Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-20
GAYNOR AFFER
BRUTAL COPS
MAYOR OF NEW YORK TRYING
FOR REFORM
YOUTH DECLARES POLICE HAD
ABUSED HIM
Photographed for Rogues' Gallery
Though He Was Guilty of No
Offense-TeIs of
Mstreatment

NEW YORK, Feb. 19.-Mayor Gay
nor's crusade to rid the police depart
ment of it's numerous bullies who as
sault and terrorize unoffending citi-
zens has been given an impetus by the
case of a young man who has just
made a complaint to the mayor.
That he was falsely arrested on a
charge of assault and highway rob-
berry, held a prisoner for forty eight
hours, deprived of food for twenty-four
hours, photographed for the rogue
gallery, forced to submit to Bertilllon
measurements being taken, made TO
write his name wrong at police head
quarters, lined up as criminal ana
struck by Inspector McCafferty of the
detective bureau are the charges made
by George Dobbs in his complaint pc
fore Mayor Gaynor.
After being subjected, as he stated, to
what the mayor in the Duffy case
called "outrag geous treatment" Mr..
Dobbs was discharged in court. He is
21 years old, lives at 63 Carmine street,
in old Greenwich village, and helps
support his mother, who is dress
maker.
His complaint to the mayor was
made in connection with an appeal to
have his photograph removed from the
following letter:
"Your Honor: My picture is in the
rogues' gallery at police headquarters,
and 1 would like to have it removed.
[ cannot afford to go into the courts to
have this DONE and L am appealing to
you to have it done by executive order.
Herewith you will please find inclosed
in affidavit form, an account of the
circumstances under which it was put
there.
II was arrested unjustly on base
less charge, and L should not have to
bear the shame of being ~classed with
criminals when [ am not one. l hope
you will give this matter your earliest
consideration. Very truly yours,
GEORGE DOBBS."
"I went to the Dewey theater, in East
Fourteenth street. late in the after
noon of January 20, and left there
shortly before $50 O'Clock. At the cor
ner of Twelfth street and Fourth ave-
nue., while on my way home, l saw a
girl running west on Twelfth street,
toward Fourth avenue. She was crying
Police and 1 ran toward her to see
what was the matter AS l approached
her she grabbed me by the arm and
said, You have my ring!' l asked her
what she meant, and she said, "A fat
fellow like you took it.
"A crowd COlleCleQ, sd pOllCeIIl6tll
came up, and upon the complaint of the
girl he arrested me and took me to the
East Fifth street station. There the
girl made a complaint of assault and
robbery against me.
'I was locked up in a cell, and 1
asked the doorman to permit me
to send a message home, which he re-
fused, and he also declined to call q
messenger for me. A man in citizens
clothes, who, 1 think, was the captain
of the precinct, questioned me. 1 told
him my story, declaring my innocence
of wrongdoing. 1 had no supper, was
forced to remain in the cell all night,
and had no breakfast, either. At Z
o'clock the morning of January q the
policeman who arrested me took me to
police headquarters in a patrol wagon.
Photographed and Measured
cat headquarters a lieutenant of po-
lice read to me the charge of assault
and highway robbery and ordered me
upstairs to the rogues' gallery. There
1 was photographed and Bertillon
measurements were taken of me. / was