The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-03-01
HOODS
CASE ATTRACTED
MUCH. ATTENTION
Testimony Heard
With. Great
Interest

%
A large crowd gathered, at police
court last night to hear the trial of the
City of Fairmont against French Hood.
who was charged with being drunk and
and disordefly. In this case A was at.
tempted to prove that Officers Waldo
and Hess used undue force in placing
the defendant In Jail. The charge
/ against the policemen was not dis
posed of at police court last night. 1t
10 matter with which the police COM
nlttee consisting OF three members of
the city council will have to deal.
Hood was found guilty Ct the charge
that was mate against him and he paiu
a fine Of seven dollars and fifty cents.
Attorney fHarshalI Ogden appeared
for the defendant and requested that
the witnesscc in the case be separat-
ed. The witnessr were sepa rated.
Policeman Waldo was the first wit.
E-ss called to the chair. He stated
that on Sunday norning between
twelve and one o'clock he got call
from William EngIc telling INN that a
man on Walnut avenue at his resi-
dcnee and in that vicinity was Great.
ing disturbance. Waldo went to the
scene. When he got near. Walnut ave-.
nue. and Second street he saw two men
coming down Second street. The Off
Ger stood behind telephone pole and
the tive men come down Walnut ave.
huc, one walking down, the. middle Of
the thoroughfare and the otner5ane on
the sidewalk n=@t to Bell Run. One
Q! these men proved to be Hood, Hood
began to bray and the officer placed
him under arrest. He took Hood over
to EngIc's residence and MIR. Enulc
identified Hood as the man that was
raising disturbance in that nefghhor-
hood and he asked tnat Hood be ar
rested. The officer started with the
prisoner 70 the city Jail. When they
got in front Of the Baptist parsonage
Hood wanted to stop and argue with
the officer. Policeman Waldo told him
that he could talk as much as he
pleased but that he must be travelling
toward the city Jail as the discussion
was being carried on. Hooe stopped
Fnd said that he would see If he went
with the officer to the city lookup. He
broke loose from the officer and ran
away Waldo followed him and saw
where he went. He took circuitous
route and get near the place where he
saw the prisoner disappear. The off.
Ger waited a few minutes and Hood
came out and was again seized by the
officer. Hood then said that he would
give up and would 20 to Jail. The Off.
Ger and the prisoner started and there
was no trouble except the loud talking
| Of the prisoner until they reached the
cid building en- Monroe street just as
the turn Is made In going around to the
city jail. Tne loud talking Of the pris.
oner attracted the attention Of Police
man Hess who was standing on the
street in front of the city Offices. He
went in the direction from which the
noise was proceeding and saw Mr..
Waldo coming with his prisoner. He
joined the men near tile First Mctho-
dist Church and went around to the
Jail with MIR. Waldo and tn: prisoner.
As the trio was passing the old buiio-
ing on the corner Hood grabbed the
cid building ana tried to impede the
progress of the officers in landing him
In jail. The officers jerked h!m from
his hold and all fell to the ground. In
the seuffIe Hood grabbed WaIdo's
mace with both hands and tried to
"reat it from, the officers hands. Wal
TO slipped the strap over his hand
holding to the mace with one hand he
began to strike Hood with the other
In order to get possession ct the stick.
Several lfcks were struck. Tie prison.
er fighting ard resisting and the Off
GERS trying to subdue the prisoner.
The witness said that no more force
was used ttan was necessary to get TIL.
prisoner to the place that the officers
set out to take him.
Guy Fleming was the next witness
called. He said that he was s:wfJsencd
on Sunday morning by man that
Game un on the porch. He asked the
man what he wanted and he. asked
whether cr not negro family lived
cluse there. He told them that Phil
johnson lived In the hollow below. He
told the tr1an how to get to the colorea
mans hcuse and the man left. He did
not see the man nor did he know who