Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-24
RESPONSE, TO CHARGES
Alleged Inhuman Treatment
39'
of Colered People.
THE POLICE ACCUSED
COMMISSIONERS, QUOTE RECORDS
IN REPUTATION.
Cases Cited Where the Officers Had
Been Exonerated-Defense
of the Iuries.

| rected Secretary Tindall to reply to GER
tain charges of alleged inhuman treat
ment practiced by the police OF Washing
ton on the colored residents OF the Dis
| trict. The charges were preferred several
weeks ago by ]. N. Johnson, a colored
resident of the city, who bears the titles
of m d." "attorney-at-law" and presi-
dent of colored association In the Dis
trict. The charges were presented In the
first instance to President Roosevelt. and
by the chief executive were referred to
the District Commissioners.
In addition to charging the police OFF,
GERS generally with distinct discrimina-
ton against the colored people in the per-
Torrance of their police duties, the COM
plainant intimates that an alliance ex-
lists between the coroners juries and the
grand juries of the District; that police
men obtain verdicts from coroners juries
to suit themselves, and, in fact, large
number OF the District government Off
Gals are criticised by the complaint.
Johnson further charged Privates Hill
ton and Iintler of the seventh police pre-
cinct with conduct unbecOming officers.
He declared that during the past thirteen
years there have been, at least six colored
residents of the city wantOnly killed by
pistols and clubs in the hands of police
men, the victims, he says, not attempting
any. injury to the officers, being in every
were simple attempts to escape from "un-
lawful arrest for simple offenses."
The Commissioners Response.
An exhaustive report on the charges was
obtained from Major Sylvester, superin-
tendent of the metropolitan police. After
reviewing this report and the official
records presented, Commissioner West rec
commended to the Commissioners that Sec
rotary Tindall be directed to inform the
complainant as follows:
II am directed by the Commissioners to
acknowledge your communication setting
forth certain charges against members of
the metropolitan police force, and to say,
that they have investigated the statements
made by you to the effect that during the
past thirteen years there have been at least
six colored prisoners wantonly killed by pls-
tolls and clubs of policemen, the victims not
attempting any injury to the officers. being
in every case unarmed and merely attempt
ing to escape FROM unlawful arrest for
simple offenses.
1.-TWO Of the cases recited occurred during
the administration of the present superin-
tendent Of police, the first being the case of
William Weaver. who was shot and killed
by Private ]. H. L. Sawyer. on the morn
ing Of March %, 1903. after he had been ar
rested and while escaping from the custody
of the police. The coroner's jury held Pri-
vate Sawyer for the action of the grand
jury; but the latter, after an examination
into the facts and circumstances, ignored
LIE Charge Oh day &, 1SNS.
In the second case, Charles Barnes was
struck on the head with a baton in the
hands of Private George T. Hilton, In the
seventh precinct: on March Z, 1904, while
Barnes was resisting arrest and attempt
ing an assault upon the officer with
bottle. Barnes died of tetanus at the WASH
ington Asylum Hospital the 10th of March.
On the 18th of March following the coron-
ers jury, after hearing the testimony rem
dered a verdict that the officer was justi-
fed in using his baton and that said use
was in self defense
The Verdicts Rendered.
LAS to the killing by police officers of
four other persons during the past thirteen
years. the Commissioners desire to state
that in the first case the verdict not
guilty was rendered in the Criminal Court.
In the second the verdict Of the
coroner's jury acquitted the accused but
not satisfied with this verdict, the friends
Of the deceased took the matter before the
grand jury on two separate and distinct
occasions, but that body failed to find an
I'm the third case, the coroner's jury dis
charged the officer. and held that he had
acted in the protection of HIS own life and
was clearly justified.
In the fourth case, all the circumstances
were placed before the grand jury and ig-
nored by that body.
In regard to tie other statements In your
communication rejecting upon the judges
OF the Police Court the United States dis
trict attorney and the employees of his Of
flee, the Commissioners have no comment
to make. these officials not being under
their jurisdiction. 1t should also be stated
that the Commissioners have no control
over the coroner's juries nor the grand
juries, but they take occasion to assert
that these juries are composed of repre-
sentative citizens of the District of Column
bia and that the aspersions cast upon them
in your communication are not, in the
judgment of the Commissioners, warranted.
Dorsey Persistent Offender.
acknowledging also your communication
in defense of one Charles Dorsey, the Com
missioners desire to say that the police rec
ords show that Dorsey was arrested TWEEN
ty-two different times in, one precinct dur
ing the last eight years, being charged with
almost every offense from disorderly con-
duct to assault with attempt to kill. and
convicted in all of the cases except three"
Commissioners mcfarland and Biddle ap-
proved the action recommended by Com
missioner West.
SUIT AGAINST CLUB.
Local Wine Company Asks Receiver