The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-30
OFFICER Tells
WHY he BEAT man
Policeman Warmer Says Heath
Insulted Wife at Sunday
School Picnic.
LATTER MAKES DENIAL
Case Continued by Court III Or
der to Hear Additional
Witnesses.

A tangled maze of evidence, with
each side admitting portion of the
allegations OF the other, but endeav-
oring at the same time to justify their
actions, occupied the attention OF
Justice Crutchfeid Thursday morn
ing, when Patroiman b. X. Warmer
and c. NJ. Heath, a boiier-maker, ap-
peared to answer charges of dlsor-
derby conduct and fighting in the
streets.
Warmer admitted thrashing. or
rather attempting to thrash Heath,
but justified hts action with the
charge that the latter had insulted
Mrs. Warmer on the Sunday school
Venable Street Baptist church on
Tuesday,
Warmer denied any intention of
insulting the wife of the policeman.
He admitted that he might have
been O. little familiar in his actions
toward her, but declared that he mad
known her for many years. and had
no idea either of giving or that she
would take offense. He merely IN
tended to be friendly, he said
Dismiss III Proved.
Justice Crutehfield finally decided
to continue the ease until Friday
!
witnesses may be summoned 10 tes-
tify us to Heaths actions toward
Mrs Warmer. The court added,
however, that II the charges made by
Mira Warmer were true, he would
dismiss the charges against her hus-
band,
IF any man insuits woman. and
that womans husband gives him
thrashing, / will dismiss the case
a. Aa
large crowd of spectators. In
Guiding Mayor Richardson and Chief
of Police Werner, thronged the court
room In an effort to hear the testi-
mony Chief Werner was present In
order to ascertain whether warmer
had been guilty of conduct that would
warrant his suspension from the
force. Al the conclusion of the near
ing he told the policeman to report
for duty as usual,
Thus far 1t seems to me that ne
has done only what any real man
would have done under similar cir
eumstances," said he
Heath's alleged actions which
caused the trouble began, accoralhg
10 the testimony OF Mrs. warmer:
shortly after the picnic train had
started for the resort
HE punched me in the back SAID
she, land ] turned around and spoke
to him. l have known him "a long
time, but only TO speak to him casual
ly. Later, after we got TO the beach, L
was sitting on the pavilion holding my
baby when he came up and struck
me across the face with a little cane.
Come on and dance with me- he ask
ed.
II saw that he had been drink
ing and l told him to go away and
mind hts own business. / told him
didn't know him well enough to dance
with him.
He went off but he came back a
few minutes later. and struck me In
the face with the cane again. He
said something in which he used the
word darling
II asked him TO let me alone and he
went of but came back a third time
and hit me with the cane again. All
three times no struck me in the face.
After we had gotten on the train
and started for home. he came up
behind me and hit me across the
face down close to mine. He had
been drinking. told him to go away,
and that he would have to answer to
my husband for the way he had treat
ed me.
He told me to go ahead and tell
my husband---and laughed.
Kept From Hitting Him.
Mr.. Warmer testified that hts wife
had told him this story and that as
soon as he had an opportunity he went
to the house~ here Heath boards and
called for him.
when he came to the door I asked
him what he meant by insulting my
wife, He said he hadn't insulted her
and started to backed away and close
the door on me. Then grabbed him
BY the lapel of his coat and tried to
pull him out on the street 10 beat
him.
"a lot Of women tried to pull him
away from me. and some man picked
UP an iron frog. and threatened to
kill. me. Then ! hit that man pull
ed Heath out In the street but before
had chance to hit him we were
separated and arrested.
Heath admitted having spoken to
Mrs. Warrinsr several times during
the picnic but denied that he had
been unduly familiar or used any en-
had been drinking but said he was NOT
under the influence of liquor. He said
that when Warmer asked him why
me had insulted Mrs. Warmer he Of
fered To go Immediately and apollo
gize.
I had started back to get my coat
and so with him. when he grabbed
me-" said he.
Warmer and several witnesses tes-
tihed that Heath had on his coat 10
the time OF the disturbance. Several
witnesses also testified that Heath had
acted Ike d man who was "either
drunk or crazy" at the beach,
RHNouScEs THE SULTAN
WILL HECOHaE AMERICAN.
:. apparently d.llGhtsd to rsnounce al