses for the government.