Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-04
OFFICER CLASHES
WITH A CRIPPLE
Fierce Encounter Ensues
When Man Is Ordered
Into His House.

e. Stewart, one-legged man resid-
ing near Fourth and Idaho streets and
Detective Routson OF the city force
are both nursing sore heads today be-
cause of an alteration which occurred
shortly after midnight this morning in
front Of Stewards home
Routson was making trip about
the city and in walking UP Idaho street
fell in with William Krull and the pair
walked together as far as Fourth
street, where a man was found sitting
on the sidewalk. Mr. Krull states that
Detective Routson asked Stewart
what he was doing there, to which he
replied that it was none of the de-
tective's business, or words to that
effect, after which the man was ask
ed where he lived and he again gave
a sharp answer to the officer who Or
dered him to go into the house. At
this juncture, 1t is stated. a woman
came out of the house and told the
men to 80 along and leave her husband
alone. Routson replied, 1t is stated,
that he was an officer of the law and
she had better take her husband in the
house, whereupon Stewart is alleged to
have struck the officer with his cane,
after which a fight followed during
which Routson was struck and choked
it is said, while he used his gun freely,
striking Stewart over the head, Mr.
Krull all the while attempting to sep
crate them It is also said the woman
took part in the affair and pulled the
officers hair. Routson's face is
scratched and he has a large bump
on his head as the result Of the en-
counter, while Stewart has several
cuts on his head, one Of which required
two stitches to close. The wounds of
both men We're attended by DR.. Glase,
the city physician, at police head
quarters early this morning and they
we're taken to their homes.
Different Versions Of the Affair.
The one disinterested man to the
affair claims that Detective Routson
informed the man that he was an off,
Ger and that he would not be allowed
out there and must go in, but he be-
lieved the man did not understand him
or he would not have become abusive
Stewart gives an entirely different
version of the affair His statement
is to the effect that he was in his own
yard in front Of his house and that
two men walked up to him and one of
them said, "How much money have
you got?" Stewart answered he states,
THAT is none of your business" after
which he said they had some more
words, when one of the mon drew his
gun and struck him over the head and
kept pounding him while he called for
help and believed he was being robbed.
There must have been some mis-
take" said Mr.. Stewart this morning.
Il think il the man was an officer he
must have been after some one else
and thought l was the man, but 1
should have thought he would have
made certain before beating me up.
It should not have been much trouble
for an officer to take a man who has
only one leg and is obliged to use a
cane and crutch to get about. pro-
pose to sift this matter to the bottom
and demand redress for the suffering
have undergone"
Mr.. Stewart had a bad bruise on his
forehead where the skin was broken
and a scalp wound on the top of his
| head which had been sewed -. by the
physician.
| Detective Routson left the place be-
fore Chief Of Police Reeves and other
officers, who had been attracted to the
place by the screams of Mrs. Stewart,
arrived. Stewart was left partially
unconscious, he states, in which con-
dition he was viewed by the other
officers. who departed leaving him still
there and it was a half hour or more
lated, according to neighbors who were
attracted by the outcries, before Stew
art was taken charge of and given
medical attention.