Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-07
FREE PAU7Z
ONBRO7HERS'
TES7M ONY
CITY EMPLOYEES DO NOT PROVE
BRUTALITY CHARGE
POLICE BLAME PRISONERS FOR
INsoLENcE
Commissioners Hear Both Sides in
Eiysian Park Case and Pass
Judgment Very
Quickly

The Stevens brothers. Lawrence L.
and Hugh r., employees of the water
department whom Special Patrolmen
Pautz and Bryan arrested near Elysian
park few evenings ago and dragged
by the handcuffed wrist to the east
side police station, testified last night
that Pautz' conduct was something af-
ter the manner of the Russian secret
service.
The police board heard the case,
which lasted most of the evening, and
promptly decided that it was the pris-
oners' fault-because they did not an
swer questions.
Pautz, according to the testimony.
approached the brothers, who were
waiting for a car near the Fremont
gate, after their days work, remark
irg:
Where in - do you fellows think
you are going?"
The younger Stevens, offended by the
curt manner of address, and not know
ing that Pautz and his partner. Park
Fatrolman Bryan, were disguised Of
ficers looking for hobos in the river
bed, said he answered just as brusque-
ly:
ITS none of your - business"
Dragged by Wrists
Pautz in the bloom of authority then
snapped the handouts on his prisoner,
smaller man by far, and by a series
of twists and torture led him suffering
of twists and torture led him suffering
to the east sidestation, straining the
ligaments in such a way that for ten
days Stevens could do no work with his
hand
The police witnesses said Stevens hurt
his wrist by holding the handouts over
his head to show them to passersby.
The brothers testified that no stars
were shown b. the jealous pair till
after the sharp exchange of words had
occurred, and they supposed they were
being accosted by two tramps bent on
robbery.
The Stevens boys said in substance:
They had finished their days work
installing pumping machinery at the
park and were leaning against the rail-
ing of a bridge when insultingly adj
dressed. After the scene and arrest the
younger brother tried to attract the at
tention of several passersby, telling
them to note the handouts and give
him their names and addresses as wit
nesses. This was the signal for more
brutality by Pautz.
Released at Station
At the station the witnesses said they
were not told for what they had been
arrested, but after twenty minutes they
were released.
Don't you know me? Haven't you
been around First and Main much ?"
Pautz asked Stevens at the station,
glaring at him.
mo, but you look like you might
come day be a Sherlock Holmes who
Ill l. .,rr
of the kind, Stevens retorted.
Chief Kern and Captains Flammer
and Broadhead put the brothers
through a severe course Of questioning.
They sought to establish that by their
Teticence they had caused all the trou-
hle.
In Trouble Before
1t appears that year ago the young
er Stevens was jostled off street car
by a patrolman in citizens clothes, and
landed shoulder first in the gutter.
Stevens struck back at him. This was
made the basis for questioning as to
whether Stevens was not a confirmed
police hater. He denied this, saying he
lad friends in the department.
THAT was q mistake all around"
said the accuser. 'I did not know he
was an officer and struck in self-de-
tense He made a talk to the judge for
me and 1 got off with SIS fine. Any
man who was bumped off the cars as
I was would do the same"
officers Pautz. Bryan and Iams in
sisted that the Stevenses were dis
courteous in refusing to give their
names and in answering questions, and
as they were under orders to pick up
suspicious characters near the river
oed they took the two men to the desk
sergeant so that they could there give
fuller accounts of themselves.
Other witnesses for the police also
testified that tine younger Stevens lost
his head, was abusive and threatened
all concerned with newspaper expos
ures
The case was taken under advise
ment.