Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-04-19
BRUTAL ASSAULT ALLEGED.
PATROLMAN JAS. FREEMAN
HEARS TESTIMONY.
The Case of Griffith, The Marine.
Causes Greatest of Interest
Among Witnesses of
The Affair

| adduced at the trial this morning of
| Alfred Griffith, private of marines.
charged with disorderly conduct and
resisti ms arrest.
While conviction was secured in
the case of disorderly conduct and the
other charge was quashed, the evidence
was very much lacking in making the
case while the testimony as to the UNI
called for attack on the part of the
officer was unimpeaohable. liz was TO
| the effect that the officer had repeated
ly struck the man when he was down
and in no condition TO resist or do
harm to the officer.
The affair has stirred up the utmost
indignation in many quarters and
charges will be preferred against the
officer at the next meeting of the
Council. just what the outcome OF
that will be and what additional testi
mony will be adduced is impossibl
TO say, but certain it is that under the
direction of Counsellor Riley the mat.
ter will be probed to the bottom TO
| either vindicate sthe officer or show
that he is not entitled to place ON
the city force.
The affair which caused the trial
before Squire Feldmeyer this morning
and which brought forth such damag-
ing testimony against the officer &C
Cured on Church Circle at the end of
School street. 1t was witnessed by n
large number of persons, il being
rather early last night. When Griffith
was arraigned before Squire Feldmeyer
this morning his uniform was covere N
with blood and he presented very de-
moralized appearance. He bore every
indication OF the rough handling he
had received. His injuries which
we're made in his head by the police
mans espantoon, were dressed at the
city prison last night by Drs. Louis
Henkeland William WEIGH.
At the trial the city was represent
ed by the Counsellor. Mr. Hugh Rid
gely Riley, and the prisoner by Second
Lieutenant Yates, of the Marine
Corps. Very little questioning was
done by either side. as the testimony
on both sides was of a straightforward
and decided nature. In stating his
side of the trouble Patrolman Freeman
stated that he met Griffith and another
marine, W. l.. Girardieu, leaning
against the fence and that Griffith
was plainly under the influence of
liquor. As he passed them Griffith
\ AAAtYAtC . ACEOAutOty ICifuIhs OOuDIICu
vile language and that he retraced his
steps to warn the young man that he
must cease such language or he would
take him to Jail.
According to the officer this only
served to bring forth flow of vile
invective and that he then placed
| Griffith under arrest He started
with him toward Gloucester street
and had gone but a short distance
when Griffith struck at him and tried
to break loose from the "nippers. -
which were about his swrist. He said
that he struck him with his club to
subdue him and that the marine who
was accompanying Griffith volunteer
ed TO help get the man to the prison
Officer Owens appeared on the scene
about that time and they managed TO
get the prisoner to the lookup, after
he hadRmade another ssattempt to kick
Officer Freeman while on Gloucester
street.
Patrolman Owens had no knowledge
of the starting of the trouble, but as
sisted in taking Griffith to the lookup,
at which time he went rather peace
fully, although he did attempt to kick
Freeman while near the Hotel Mary
Il AnuOs AlC nnc 4O4AOm6u ny
| Watkins, colored, who testified almost
| literally to kwhat Freeman had mar
| rated, although il has since been stated
by some of those who testified at the
| trial that it would have been a physi.
cal impossibility for Watkins to have
heard the remards alleged to have been
made by Griffith, owing TO the dis
/ lance he was from the scene of trouble.
4 hot fIn
| part of the prosecution and the wit.
| nesses for the defense were called.
/ Griffith did not take the stand, he
seemed to be in condition when he
| desired to be let alone more than any.
thing else in the world. w. l.. Girar,
deau, the marine who was with
| Griffith at the time of the arrest
stated that he was trying to gel
Griffith, who was badly intoxicated,
| TO go to the barracks with him; that
they had stopped TO rest at the point
where the trouble started and that the
officer came along, passed them and
then noticing that Griffith was intox-
icated, stepped up to them.
Girardeau explained to Officer Free
man that he was trying to get hin
back to the barracks, sbut that tht
officer insisted on arresting the man
When they had taken a few steps
Griffith said: Damn it, / am not
| going any further - According tC
the witness Freeman pulled his espan
toon and struckIGriffith over the head
telling him to the ground. While the
marinhe was still on the ground the
officer again struck him and repeated
the blow, when Griffith tried to max,
use of the officers legs by which t.
secure an erect position.
Girardeau and two other marines
who were coming along pleaded with
Freeman not to strike the man again
and stated that they would help ge
him to the Jail. Patrolman Owen
appeared on the scene about that time
and between them managed TO &c
Griffith to the city building. Girar
dean admitted that Griffith did use
vile language after he had beer
struck, but before that had hardl,
spoken to the officer or made use O
the language alleged. His denial d
the allegations of breach of tn
peace was made in the most straight
forward manner possible and carries
conviction. His testimony was to TIT
effect that the officer had lost hi
head. given free reign to his ange
and brutality beat Griffith while tn
latter lay PROSTATE at the officer
feet begging for mercy. He said tina
urior fo that time Griffith most noei