The times., 1901-05-14
AFFAIRS OF The DISTRICT
A Complaint Against the Acts Of
Crossing Policeman.

Private W. C. Curd the Subject of "a
Long Letter to the commissioners
-Lfccnse for Mechanical Vehicles
-CompInint Regarding Street.
Dudley & Michcner have entered com
plant against Private ". G. Curd. sta
toned at Seventh and G Streets north
west for the arrest of their messenger
boy. Frank Lakeland Complaint is made
of the treatment of the boy by the po-
Uceman. whose removal from the force
or transfer to some less important local
ity is asked. In their letter to the Com
missioners the complainants say:
we regret. but feel ourselves compelled.
to enter a complaint against Patrolman
w. c. CUrd, of the Police Force, stationed
at the very important crossing of G and
Seventh Streets northwest. He was guilty
yesterday Of SO fragrant a case of indis-
cretion and lack Of reasonable judg-
ment that we feel you ought TO know how
utterly unfit he is for that special kind
of service and. judging from his action of
yesterday, how unfit he is to be entrusted
with the arbitrary power Of arrest on
sight in any case.
our messenger boy, Frank Lakeland.
y
pearance. was sent yesterday about $3.50
a. m. to Station G postofTice, on G Street
to obtain a money order concerning which
there was good reason he should be
CHARGED to hurry to the extent of his pow
er and he proceeded to go there on his
bicycle He is a new employe Of ours,
having been with us only since Monday
of this week On returning from the
postofflce with the money order in his
possession, and while proceeding west
ward on C Street to the corner of Sew
enth he attempted to cross over from the
north side of G Street to the west side of
Seventh Street, and when about halfway
across the street car crossing at that
= point he was hailed by Mr. Curd and per
emptorily ordered to come to the left-hand
side Of the street, where he had stationed
himself.
The boy obeyed and upon reaching Mr.
Curd was Immediately put under arrest
with very unnecessary amount of ran
cor and temper exhibited on the part of
she policeman. The boy was about to be
taken off to the Sixth Street station, as if
he had committed some heinous crime or
offence, when he begged to be allowed to
come 10 our Office to deliver the money
order which he had in his possession.
This privilege was accorded him by Officer
Curd very ungraciously-
'.As soon as he had delivered the money
order to our Office he was hustled off to
the station, against our protestations that
the offence was unimportant and one not
involving the necessity of arrest and dis
grace of a young and inexperienced boy.
MIR. Curd 5 language. however. in refus-
ing TO show any consideration at all IN
the matter was insolent and harsh. We
begged of HIM the privilege OF making
ourselves responsible for the boy until
we could see the Chief of Police, Mr.. Syl-
vester. This young officer, Curd, in the
most insOlent manner he could assume,
insisted upon sending the boy in the pa
trsl wagon. gZYSe urged him not TO subject
him 10 this disgrace upon such trivial
matter, but the officer was relentless and
insolent, and at first insisted upon doing
SO. He did however. think better of ii
and took the boy personally TO the station
instead of sending him in the patrol
wagon.
we deposited IS collateral for the lad,
and expected and intended to have him
appear at the police court this morning
for trial. He went there at $3.50 O'Clock
this morning, saw the officer, who had ar
rested him. and asked him when it would
he necessary for him to appear in order
to prevent forfeiture OF his collateral
and secure a hearing before the police
Justice. He did this at our instance, as
we wished to consume as little time as
The boy brought back word. which he
said he had from this officer, that he
should be there in about half an hour
which would make it about 10 oclock-and
Curd told him this with the fun knowl-
edge that fOTTeitures We're called at $50
In the morning, and for the very evident
purpose OF misleading the boy so that
he might insist on the forfeiture Of the
collateral
THE case was called, and the coIlater-
al forfeited at $3.50 a m. or very soon
thereafter. The boy and our General
Dudley appeared in the police court at
ch-4r ?. v---,rr - ;,
Judge kimball- we concluded to let the
forfeiture stand, as we could neither af-
ford the time to contest it ourselves nor
spare the boy from the necessary work
OF our Office.
"yrom all the circumstances of this
case, We feel impelled to demand
that that this s,..iI3 iindiscreet and inIudicious
shown himself totally unfit to be
entrusted with the very dangerous
power CT arrest on sight. and especially
ment of the city's regulations regarding
bicycle riders and carriages at such an
important crossing as @ and Seventh
Streets. should either be removed from
son 10 act as policeman or be pat upon
duty in the slums of the city, where his
lack Of judgment and discretion and his
oyerbearing and arbitrary ways would
work the least injury to the respectable |
of this city.
we do not hesitate to say that the con-
will bring great discredit upon the police
force Of the city. and arouse the indig
nation Of the law-aDIding citizens who are
always the ones to be injured by such
vicious and indiscreet exhibitions of the
police power. There are plenty OF men
to be obtained for this service, we think, |
who can carry out substantially the regu-
lations of the department and of the city
police without infringing upon the rights |
Of, or unnecessary friction with. the pub |
lie, and who would confine their arbi- |
traTy ard indecent exhibitions of tempo
rary power to lawbreakers and vicious
persons, instead OF infiicting the same
upon inoffensive and law-abiding citizens
and innocent boys.
I'VE do not wish to be regarded as in
any way resisting or complaining Of any
proper actions Of police officers, but we
street crossings, especially such as those
at the corner of G and Seventh, and F
and Seventh Streets. mature men. who
have shown their ability to handle these
small matters with discretion and good
judgment. instead Of putting there hot
headed young men. VINO are intoxicated |
with their temporary possession of power. |
and have not the good sense or maturity |
IN years necessary to act in such matters |
with due regard TO the rights Of the pub |
lie
With the letter. Messrs. Dudley &
Michener submitted afiidavits Of the mes |
senger boy, and others. to corrobOrare the |
contained in the letter
Commissioner Ross. who has charge of /
the Police Department. has referred the |
papers in the case to the Major and Su- |
perintendent Of Police for investigation |
and report
At the instance Of Commissioner Beach |
the Board has taken action relative to the |
general use and the restriction OF speed |