Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-02
ARREST AROUSES ANGER
Eight Hundred People Assemble at Twelfth
q Street Police Station.
Officers Action in Apprehending
Boy Denounced rs UnJust-Case
in Police Court.

The case of Harry Davis, colored fif-
teen-yea--old boy, who was arrested last
evening by Policeman c. II. Murphy, on
the charge of vagrancy, which was set for
this morning in the District branch of the
Police Court, was postponed until the 18th
Instant, and the bond of 800 given by Mr..
L. A Newman for the boys appearance
today was renewed.
From the statements made in the it
al pears that the boy was found at the
corner of Pennsylvania avenue and 18th
street northwest, and, as claimed by the
officer, was begging. TIE latter told the
boy to go to his home, which is 9th
street near l. street, but the boy did not
leave the neighborhood, and presently be-
gan to twill a stick around as though es-
saving the role of drum major Officer
Murphy then placed the boy under arrest.
There was large crowd in the vicinity
at the time. and the arrest was witnessed
by large number of persons. instantly
score of them among them well-known cit
liens, said the boy had not committed any
wrong, and they den anded that he be set
a liberty.
officer Murphy refused to yield to this de-
mand, and after waiting for some time for
the patrol wagon (Which he had meanwhile
rurg for, but which did not Gomez. started
with his prisoner toward the 18th street
police station. The policeman and his prs-
oner were followed by a crowd estimated
800 people, who denounced the arrest as
unjust.
Scene ut Police station.
In accordance with the usual CUSTOM the
boy was told to stand up before the rail
upon his arrival, and was asked 10 give
his name and answer some questions. In
stead of doing so he began to cry, and, the
noise reaching the of the multitude,
many of whom had entered the building,
excited the latter to such an extent that
al one time it looked as though an attempt
would be made to rescue him by force.
Sergeant Moore. who was in charge of
the station, found that he would have to
resort to extreme measures to get clear OF
mis- unwelcome visitors, and ordered out the
reserves which. after some difficulty, sue
ceeded in making the crowd leave the sta
ton. The boys name was then by request
of Officer Murphy, placed on the blotter,
ard an entry made to indicate that he
was charged with vagrancy.
The Officer Denounced.
This again angered the crowd, and one
lady, who, among others, had re-entercd
the station. shook her finger in the officers
face and denounced him violently. Many
offers to deposit collateral were made, but
all were refused. it being explained by Ser
geant Moore that he was powerless under
the law 10 accept any Olliel IMAM IL iedi
estate bond. The boy then locked up,
and the crowd left the station and held an
Indignation meeting near by.
Speeches denunciatory of the action of
the officer who made the arrest were made,
and Mr.. E. A. Newman went to the home
of Mr. Joseph Y. Potts, clerk of the Police
Court, and secured the boys recognizance
on a real estate bond for 500, and he was
then released, but the crowd was still I'M
satisfied. and conveyed him to his home in
a carriage.
About twenty citizens volunteered to give
evidence in favor of the boy, but this morn
ing most of them failed to appear at the
Police Court.