Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-21

Stating not for his own sake
alone. but in the interests of jus
tice and public good. he is calling
the facts to the attention of the
people OF this community, r. Herr
mann, the man who was assaulted
, by Patrolman Miner after being ar
rested when he interfered in behalf
of a dog that was being Clubbed
SATURDAY. night. has offered The Ar
gus a statement OF the case from
his viewpoint.
He charges he smelled whisky on
the officers breath He says
MY home is 2907 Work road,
Cincinnati. Ohio ! was born and
raised in Cincinnati and have lived
there all nv life ] am now, and
for IA years have been, connected
with the Gruen Watch company OF
Cincinnati. For the last nine years
I have been regularly selling the
goods Of that concern in the tTi-
cities. I can refer the public OF
this community to c. |. Josephson
Of Moline, u. r Cox of East Mo-
line and N. Z. Nabstedt and Edwin
Fape Of Davenport. who will all
youch for my good character and
reputation as a peaceable lawabld-
ing citizen.
Last Saturday night | was hru-
tally and cruelty beaten and as
saulted in the city Of Rock Island.
wholly without prOvOcation, by
man by the name of Charles Miner,
who was then wearing the uniform
of a police officer Of that ely and.
who. | understand was member
Of the Rock Island police force.
This occurred about 1890 Saturday
night at the intersection Of Second
avenue and Seventeenth street. in
the city of Rock Island. ! was
waiting there to take street car
for the city of Davenport where /
was stopping at the Blackhawk ho-
tel Just before the trouble two
policemen approached James restau-
rant on the south side Of Second
avenue. near where | was stand
ing. A dog belonging to Mr.. James.
the restaurant keeper, was lying
peacefully and apparently asleep
on the sidewalk in front Of the res
taurant One of the two policemen,
Miner. as he approached the place
where the dog was lying. without
any apparent reason. threw his pO-
liceman's club al the dog and struck
him a violent blow. he club glanc-
ing off and breaking a basement
window in front Of the restaurant.
Miner then rushed for his club and
picked it up out Of the broken glass
that had fallen from the window.
The dog had in the meantime made
no attempt to get away and showed
no sign whatever of viciOusness.
In fact. | have learned since from
the owner of the dog. that the dog
is Is years old and family pet.
Miner again rushed al the dog and
dubbed him mercilessly. The dog
howled piteously and tried to get
into the restaurant. Miner cOntin-
ueJ the clubbing as the dog fell
staggering to the sidewalk.
AT this stage of the proceeding,
| approached Miner and said TO him
in substance: For Good sake, Off
Ger. please don't be so brutal to
the dog He then continued beat
ing the dog. which appeared to be
dying. and | then said to him fur
Their in substance: Haven't you any
feeling at all, even though it may
be a beast?' | had said nothing
Use and had done nothing else when
was Immediately arrested by
Miner who said to me in substance:
will take care of you in the same
way He then took me north to-
ward the river. on the east side of
Seventeenth street. to the alley be
ween Second and First avenues.
When we reached that point he sud
lenly turned on me and said in sub
,-ance: You tender hearted --
--. I'll teach YOU
o interfere with my business. I,
offered no resistance and begged