The Washington times., 1910-12-13

details that led up TO the reaid Of the
Weaver house
Armstrong. Wallich, and Bicycle PO-
Hceman Edward T Earney weer IN
search of a Colored boy. Richard Clar-
euce Boone who was employed at
Weaver's house. and who was suspect
ed Of committing depredatiOns at a
vacant house near BY. Ia pursuit OF
the cOlOred boy the trio went from the
vacant house to WeaVer'S home, and
there Armstrong was detailed 10 in
quire whether the coi0red boy was in
According TO Walhch's story, Arm
strong knocked on the door twice
gained admittance, AL the next he
heard OF him was WheT the policeman q
called for help Wallich said he rushed
IL and found Armstrong and Weaver
in a tussle-"
Did you see Weaver 90 anything
that would indicate he was resisting ar
rest" the witness was asked
Nothing, except that Weaver was
holding tight TO Armstrong" was the
Wallich said Weaver was struck, but
not kicked by Armstrong, and, after
considerable paTrylng. was forced TO ad-
nit that Armstrong struck Weaver
while he was on the sidewalk. being
held by Walich- This blow, the wit
ness said. was hard enough 10 fell a
man, and Weaver would have fallen to
the ground had not Wallich supported
him
Weaver was taken out Of doors. fol-
loving the encounter inside. though he
was barefCoted and wore not clothing
cave nighJgOwn-
Weaver Was Gnocked Down.
Mrs Rose Lau5ach told the commit
tee that Armstrong feIIed his prisoner
snd that Weaver laid prone upon the
sidewalk several seconds.
The greater part Of the morning was
taken up in hearing Armstrong testi-
mOI1y- The house was a tVo-rOOm ten
sment According TO Armstrong, he
AnoS5Aet q & IAe uOoI lWlce, was Teated
zruf1y BY Weaver, who said that col
ored boy was not at home. When Arm
strong insisted that he saw him enter
the house, Weaver consented to search
Tor him. and according 10 Armstrong;
story, ne pushed his way into the
house, because he thought he saw
Weaver give the boy signal 70 escape
through the bathroom window
This part OF Armstrong; story
brought forth some comment from Sen
stoT Borah- in criticism Of his right TO
enter house without warrant.
Armstrong then told how Weaver
rushed al him with a shining weapon,
and finally succeeded IN striking him,
cutting cash IN his nose
Though this occurrence was but two
weeks ago ATmsJr~ cg's nose shows
but the faiteSt suggestion Of a scar.
II you can examine your nose and
take these scissors and tell me how a
man rushing at YOU could inflict such
a wound I VIII be greatly obliged to
yOus said Senator BOrah- 1T looks
10 me more like you had been scratched
by mans finger nails
Officers Coat Produced
Armstrong was also asked to produce
his OvercOat, which he said had been
cut an dtorn In the scuff1e-
Armstrong said the tear in the coat
had been made outside when Weaver
tried to escape. and that was why the
pair had come 70 blows a second time
=
ETandegee, Just why this man should
hold tight enough to your coat 20 tea
IL. il he were trying 20 make a get
away"
Armstrong was also questioned closely
rs 10 why he did not use his billy or
draw his pistol If he thought he was
in danger Of being attacked by deS-
pereJe man with a dangerous weapon
Considerable amusement was caused
by Senator BTdnGeEee's inquiry as 20
the position, weight and other details
about a UOliCeman's : stick
They are made out of a light wood,
and they are very brittle That's ali
I know about them said Armstrong
How do you know they are brittle
oh. I have broken four OF I'VE Of
them
-'VViu YOU tell the committee just how
You broke each one of those sticks and
whether YOU did il over mems heads< ?
asked Senator Brandegee-
why, broke one OF them tnrOVin ing
it at a rat and / don't know what be
came Of the rest Of them
Armstrong, after many questions, al
ui-tde that Weaver was bleeding a
great deal when he was finally taken
20 the StatiOnhOUSe-
The possibility Of Weaver arulIng him
self with a pair Of scissors, without
A rInStronE knowing IT, while Armstrong
was wa1rlin= him all the time was
secuted by Senator Rorah-
ArrstronZ said that Weaver might
have picked the scissors from the table
vithoJ.r his action being noticed
How do YOU make that statement
5ibe with testimony n Police Court,
when YOU said that he got the SCISSORS
rv1r7 the kitchen sink Senator BTen-
armstrong said that he only meant
lHar Weaver might have gotten them
from the table
After repeatedly denying that he had
kicked Weaver. Armstrong admitted
under crOss-UueStiOnIng that he had
tried 70 kick him or the shlns, and may
be did touch him lightly once or twice -
James Kirk OF . 4 street. southwest,
said he saw Armstrong beat and kick
Weaver on the street
When Inspector Guessford took the
stand members OF the committee ques-l
toned him closely concerning Arm!
strongs previOus record, and also, tried
10 ascertain the exact methods used IN
the Washington Police Department for
.lvesLigating charges against its en-
ployes-
What the committee wants TO find
out said senator Er2nQeSee- Is not
what redress Weaver or any other
citizen may get by criminal action,
hut how the police department pro
ceedS IN such cases
The inspector testified that all such
charges were filed with the major
and superintendent and by him were
sent on TO the trial police board. He
Satz that it Is not generally tie Gus
tfn 10 have the immediate superior
OF d policeman investigate charges
- -