Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-11
Detectives Bound Over to Dis
trict Court on MansIaughter
Charge to Remain on Duty
Pending Trial.
NEGROES INDIGNANT AT
ACTION OF POLICE HEAD
Meeting Will Be Held and
Mayor Requested to Suspend
Officers Following Refusal Of
Ringer to Keep Agreement.

nlIiYeI " Nccp HYi CC'iI0'II'
City Detectives George Arm
strong and George Brigham, who
were bound over yesterday in police
court on a charge of manslaughter
for the murder of Eugene Scott, the
negro bellboy who was killed last
week in a police raid on the Plaza
hotel, will not be suspended pend
ing the outcome of their trials in dis
trict court.
Police Commissioner Ringer gave
out statement to this effect last
night.
Mr.. Ringer is said to have agreed
to suspend the two officers in the
event they were held at the pre-
liminary hearing. This was the un-
derstanding reached Saturday pur-
suant to conference between a
committee representing the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People and city officials.
Confer With Officials.
The members of the committee
from the association, headed by c.
c. Galloway, were given pledge
the detectives would be suspended
if they were bound over, provided
the organization would take no ac-
ton in the matter pending the re-
suit of the preliminary hearing, ac-
cording to the report rendered by
the committee at a meeting held
Sunday at St. Johns church, and
attended by $50 representatives of
the colored race.
On the strength of this promise
made by the city authorities it was
unanimously voted to grant the re-
quest.
Commissioner Ringer has ignored
the agreement.
Gives Out Statement.
"These officers have borne a good
reputation" Ringer declares in a
statement over his signature in ex-
planation of his reputation of the
agreement with the colorcd peoples
association. Our laws assume
every man to be innocent until he is
proven guilty, and I cannot in jus
tice deprive these men and theiN
families of livelihood on the mere
assumption that they are guilty be-
cause they are charged with crime.
Unless the facts of guilt are clear
and convincing, it will be my policy
to retain men charged with an Of
fense under the law until the proper
tribunal has found them guilty as
charged. | have made a careful in
vestigation in this case, and do not
feel that the facts in my possession
warrant suspension of these Of
hcers."
Claim Misrepresentation.
II am at loss to understand the
meaning of the statement of the po-
lice commissioner" declared Rev.
John Albert Williams, president of
the Omaha branch of the National
Association for the Advancement
of Colored People. "In the light of
the testimony submitted at the in
quest and at the preliminary hear
ing l feel that any right-thinlsing
man would conclude Officers Arm
strong and Brigham are unfit to
walk the streets of / civilized city
armed with deadly weapons.
Some one at the city hall has
misrepresented things to US. We
shall 60 into the matter further and
if there is any possible way to rid
Omaha of these irresponsible of
fcers. it certainly will be done. l
make this statement in orsideration
of innocent persons regardless of
color.
Will Ignore Ringer.
"Just what course we vii! follow
| will be definitely determined at the
regular weekly meeting to be held
| next Sunday. An appeal will be
made to Mayor Smith and the other
members of the city council. Mr..
Ringer has abused Our confidence
and l think he should be ignored i'll
all of our future transactions"
Rev. Mr.. Williams declared they
would advise with attorneys, and if
all other means failed, nandamus
proceedings would be instituted
against the police commissioner to
compel hin; to suspend Armstrong
and Brigham.
Held to District Court.
Detectives George Armstrong
and George Brigham, and Edgar
Holman. private watchman for the
| Union Pacific railroad. yesterday
were bound over in police court for
| trial in district court on a charge
of manslaughter for the murder of
Eugene Scott, the negro bellboy,
who was killed last week following
police raid on the Plaza hotel,
The bonds were fixed at $1,000
each.
| Holman waived the preliminary
| fNonf;ru.a An pa~n Tu.o rzI,,,~n~ ThrAA \