The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-17
ABUSED A PRISONER.
When Harry Steinberg Protest
ed officer Assaulted Him.

Harry Steinberg, the musician who
lives at APO Van Buren, street, secured
warrant in city court this morning for
Frank Asher, a policeman, on the
charge of assault In his complaint
Steinberg states that Asher assaulted
him yesterday evening at the police sta
ton.
Mr.. Steinburg stated the facts of the
case today as follows:
Twas passing the statfonlast evening.
when the patrol wagons containing sew
eral policemen and a drunken prisoner,
drove up to the curb. The prisoner, a
small man seemingly about IS years of
age, was so drunk that he was helpless,
and seemed to be unable to get out of
the wagon. The officers threw him out
bodily, and carried him into the jail. I
followed them in, and stood in the pub
lie part Of the Jail office while they be-
gan searching the prisoner. He was
unable to stand up, and Policeman
Asher grabbed him and threw him
saying at the same time, - you, |
will make you stand up The man fell
to the floor unconscious, the blood
streaming from his head where he
struck the iron.
None of the other officers did any
thing toward abusing the man, and
when Asher threw him against the rail
ing the jailer, who stood behind the
desk, said, My gracious and shook his
head, as though heEdid not approve of
the act. After the man fell several Of
ficers carried him upstairs, saying that
they would finish searching him there,
as he had on two pairs of trousers.
After the officers came down again I
was walking out. I was Mortified at the
exhibition of brutality, and remarked to
E. E. Witchey, who was standing near,
I am going to report this; it is an out
ASHER sprang at me and seized me by
the coat. He began to curse me and call
me vile names and threw me down on
the floor TIL fix YOU he said, If YOU
monkey with me l will throw you IN
II was afraid to do anything and went
away, but the man with me said: Don I
you let that drop: It was an outrage and
1 was talking about it to man at the
corner of Fifth and the avenue, when
Asher -approa ched and tried to square
himself. I told him that did not care to
IA few steps away he met Hopkins. the
merchant policeman, and said: That
Steinberg says I abused prisoner If he
ever crosses my path I vii lfix him Then
filed Complaint against him in city court
and charged him with assault Besides
myself, Q, Perkins, E, b. Witchey AMI
street, saw the way the prisoner was
abused. Witchey was the only man be-
sides the officers who saw the assault on
The prisoner whose il-treatment caused
the remarks by steinberg vas so James ess
Col. Hughes coal office. where he was
wild with liquor and yelling like saw
age. He was brought before the. police
judge this morning and fined So for be-
| ing drunk. D. E. Vanderhayden, who was
with the young man when arrested. was
fined SO for interfering with an officer.
Abe Henderson, the only one of the off
TESTIFIED that Vanderhayden tried to take
the drunk man away from them. The
accused said that he had done nothing
more than to ask them to let the man go:
Martell did not show much evidence of
| harsh treatment when brought into court
this morning.