Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-12
AGED VETERAN
BRUTALLY HURT
H. G. TR0GDEN is SEEKING FOR
WITNESSES
OLD MAN is BEATEN BY SANTA
MONICA POLICEMAN
Dragged Away to Jail Before He Has
Chance to Learn Names Of
Persons Who Saw
Attack

Deep indignation has been aroused
among the members of the Grand
Army posts of Los Angeles over the
alleged brutal treatment received by
Howell G. Trogden, civil war vet
eran, at the hands of a Santa Monica
patrolman Thursday near the Savoy
hotel.
The attack is said to have been wit
messed by man and a woman. ,Trog--
den attempted to obtain the names OF
the witnesses. but was dragged away
by the policeman without being given
an opportunity to obtain the informa-
tion. A request Is made that the wit
nesses send their names to the city ed
itor of The Herald as soon as possible.
A rigid investigation will be made
and a big delegation of Los Angeles
veterans will be present in the Santa
Monica courtroom at 10 o'clock Wednes-
day morning when the case of Trogden
is heard.
According to Trogden's story, he was
approached in a vindictive, manner by
a Santa Monica officer, and with the
words, IT have got you now," was SUBJ
jected to inhuman treatment by the
man who poses as guardian of the
law.
Arrested Once Before
That the patrolman was the same
person who a few weeks ago caused
Trogden's arrest, and which case is
still under investigation, is the state
ment of Trogden.
''I was standing on the street paying
but little attention to what was going
on when this man, supposed to be an
officer seized me and began to abuse
and beat me. He subjected me to the
indignity of handouts and 1 was
thrown into jail, sore both In body and
mind"
rrxn,-dox,,e, o,,,ooropoa Iora o,,t bie
statements, for the face of the old vet
eran was marked and about his wrists
were dark blue circles where the hand
cuffs. or twisters. had been tightly
placed. There were bruises on his face
and hands and the veteran presented
a pitiful appearance.
other veterans, hearing of the brutal
arrest, came to the aid of Trogden, and
he was released from the Santa Mon
lea jail on bail, to appear Wednesday
20 answer a charge of "disorderly con-
duct"
Says 5rIbe Was Demanded
Trogden complained when arrested
before, but despite his pleas of inno-
cence, and, according to his state
ment, because he did not have $40 to
give the arresting officer, he was
obliged to remain in the county Jail
ten days.
At that time Trogden claimed he was
arrested because he was accused of
making remarks derogatory to Gov
ernor Cochrane of the National Sol
diers' home. At the recent meeting of
the national board of managers at
Sawtelle Trogden presented his case
and was given temporary reinstate-
ment, which proved to consist of one
nights lodging in the soldiers home
barracks.
The case has been given such pub
Iicity that Trogden believes the pa
trolman was inspired by spite to make
the brutal attack.
Many cases of soldiers being arrest
ed and thrown into Jail at Santa Mon
lea have been related. Witnesses were
present at the investigation of the ma
tional board of managers to testify to
these effects, but in the rush of the
''whitewash' committee such witnesses
We're not allowed to give testimony.
G. A. r. Men Aroused
The Grand Army men of Los An
geles are now thoroughly aroused and
determined to find out what influence
is behind the patrolmen of Santa Mon
lea that they can carry on such high
handed proceedings without fear Of
punishment. Trogden is now in Los
Angeles staying with his daughter, but
he will have strong support when his
case is heard Wednesday and If his
assertions prove true, criminal pro-
ceedings will be instituted against the
arresting officer and an investigation
made to see if orders issued by any
one in control of the soldiers home are
responsible for such brutal treatment