Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-14
CHARGES
AGAINST OFFICER
AFTER ARREST
Tailor Employed Here for 80
Years Alleges Brutal
Treatment by City
Detective.


Ringer continues and prolongs his
mysterious swing around the circle
Of other cities, presumably in search
Of out-of-town talent to assist him
and other heads OF his department
to straighten out the demoralized
state Of affairs OF the Omaha police
department, complaints of outraged
citizens who have suffered indigni-
ties and abuse at the hands of in
competent and lawless policemen
daily are being received.
Following on the heels Of the
charges filed Friday by c. w.
Clark, business man and respected
citizen of Union, Neb., who was
thrown in Jail without cause, held
without bonds or trial for three days
and insulted by Police Judge Fos-
ter, w. E. Forgrade, tailor, en-
ployed by the Lohrman ladies' tai
Tors. 1920 Farnam street, filed
charges yesterday morning at the
municipal building against a city
detective, who subjected him to an
experience similar to that suffered
by Mr.. Clark at the hands of two
Omaha police officers.
Insulted and Abused. .
MIR. Forgrade declared he was in
suited by the policeman, cursed,
hurled into corner, accused of be-
ing 4 thief and taken to the sta
ton in = police patrol, when he HAD
not committed the slightest offense.
Mr.. Forgrade had been given a
bolt Of suit cloth to take to the Star
Cleaners, Fifteenth and Dodge
streets, to have pressed before it
was made into garments. The de-
tective was in the cleaning estab-
iishment when the man entered and
placed the bolt Of goods on the
counter He was waiting until the
clerk to whom he wanted to speak
finished waiting on customer,
when the detective approached him
and began to examine the cloth
The officer is said to have asked
number of insinuating questions,
and when Mr.. Forgrade demanded
TO know on what authority he was
being so closely Intercepted, the
policeman is said to have displayed
his star.
Il told the fellow who | was and
how he could confirm my state.
ment," Mr.. Forgrade declared. I'm
mediately he became abusive. He
seized me and backed me into a
corner. He called me the vilest
names possible for man to think
of and then he phoned for the pa
troll wagon" (
Mr.. Forgrade declared he asked
the officer to telephone his employer
and the whole thing would be
slaughtered out in q moment, but
the officer refused to do 90.
Mr.. Forgrade's employer declared
he also would appear before the city
commissioner and complain OF the
outrageous treatment accorded his
employe.
Mr.. Forgrade has been working
in Omaha for 20 years at his trade.
He was born in Council Bluffs and
received an honorable discharge
after IS years in the army. He was
never accused of crime before.
John T. Dunn, chief of detectives,
permitted the abused man to use the
telephone at the police station.
Harry Lohrman, proprietor of the
establishment for which Mr.. For
grade works, Immediately convinced
the chief of detectives that mis-
take had been made. s...
Mr.. Forgrade was given his lib
erty at once. However, so far as
isl known. the detective was not
even taken to, task for his conduct.
Can Identify Detective.
The victim of the officers attack
and abuse declares he sees the de-
tective every day and can identify
him without the slightest difficulty.
Il am almost positive ! know his
name," he asserted, but / shall
make sure that am absolutely cor
rect before l take 4 chance on doing
any one an Injustice"