The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-06-18
COP TORTURED Old
man, BROTHERS SAY.
Witnesses Describe Beeye's At
tack on Vender-knocked Him
Down With Club.

The story printed in yesterdays Tri-
bune of Patrolman Ed. Beeve's abuse
of Mrs. Edward Johnson of Chafee and
her two small children, brought forth
new accusations against the policeman.
The story of an unprovoked act of
cruelty alleged to have been commit
ed by Beeve, was related by R. E..
Estes, who lives in the northern part
of this city, and is now employed on
the Pacific street improvement work.
His statement follows:
Zone evening a few weeks ago when
l was on my way down town with my
brothers, ]. H. Estes and C. E. Estes,
and Bill Miller, a neighbor, l was
walking along north Main street, near
the car sheds when l heard some I'M
usual cOmmotion over on the railroad
track next to the river.
eve all hurried through the narrow
space between the buildings to the rail-
road tracks, when we saw Police Beeve
driving an old umbrella repairer along
in front of him. The officer was abu-
sive IN his language, and when the old
fellow stopped and asked for permits
sion to go back to the depot and buy a
ticket, stating that he had money to
pay his expenses, the officer struck
him a powerful blow over one of his
eyes, with his club.
"The force OF The blow sent the aged
victim off the dump and. down the
steep embankment, and feel positive
that he was standing fully seven feet
from the edge of the dump when the
club struck him and he seemed to go
over the edge almost without touching.
Beeve Immediately clambered down to
where the man was laying, and we
walked out and looked at him.
We saw Beeve thrust his revolver
against the aged mans body, and with
the other hand felt over his clothing
for weapons. The wound bled so pro-
fusely that in few seconds the iniur-
ed man was almost completely blinded
with flow. When Beeve attempted to
help the stranger to his feet, he was
unable to stand back and sank to the
rocks on which he had fallen.
when the officer looked up and saw
US standing on the bank above him he
called me and asked me to help get the
prisoner back on the track. complied
with his request, and after consider
able effort we succeeded in getting the
old man back on the track, where he
sank to the ties when we tried to get
him stand alone.
when he sat down, Beeve again
seized his revolver and | believe he
would have shot the helpless old vic
tim if l had not ordered him put the
gun back in his pocket. | shouted at
him not to shoot that man, and l also
told him that believed he had'already
killed him. Beeve replied that he had
not hit him hard, and that he had to
get out of town.
after the old man had rested a
short time, the officer commanded him
to get up and go. The old fellow
to his feet with much effort, |
and we watched him totter off up the
track, carrying his little tool box and
a bundle of old umbrella handles.
"He was an old man, and when saw
MIN, was doing nothing wrong. He |
vas perfectly rational and asked for
permission to go to the depot and buy |
4 ticket so that he could ride out of |
Town on the train. The old fellow |
pleaded with the officer not to drive |
him out of town in the night, as it |
vas then about half mast six o'clock"