New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-08
RACE RIOT INQUIRY BEGUN
YORK PROCEEDS ARBITRARILY AND
DEvERY FRIGHTENs A WITNESS.
DEvERY. THOMPSON AND CoONET-
LETTER TO VAN WICK.


The investigation Of the charges OF clubbing
and brutality made by coIored people against
the police Of the West Thirty-seveuth-st police
station, after the recent race troubles which the
Police Commissioners were asked by the Mayor
10 hold, began yesterday afternoon in the trial
room at Police Headquarters Israel Ludlow
Frank Moss and Superintendent Burr OF the
Society for the Prevention OF Crime were pres
ent
Chief Devery was IN the trial room for few
minutes after ? o'clock but seeing that the
Commissioners had not arrived vent out again.
number OF men with subpcanas IN their
hands came to Headquarters shortly after
O'Clock, and were directed into President Yorks
private office The consultation with them
caused delay in starting the hearing
President York and Commissioner Hess came
into the trial room at 2.25 o'clock Commission
er York asked Mr.. Moss II he wanted TO say
anything
Not at this moment" replied Mr. Moss. but
may avail myself Of your invitation later"
Mr. York then called William J Elliott Mr.
Ludlow arose and said that Elliott was his
client, and he wanted TO appear for him He
had offered TO the Board evidence OF brutality
TO two clients. but the Board had put every
thing in the way OF having that evidence put
in at the hearing
DEMAND FOR CoONEY's TRIAL
One Of my clients. ". E. Devins. came TO me
a few days ago" he added, and told me that he
had been summoned 70 the West Thirty-sev-
enth-st- station. and that there, in the pres
ence Of two uniformed officers he was com
PEELED TO tell Captain Cooney all he knew about
the riots. For thar reason I requested the priv
uege OF subpGnaing my own witnesses You
are president Of the Board. and I demand sub
wiz ale
that II the facts brought out warrant. the
investigation be turned from its present charac-
ter. which aims in the air, and that Acting Cap
tain Cooney be placed on trial
We propose said President York TO 90 TO
the bottom in this investigation. but We do not
propose TO arJw any lawyer 10 use this as a
means Of getting evidence for future suits
against individuals"
Elliott took the stand. and President York be-
gan 10 question him, using EIliott's affidavit as
a basis Elliott said that he now lived az No
2O9 East Fifty-ninth-st.. but on the night OF
the outbreak he lived az No 32T West Thirty
hfth-sL He IS employed in the Imperial Hotel
As he was being led 10 the cell. passing
through back room at the station somebody
put out his foot and tripped him Up. As ne was
recovering himself and trying not 10 fan a
policeman in Uniform shot out his fist and hit
him IN the face Almost Immediately another
policeman nit him with club.
Ihen dozen or so took a hand in the game
and the negro was knocked down punched
kicked, and pounded with clubs
I might have been killed, but the man think
Is Captain COOney came out and told them 70
Stop that Don't kill that man In here There
III take hand in il myself"
He was then locked UP. He sent telegram
They sent back word that the police had told
them that II wouldn't be safe 70 take him out
that night. Next day Elliott was taken 70 court
and fined So for carrying the revolver
DEvERY INTIAIIDATEs WITNESS.
John Chisnan and Leon Vance. eoIored. cor
roborated Eniotts statements in every i'm
porrant particular
Sergeant Parkinson before whom ETliorr was
arraigued, told OF the arraignment and heard
nothing OF the cries in the back room when
Elliott was beaten
Thomas Kavenaugh, the dooruan was the
next witness. He was with Elicit when the
latter was assaulted, according 20 ETiotI's
story. but he didn't see any violence He did
not believe there had been any interference
with him whatever.
Kavenaugh had given his testimony with con-
siderable hesitation. Chief Devery was seated
at the side Of the Commissioner. and both were
looking right into his eyes "Kavenaugh want
ed tell the truth said Frank Moss after the
hearing was over. He wanted 70 tell the
truth. and Devery wouldn't let him. You can
quote me as saying that
Acting Captain Cooney said he went out into
the muster room 10 get drink but positively
did not see the beating Of Elliott as the latter
had testified, nor did he tell the men TO stop as
there we're reporters outside
Was there anybody at al beaten n your sta
ton that night, this or any other prisoner
NO sir. Nobody was beaten Everybody
who came there was protected and taken care
Of"
The captain had described what he saw OF the
passage Of Elliott through the back room He
had said that the room was crowded and that
kavenaUgh was pushing the man before him.
I'd like 20 know which is telling the truth,
the captain or the dOOrnan2' demanded Mr..
other behind"
''Oh. wei; we'll find that out later on" inter
rupued President York.
7 have some more questions want 20 ask"
said Mr.. Ludlow.
That's all you can ask him now"
MOSS IN TILT WITH YORK
Roundsman O'Neill, OF the West Thirty-sev-
enth-st- police station was the last witness He
told how he had TO clear a passage for Elliott
and the doorman through the crowd OF police
men. He saw no clubbing and heard no cries.
Mr. Ludlow made a general protest against
his treatment, and another demand for sub
poenas, which net with prompt refusal Mr..
Moss then arose
President York bowed 70 him, and asked II he
had anything 10 say.
I thought replied Mr.. Moss that you
might have something 70 say 10 ne"
7 don't understand interrupted President
York
Y sent letter 10 the Mayor concerning this
investigation and received a polite note in re-
ply, in which I told that my letter had
been referred 10 you
IT was" said Mr. York
We'll, I was going TO say that have a con-
siderable amount Of testimony which I was go
ing TO offer this Board If there any use for
II Before 7 offer il hOWaVsr. I would Ike 10