Evening journal., 1919-06-10
COURT DISMISSES
S. c. STRICKLAND
Refusal to Show Ticket to
Special Officer No
Oifense
JUDGE CHURCHMAN
MAKES THIS RULING

In dismissing stewart e. Strickland, in
City Court today, on charges Of disor-
derby conduct and RESISTING an officer,
Judge Churchman ruled that u was not
an offense against the state laws Tor
passenger 20 refuse to show his railroad
ticket TO a special officer employed ny
the railroad company The court or
dcrcd that the defendant, who IS a
resident Of Elkion. Md. be dismissed on
both charges, saying that the disor-
DERBY conduct charge was evidently an
afterlhought on the part Of the rail-
road police and that as il was not an
orensc 10 refuse 10 show railroad
ticket the charge Of resisting an oficer
would also be dismissed.
The defendant, who was represented
By Phillip l.. Garrett. entered pleas OF
not guilty 10 both charges and had as
witnesses several men. strangers to
him. who happened 20 be at French
street station a week ago last night
when the railroad officers arrested him
and they corroboratcd the testimony Of
the defendant.
Tie prosecution consisted Of tho cvi-
dcnce Of several officers. an Of whom
participated in the arrest and when
They had concluded and Assistant City
Solicitor MallOy announced that The
state rested, Phillip l.. Garrett, attor-
ney for Mr.. Strickland exclaimed,
what. no evidence except that or po-
lice officers aud detectives
Mr.. strickland contended that he was
struck blow in the face by Special
officer Nc1in H kecch. OF the railroad
police while his hands were handcuifed
and while with the officers In small
room on the first floor OF the French
street station This was denied by the
railroad officer hit as the defendants
face was still marred by the abuse he
alleged was hcapcd on him, the court
referred 20 this
According 10 Jesse Green. a railroad
police. he arrested Mr. strickland at
the souihbound train platform while
the defendant was waiting for train
10 go 90 his home In Elkton. The Of
ficer said that ne asked The defendant
10 show his railroad ticket. which ne.
the defendant. refused 10 do. and when
ne attempted 10 pass him. the officer
placed him under arrest strickland. the
officer testified. became abusive and
started TO hght
Charles Ireland another railroad ON
Ger. gave similar testimony. This ON
cor said he knew Strickland. being a
native Of Elkton Police Lieutenant
William n Biggins. of the railroad po-
lice testified 60 hearing Of the trouble
on the platform and ordering kccch
and Green 10 take Strickland 10 the
waiting room on the first floor
Kcech when called denied having
struck strickland saving that the de-
fendant not only fought the officers hut
that he cursed them and acted dsor-
DERBY.
In reply 10 the question AZ n why
a charge of trespss was first placed
against the defendant. The railroad ofii-
GERS said that was done by the local
police at the police station for reasons
unknown 10 them.
strickland. IN his own behalf. said
that when ne arrived on the platform
a train was standing there. and think
inc ~ was his train. he was hurrying
towards 10 when the officer i'm quick
tone said. Lets see your ticket
This. he said ne refused 30 do. starting
again for ihe train. and then the officer
grabbed him
fNlffF AlflNNNf Ilf ~Nlfis NNlNl NnlAif w
and he was overpowercd and thrown 10
The platform. falling face down. where
he was handcuffcd The defendant ad-
mitted telling 0nlcer Keech when he
was struck in The face by that officer,
that IL he. the officer would take The
handouts or he would not mind tho
officer hitting him.
Attorney Garrett said But Keech
would not do that would hes"
John O'Bren and Louis J. Darrell.
who did not know the defendant and
another witness. testified that Sirick-
land did not swear on the platform
They said the officers never told the.
man why they arrested him. Mr.
OBrien said that Green did not tell
the man why he should show his ticket
The defendant was shown 30 have a
good reputation.
10 is understood that the officer de-
mandcd 20 see Mr. Siricklsnd's ticket
because OF crowd Of flrcmen al the
station waiting TO welcome William II
Todd OF Brooklyn.