Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-04-04
RESERVED DECISION.
Squire Hayes Completes Hear
ing of Chief Price.

Afternoon and Finished on Saturday
Assault Charges Against Police Of
fieer are Aired.
The hearing of Chief Of Police r.
B. Price before Squire Hayes, charged
with assault upon William Simpson,
was held Friday afternoon, and con-
tinued Saturday morning
While justice courts are not I'M
common here, it is an unusual thing
to hare municipal officer up for trial.
The 'Squire's court was crowded,
with many people on the outside to
hear the interesting case.
The charge against Chief Price
grew out OF trouble between the Of
flcer and the Carpenters Union on
Saturday night, March 9th, at Mu-
nicipal Han.
Mr.. Simpson is President of the
Union. The Union held meeting at
Municipal Hall on the night above
mentioned, and Mr.. Simpson presided.
He was the first witness for the prose-
cution, which was represented by
Cramer & Yeager. Van A. Barrack-
man was attorney for Chief Price
Mr.. Simpson testified that while the
meeting of Carpenters and Joiners
was in progress on the first floor OF
Municipal Hall, Mr.. Burkey, one of
the members In the rear room, called
that some one was at the rear door
wanting to get in. He went out i'm
mediately, opened the door, and the
policeman, who was there, came in.
Chief Price told him that the rear
room was a private room, and they
must get out. There were about 165
men at the meeting, and leveral of
them had gone into the rear compart-
ment Of Municipal Hall for standing
room.
Mr.. Simpson ordered the men back
into the second room OF the hall, and
followed then out. He had an ex-
change of words with Mr. Price, and
told him he would talk when he
pleased, and to whom he pleased.
Just after he had gone into the second
room Chief Price struck him on the
right shoulder with his left fist
elinched.
Mr. r. E, Motley, Secretary of the
Union, was called as witness for the
prosecution. He testified that the
Chief grabbed Mr. Simpson after he
had gone out and opened the rear
door. Mr.. Motley was not in the rear
room, add the attempt TO take Mr.
Simpson was just inside the second
room.
Mr.. Barker, who was in the back
room, heard some one shaking the
back door knob and saying, "Open
this door, or | will break it OPEN"
He told Mr.. Simpson, who opened the
door. Chief Price came in, grabbed
Mr. Simpson, and tried to pull him
out of the second room.
Eugene Ervay testified that Chief
Price grabbed Mr.. Simpson by the
right shoulder, over the threshold in
the second room, and tried to pull
him out.
MIR. Fortney, who testified that he
was the only man who had not gotten
out Of the rear room when the trouble
began, said that Mr. Price grabbed
Mr.. Simpson with his left hand and
pulled revolver out Of his pocket
with his right hand, holding the
weapon with the muZzle toward the
floor. Did not point it at anyone.
Henry Norris testified that Chic
Price had grabbed Mr.. Simpson in tn
second room, reaching through the
door from the third room. Some said
he put one foot through the door.
Some said be grabbed with the left
hand, and some thought it was the
right hand.
The prosecution rested the case at
this point, and Chief Of Police Price
testified in his defense. He said the
third room at Municipal Hall was a
private one for the fire department
and police headquarters. That he
went to the door leading into the
room from the hose room last Satur-
day evening, and found it fastened
1t is necessary for him to have access
to the phone in the room to answer
calls for the police, but supposing the
hremen were holding a meeting, he
went away, and finding the other po-
lice learned that Carpenters and join
ers Union was holding meeting in
Municipal Hall. He demanded en-
trance, using some torcible language,
when he was refused, and threatening
to break down the door il it was not
opened. In short time 1t was open
ed All the policemen went in, and
he told the Carpenters, several Of
whom were in that room, that it was
private. and they must vacate it.
They all retired without argument,
but Mr.. Simpson, who talked back to
him, saying, We know the law and
know our business" Chief told him
if he did not get out be would arrest
him, just about the door leading from
I'd to 81 room, but was prevented
FROM taking him by Others holding
him back He then said he would see
him on the street, and closed the door
and bolted it between the I'd and Sd
rooms. He did not pull out his revol-
yer, and did not strike Mr.. Simpson.
NJ r. Sisler testified that he had
given permission to the Union TO hold
meetings in the first two rooms OF
Municipal Hall, but nothing was said
about the third room.
Mayor Steele testified that be gave
Milton Hackney the keys for the two
lower rooms.
Milton Hackney testified that he
had opened the door into the third