Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-11-25
HAS
SLIGHT SHOCK
Michael Lewis of Woodbridge
Gets Fresh in Local Peace
Justices Court.
TRIED TO GET REVENGE
PickersgiIl Makes Out Com
mittment and He is Taken
to Police Station

One faction of instice in Nond-
bridge township received a severe
setback last night when Michael
Lewis, Woodbridge constable,
seeked to avenge his own prosacu-
ton by arresting cripple and
threatening to jail him and was HIM
self arrested and detained at police
headquarters in this city 1t was
one of the queerest and most anus
ing mixups in The wheels of law this
city ever saw Justice of the Peace
Fl. 4. Pickersgill was in charge.
Constable Michael Lewis and Frank
Lanowski, a huckster, with but one
arm and one leg, few witnesses
Constable Frank Conard, a spectator
who is an enemy of Lewis, and
newspaper man, comprised the east
of characters. The whole thing
seemed like a two actdrama inwhich
Lewis played the part of the william.
He had things his way tor a time,
but it did not last.
Assault and Battery Charge.
The whole affair evolved out of
charge of assault and battery
launched against Lewis by Lanow-
ski. Lanowski has but one arm and
one leg and is small in statue rem
dering him physically incapable of
putting up fight He claimed that
Lewis set upon him and beat him
and his horse with his whip and
wound up by taking his horse and
wagon to the town hall of
Woodbridge. Lewis as constable,
claimed he had right to arrest
Lanowski for peddling in Wood
lerid 10 oh n wi a
When the case came before JUS
tice of the Peace Pickersgill al
1890 O'Clock, both sides were heard.
.Lanowski said he had been unmerci-
fully beaten and that since the day
of the alleged attack, last Tuesday,
he had been unable to earn live
lihood as his peddling rig had been
held by Lewis in Woodbridge. Lewis
claimed Lanowski attacked him and
refused TO go with him after he had
been placed under arrest. The con
stable declared the peddler swore
at him and all he. Lewis did, Waa to
grab him by the collar. In an effort
to take him to Woodbridge, but that
the horse and wagon was in danger
of going into ditch and therefore
he let the man go to save the rig.
Lewis swore that Lanowski hit him
with his whip and used every means
to drive away from him Lanowski
swore under oath that he did not hit
Lewis, but that the latter assailed
him.
Questions Lewis's Action.
The justice of the peace ques-
toned Lewis's right to make an ar
rest for simple violation of an
ordinance without warrant.
Lewis said there was a law permit
ting such arrests in townships hay-
ing no police force. why" asked
the justice. hasn't Woodbridge got
a police department." Lewis re-
piled In the negative. saying the po-
1icemen there were just held over,
but did not constitute lawfully ap-
pointed force. The justice smiled
and then said he had always be-
lieved Woodbridge had a good police
department. He gave Lewis an OPP
nortunity to settle out of court with
Lanowski by returning his rig to-
his place in this city. This Lewis
refused and he was ordered placed
under $300 bonds to await the ac-
tion of the grand jury. Lewis said
Lanowski's rig was now in livery
stable In Woodbridge, where a bill
was charged UP against it.
Serves Warrant in Court.
Justice of the Peace Pickersgill
had intended to be lenient with
Lewis and allow him to give bonds
today. but In his court and under
his very nose, he served a warrant
on Lanowski for peddling in Wood
bridge without license. Lewis
read the warrant to him and then
said he wanted him to come along
to Woodbridge to be locked up.
Then he could see sweet revenge.
Lanowski refused and offered to fur
nish bail through a bondsman who
accompanied him Mr.. Pickersgill
said he could take bail, as the law
provided that the nearest justice of
the peace could in such a case.
Lewis took Lanowski by the arm and
said he would not take bail before
Pickersgill, but inferred he might
before some other Justice.
Commits the Constable.
Mr. Piekersgill could not see
poor little cripple like Lanowski go
ing to jail and being locked up as
a matter OF revenge, so he changed
his mind about giving Lewis until
today to furnish his $500 bonds on
the assault and battery charge, and
made out papers committing him TO
the county iail In default of bail.
Lewis protested. but 1t was no use.
He was taken in charge by Constable
Frank Conard and ushered to po-
lice headquarters, where be was de-
tanned for about two hours until his
bondsman, iii the person of Justice
John L. Dunno. OF Woodbridge, ar
rived. Lanowski, his friends aad
witnesses who accompanied him,
went home.