Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-09-10

The Board of Police Commissioners
is investigating another case of al
legged police brutality, brought by a
citizen who says he was clubbed,
cursed at and arrested by an officer
with whom he demonstrated for
sampling the fruit on peddler's S
cart.
The charges were filed with the
board yesterday by Samuel Platt. a
grocer, of 324 Bank street. The Of
ficer he accuses is Patrolman Theo-
dore Fisher, of the Sixth precinct,
and the alleged assault took place
July 12.
Platt told a reporter for the Eve
ming Star today the story of his al
legged mistreatment by the policeman,
He was returning to his shop, he
said, from his stable at 80 Rutgers
street, when he noticed a push-cart
jeddler standing at Bank and Rut-
gers streets, near his store. Three
men were taking handsful of the
cherries and jostling the peddler
about as he expostulated with them.
Fisher. who was not in uniform,
Platt said, seemed to be getting the
lions snare of the cherries, so Piatt
said TO him.
why do you bother this sman7' he
asked. you've no right 70 dc
struck with BiackJack
..Thats none of your business, :
platt saws Fisher replied with an
oath "This guy hasn't got license,
anyway - ;,
"That doesn't make any difference.
the other insisted, unless you're an
officer And even If you are, you We
no right TO take this mans fruit.
Then. Platt says, he was ordered
IN mind his very much qualified busl-
ness and when he refused to cease
snrotecting the peddler, Fisher pushed
him hack and drew a blackjack from
his pocket The officer struck MIN
several times, Platt says, until ne
broke away and ran down the
street.
Fisher gave chase, the grocer de-
cIares. and caught him in front OF
% Rutgers street. When he saw ne
could not distance his pursuer, Platt
darted I'D the stoop and endeaVoreu
m close the front door. Fisher, 1t IS
said hurst in after him, and seizlng
him, beat him until he crleo out.
His cries attracted Albert hirsten,
of Is Rutgers street. who grappeo
Fisher, saying: -
whats the matter with youE
Don't YOU know you'll get yourseii
in bad? Leave this man alone oe-
fore you kill him.
Fisher stopped beating him tnen'
pIatt declares, and ran along hut-
gers street to South Orange avenue
plat Mrs. Platt, Kristen, the ped
dler and a crowd that had been at
traeted, follol I'd.
Man Is Arrested.
AT South Orange avenue ana Jones
street Fisher met two policemen IN
uniform. who, after Fisher had talked
Witt them returned and put Platt
under arrest
A. the Fourth precinct, Platt says,
Fisher charged him with interfering
with him as he attempted to make an
arrest Platt was allowed to go on
denositing $25 as security for his ap-
nearance in court the following morn
Inc The peddler. who had wheeled
his cart up to the station IN the
meantime. was put under arrest.
Judge Herr the following day let
plat go under suspended sentence
after he had heard his story, ana oe-
livered a scathing reprimand to
Fisher.
The court taxed him for interfering
with the peddler, for his aleseo
rough treatment of the grocer ana Ior
his action in running away 10 hno
other officers
Saul Cohen, lawyer, with offlces
II, the Okin building, Bank and
washington streets, represented Platt
in court, and at the conclusion of the
hearing advised his client to bring
the matter to the attention of the
CONTINUED on Second PaseD