The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-30
FOR MANSLAUGHTER
POLICEMAN HICKS TO ANSWER
FOR SARAH DIXON's DEATH.
BEAT HER WITH A CLUB
Is THE CHARGE AGAINST THE
OFFICER.

hicks Denies the Charge and Gave
the Grand Jury-The Woman Died
Yesterday as the Result of Resist
ing Arrest After n Row in York
Lane Three Weeks AEO-The Case
to Be Investigated Tomorrow.
BY the death of Sarah Dixon, col
ored yesterday morning policemen w.
E. Hicks, is under arrest charged with
mansaughter, the allegations being
that the woman died from the effects
of a beating given her by Hicks, Nov
9Th, which it is charged was the direct
cause of death.
The warrant was sworn out before
Justice Naughtin by James E. Mungin,
son-in-law of the woman, and it was
placed in the hands of constable Nose
Iiltienthal for execution. Policeman
Hicks was found at his home and
was taken to justice Naughtin's Court
where later he gave bond for his APP
pearance in the sum of $1,000. In the
warrant Mungin alleges that on Nov.
3, Hicks went to the Dixon woman's
house No. 407 York street, west, to
arrest her, and in doing so beat her.
from the effects of which she died.
After being taken to the police bar
racks, the woman was sent to the
Georgia Infirmary for treatment and
was afterwards removed to her home In
a serious condition.
Cause of the Quarrel
A witness to the arrest stated that
she heard the Dixon woman and an
other woman named, Lottie Holzendoff,
quarellng. The Dixon woman accused
the latter of being trash" Policeman
Hicks was called to make an arrest,
but the Dixon woman went in the house
and locked the door. Hicks accom-
panied by the husband of the Holzen-
doff woman forced their way into the
yard and then into the house where
they beat and abused her.
An examination of the body after
death revealed the fact that she had
broken ankle, several fractured ribs
and a wound in the back. She was
treated by Drs. Love and Williams.
Hicks denied that he beat or in any
way ill-treated the woman. He also
denies that he forced his way into the
house or yard, but that he was told to
come in.
Dropped From a window.
When he got in the house the
woman dropped from a window to
the ground, a distance of several feet,
and that afterwards he arrested her,
also dropping out of the window in
pursuit. She fought him desperately
all the way to the police box and that
after getting her there and when
waiting for the wagon, he had to
throw her down and get assistance to
keep her from doing him violence. He
noticed blood on her foot but pre-
sumed that it had come from injuries
sustained by jumping from the win
dow. He positively stated that he did
not strike her. He also says he has
witnesses o-that effect.
Will Go to Grand Jury at Once.
Justice Naughtin stated that he will
send the case directly to the Superior
Court, and it will probably come up
tomorrow before the grand jury
Mungin has retained attorney George
w. owens to prosecute Hicks. The lat
ter has not yet retained counsel. Hicks
has also been suspended from the po-
lice force, and will remain so until the
case against him is disposed of
The arrest caused considera BILE talk,
and there are many who believe that
the officer acted entirely within his au-
thority in making the arrest, while
others contend that he had no right
on the premises without a warrant.
The case promises to be interesting in
that the duty of policemen will prob
ably play prominent part in the
hearing.