Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-18
F. R, zEbLH FILES
C0MPL Amt AGAINST
POLICE CHIEF BLACK
Makes Affidavit Concerning Incl
dent at French Street Station
on May IS.
LODGED WITH COMMISSION

Frank r. Zebley a member of Exemp-
ton Board No (, filed with the Roard OF
Police Commissioners. today, prior To the
board S weekly meeting. formal complaint
against Chief of Police Black crIticislnp
the chief for an incident IN which he
participated at French street station, on
Nav %. on the occasion of the departure
of a number of draftccs for Camp Dix,
stating that he considers 1t his duty as a
sworn official of the nited States govern
mcnt.
The complaint is IN the form OF an
affidavit. and with it are afhdav1ts from
Joseph Wigglesworth and James Kane, the
other members of Board No. 1. Lester Nj
Wingate and William II Morris who
swear that they witnessed the incident
and that Mr. Zebley's statement rs cor
rect MIR Zeblev's affidavit contained IN
his complaint 10 the Police Commission,
follows.
The following incident took place on
Saturday. Nav -. 1918, at about 1880
a m. while proceeding 10 the PCnnsNI-
wanna railroad station IN charge OF drafted
men whom We were 10 entraln tor amp
Dix. y j.
Arriving nj Front and French streets,
where there was a crowd Of people tlllnE
the entire width of French street. and
which crowd the police apparently made
no effort to keep back 10 allow us u pas
sage-wav. and being compelled TO pass
through this crowd the members of
Local Exemption Board No. 4 Of which
am a member together with the drafted
men. began TO work their way through IN
single file
Among the drafted men were two men
who were what would term happy
drunk but who were not dIsorderlv IN
any wav and who were simply bidding
persons goodbye as they passed them
These men had been enrolled in the mted
States service on the afternoon before and
were in charge OF the Exemption Board
ARRIVING abreast Of the French street
entrance to the station and while within
SIN or eight feet OF nc. | saw George
Black. chef Of police 81 " llmngton seize
these two drafted men BY their collars,
shake them very roughly and then let 60
Of the man IN his right hand and while
still holding the other with his left hand,
deliberately strike HIM with clcnchcd fist
a crushing blow IN the mouth This re-
suited in this man leaving Wilmington
CRYING and bleeding. to enter upon his
duties as a soldier Of his country
Il hurried M 10 Chief Black told him
that was member Of Local Board 81
Exemption and entered n verbal protest
against the assault calling his attention
to the fact that his man was in charge OF
tho Exemption Board and demanded that
nc stop assaulting the draftee and release
HIM IN order that he could proceed 70
entraIn
In the meantime Patrolmcn Pierce
and Hinson had seized me by he collar
and, upon Chief Black order to take
him away. proceeded to assault me.
throwing me against an IRON pole over a
MOTORCYCLE and into the street and giving
me a general beating up. after which they
released me and | proceeded with my
duties as board member This assault on
me resulted in torn clothing. bruises on
nv BODY, and severely bruised and
>prained side. which has been very painful
and has rendered me unfit for my usual
work ever since
Il wish to call particular attention 10
the following facts That the drafted men
had their badges on. that they were IN
charge OF the Exemption Board and that
they were not creating any disorder. also
that had my badge on; that | was IN the
performance of duties as a civilian mem |
Der Of the War Department, and that the
injuries inflicted on me are both painful
and incapacitatlnC. and that the entire |
affair was witnessed by a large crowd of
people many of whom have since made
themselves known to me and severely con
demned Chief Black for his actions
Frank X Zeblev