Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-28

- - .-AN -, iti
J ing arc.Id to see IL he could lind
/ any thmS un the departments
= Chspl,s Greenwood ana Leroy
Scott. negroes examined yesterday IL
the see, ot session with tonmssinn"r
MatthhC,'s, have criminal records H.
. cordiuI Ia chief Lucas Gre euwood At
tempted 10 assault a fellow prisoner
who hGd told on b IA, the chiet stid.
and TIE only abuse that he re give
was ~ The effort TO rrotec, the "th"-
, Liau
There are a lot of people in Tulsa
who want 'w,de-opon town, with
gambling and whisky az free as theS
were In the Old days. Then there
ave others who have still greater am
LitioHs. These are behind thS III
Nostlgat on" chief Lucas said. And
Of course IL is publicity Tor MI Mat
thews and IL is getting near electoh
time"
The investigation. which began
Yesterday, will continue until enough
facts have been made clear for a
determination of the truth or falsity
of the complaints filed with him In the
form OF affidavits by two reputable
citienzs of Tulsa" Matthews said.
The names of the compla,rants were
not revealed by Matthews. lie said
that the law did not coEp,l him to
make the names public.
Are the men VINO made the com
plants upon which this Investigation
Is being conducted reputable citizens
Matthews was asked.
II think they are" he replied.
'Otherw' Sc | would not make the in
Nestigation."
Are they interested or related to
any of the men who are said to have
been mistreated by the police?'
"I do not care 10 say anything
more about the identity Of the com
plainants," Matthews said.
II the facts brought out 10y the
Investigation" warrant e report, de-
handing the abatement of the mall
practices. viii he filed with the city
commissioners it will be their duty
10 see that the abatement IL made.
Recommendations such as discharge
OF men found guilty of abusing pris-
oners. may also be contained in the
report he declared.
Comments on Results Refused.
Matthews refused 10 comment on
results of the investigation. II am
not ready TO make u statement and
will not do so until the investigation
is completed" he said.
But | am ready 10 say that the
police have exceeded their authority.
The statutes are very definite as to
the treatment that must be accorded
prisoners, and the public hearing to-
day contained instances where these
statutes had been violated by MEM
bers of the Tulsa police force"
Matthews denied having said that
mn esca lg criminal could not be
+ : OF by an officer with justification.
rnig ~ a.
| Inept" he declared. what I said re-
ferrcd to men who are arrested or
! about to he arrested. If they try 10
escape the officer has no right to
shoot AT them, and II they return the
fire and Kill an officer they can plead
self-defense.
"The courts have held tlie t1 be
! the law Matthews said. and cited thc
| case of Robinson against the United
States. Robinson, he explained, was
rmbushed near ChickasEa by two
deputy L. s. marsEals. who were wait
! ing to arrest him. They tired on
him and ne returned the fire. Judge
| Richardson of the criminal court OF
appeals held that Robin'on was JUS
titled in protecting hts lltc and conld
not have been held on any charge had
he killed one Of tho officers.
"Officers who abuse or mistreat
prisoners arc subject to fines up to
81 900 and Imprisonment up to yea'
in the county jail" Matthews de-
| clared
Bread and Water Punishment.
| Refractory prisoners may be
| chained or put IN solitary confinement
when they tear mp tho sheets and
swear at the iailer, Matthews said,
| but they must net be beaten. The
law. he said, recommends a bread ana
water dict as preferable % the club
treatment.
Howevery an officer has perfect
right to defend himself from attack
| ~ prisoners, Int he must do II hu
namely, according to Matthews
Asked what officers must do when
. prisoner refused to be brought to
isil. Matthews said that he must call
In help, but under no conditions must
he abuse the prisoner.
The practice of the y plice in such
! instances, according to Cheif Lucas,
is to get the prisoner To the nearest
call station and summon the wagon.
Most of tho men on the beat are
large enough to handle their priso-
rers." he said
Twelve witnesses nave been sub
poeT<Ci by Commissioner Matthews
Cor the hearing today. The session
, will begin at 9 o'clock at the court
/ house
The investigation today. Matthews
said will he on the complaints OF
third degree methods used on priso-
ners by the police.
|