The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-05
SIMPSON CASE AGAIN.
PATRoLlGAN GnrFrIN SAYS HE
 DID NOT ACT ROUGHLY.
Declares That Goodness on His Part Prevented Riot-Action of Re- corder and Chief May
 Cause Designations.

The extraordinary and unexpected end- ing to the case of the city against Louis
 Simpson in the Recorders Court Monday
 afternoon was the subject of much com
 ment In Montgomery. Simpson was ac-
 cused of disturbing performance at Mo
 Donald's Theatre Saturday night. and, by
 his own testimony, bitterly and strenu- ousIy resisted arrest. It required the
 combined efforts of five patrolmen to sub
 due him and land him at police head quarters.
 It will be remembered that Simpson
 was discharged by Recorder Arlington at the request of Chief Gerald, who be- came irritated when a witness for the
 city, Arnold Gilmer, an usher at the theatre, testified positively that Simpson
 was doing nothing boisterous beyond ap-
 plauding like other persons in the au- dience.
 quested by the manager of the theatre to put Simpson out of the playhouse de-
 nies that he was rude to Miss Grifin. who
 was with her brother. Grimm says he
 has been severely criticised by his fellow
 officers for not clubbing young Simpson.
 He thinks his conduct was above re-
 proach.
 Yesterday Patrolman Grimm. who is re- garded as one of the most conscientious officers in the Montgomery Police De- partment. authorized the following state ment: .
 Tn regard to the evidence submitted in the case of Louis Simpson, arrested by me at McDonald's Theatre Saturday night, I desire to say that the statement that I showed or rudely treated Miss Simpson is absolutely without founda- tion. did not touch her. nor did I zee her until had thrown young Simpson down and was choking him to make him quit using obscene language. My atten- ton was first attracted to her by her begging me not to hurt him. I positively
 did not say that would take Simpson to the police station dead or alive. "I did not hurt Simpson during the
 struggle and I assured the crowd which
 was begging for him that would not do
 so. Police Officer Crossland started to
 strike Simpson with his club after 1 got
 him out of the theatre. I told Crossland
 that Simpson was my prisoner and l
 would not permit him to strike him.
 T honestly believe that 1t was through
 the exercise of judgment, discretion and
 cool headedness on my part that serious
 riot was averted which would probably
 have ended in bloodshed. I congratulate
 myself that I had sympathy enough for unfortunate humanity to preserve the peace as far as possible without resort ing to more violent methods. In my opin- ion, 1t is not prudent for police officer to beat a prisoner unless the prisoner presents a weapon and threatens him with bodily injury"
 While police officers making the arrest discuss the case with the greatest reluct- ance, there is undoubtedly an undercur- rent of bitterness of feeling concerning the disposition of the case. and 1t may
 result in one or more of the best officers
 in the department rendering their resig- nations.
 If our city officials will not stand up 1 for officers who take their lives in their hands to suppress violators of the law" | said citizen yesterday, i've cannot ex- pect policemen to do their duty. It took | five patrolmen to arrest this man. It is | remarkable that they did not strike him | with their clubs. Certainly he cannot ex- pect them to handle him so gently the | next time he Is arrested"