Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-06


trup, Herdzina, Crandall or Craw-
ford, other officers who participated
in the raid.
According to the testimony of
Mrs. Margaret Roberts, who was
talking to Sutton when the bell boy
was frightened by the officer and be-
gan to run, Sutton ordered the men
under him to knock his head off;
shoot him"
A half dozen witnesses at the in
quest declared that Armstrong
yelled, as he followed the negro
down the alley, Kill the
1t also was declared on the stand
that Brigham fired directly at the
fleeing boy.
County Attorney Shotwell is said
to have taken Police Chief Eber-
stein to task severely for the care
less manner in which the men on
the force use their revolvers.
You either have not properly in
structed your men in this regard,
or they ignore your instructions"
Mr.. Shotwell is quoted as having
said to the chief.
Chief Eberstein several months
ago issued orders to his men to
shoot to kill any person who at
tempted to escape.
Police Commissioner Ringer and
Chief Eberstein, despite the number
of lives sacrificed because of the
unlawful and careless use of fire
arms by policemen, have yet to sus-
pend a single policeman for such
an offense without being forced to
do SO.
Have Not Been Suspended.
Armstrong and Brigham have not
yet been suspended.
Detective Knudtson was sus-
pended only after he had been ar
rested by the county authorities for
shooting Charles Coleman, the SOL
der, last March. In spite of the
fact that the officer is charged with
shooting with intent to commit MUIR
der, and his trial still is pending in
district court, knudtson returned
to work several weeks ago with the
sanction of Commissioner Ringer
and Chief Eberstein
Detective Sutton was the first po-
liceman to approach Scott while the
bellboy was busily engaged in dis
charging his duties. Sutton frighten-
ed the boy into running and Sutton
gave the first order to shot him, &C
cording to the testimony at the cor
oner's inquest, and Armstrong ech-
oed the command, which was heard
by Holman. the man charged with
firing the fatal shot. Brigham also
was obeying the instructions issued
by Sutton, when, according to wit,
nesses, he took deliberate aim and
fired his revolver point blank at the
racing bellboy.
Paul Sutton's Case.
Il have gone over this feature of
the case very carefully with my dep
lties," declared Mr.. Shotwell. The |
matter has been investigated and
weighed from every standpoint in
The light of the law. 1t is my opin-
on that Sutton was too far removed
rom the scene of the actual shoot
ng when he is alleged to have given
The command to shoot Scott. Only |
one witness testified to this, which |
was denied by several others.
Il believe the testimony at the |
,oroner's inquest shows plainly that
Holman fired the fatal shot. | be-
ieve Holman fired the shot at Scott |
because he was told to do so by |
policemen, who also were firing at
the negro. Holman evidently knew
the men pursuing the boy were po-
icenen. He had a right to assume
the policemen were engaged in the |
discharge of their legal duty, when
lie heard the reports of the police |
mems revolvers, saw the fleeing ne
gro and his torn garments and then
heard the command of one of the |
policemen to Shoot the -. -
Says Should Stand Trial.
"A number of witnesses declared |
they heard Armstrong say this. Yet
Armstrong and Brigham were so
close together it is possible Brig
ham is the man who used this Ian
guage, although l do not regard it
as very probable Brigham admits
that he shot twice and witnesses de-
clared one of the shots was aimed
directly at Scott.
Il think both Armstrong and
Brigham should stand trial for the
killing of this negro boy"
The police never have attempted
to show that Scott was guilty OF
any crime They have not contend
ed he even was suspected of any
wrongdoing. Sutton declared that
when he approached him on the
second floor of the Plaza hotel his
purpose was simply to talk to the
boy. Every member of the morals
squad, who participated in the hotel
raid. declared in response to the