Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-07
Continued from page one)

Enclosed herewith are papers which
seem to make out a prima facie case
OF extraordinary, brutality on the part
of certain police officers. 1t is not
my desire to ask special favor IN the
| treatment of this subject, but re-
gard 1t as most desirable that the
inquiry which trust that you may
make in the premises be expedited as
much as possible, that 1t be most
searching, and in case the guilt
of the police officers in question Is
made satisfact0rily to appear to your
committee, that you cause the punish
ment that may be visited upon these
police officers to be immediate and
drastic"
Col. 1rett's Statement
Col. Brett's statement says in part:
Il have personally investigated the
case as far as possible at this post
tSchofieldl. and am convinced that,
although the two soldiers were drunk
and misbehaving, there is no justifica-
ton for the brutal treatment they
received at the hands of the police.
He also says that the soldiers are
being punished for their own miscon-
duct m
The story as told by Crawford and
Bennington and substantiated by the
two sergeants, Joseph H. HUFF and
William II. Udell, is in substance this:
On the night of March "a. they left
restaurant on King street, near the
o. r. & L. station, with q gallon OF
port wine. They admit they were In,
toxicated, but deny being disorderly.
The Hawaiian policeman, Daniels,
stopped them. They said they we're
going to their room in an uptown
hotel. He said they would have to
come to the police station. and melee
ensued. The soldiers say that Daniels
struck first, knocking Bennington un-
conscious with his club, after which
Crawford ran through Aala park,
Daniels overlook him and beat him
up badly, using his club. Crawford
says that one policeman held him
from behind while another beat him
over the head until he became un-
conscious. He was taken to the police
station and says that on the floor OF
the patrol wagon policemen were
kicking me and stamping on my face.
He charges that a pawn ticket taken
iiOtu HIN az Tic StdtiOu NdS hCNSA Az
turned.
Bennington, first freed. was later ar
rested when he looked for his COM
rade. and taken to Jail also. He says
S2.65 was taken from him at the sta
ton and not returned, the desk SER
geant denying the soldier had any
money when arrested. c
Back Soldiers Story ).
The two sergeants declare that Po-
liceman Daniels was very much ex-
cited and first started to shoot. De-
tails are given as to the brutality OF
the beating and the manner in which
Crawford bIed after being hit with
the clubs. The sergeants say a police
man, Ross, hit Crawford with black
jack while the soldier was lying down.
The two sergeants declare they
went to the police station to lodge
charge against the policemen, but
were told they would have to see
Deputy Sheriff Asch.
Asch said today records would show
that Daniels received treatment the
night of the trouble at the emergency
hospital for cuts he received when the
soldier assaulted him with the demi-
john. Asch stated further that the
policeman fought to protect himself
while making an arrest which was
resisted and was badly smashed up
in the melee.
It was Daniels who shot boy q
few months ago and was suspended
for two weeks by the sheriff for it.
The boy was an escaped industrial
school inmate who tried to elude the
policeman He IVES not seriously
wounded. One shot the officer fired
at the time pierced window Of Theo.