New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-04
'Iighe Victim
Exposes Police
Malta System
Business Man Tes.ifes He
Was Beaten and Ordered
to Keep Silent or Police
Would "Crucify'' Him
Lips Sealed by Fear
Meyer Committee TO I'm.
mask Brutalities Employ
ed Under Hvlan Regime

Ouuer HyIan Regime
orueai tactics employed by the Po-
lice Department under the Hvlan adj
ministration are to be investigated by
the Meyer Legislative committee. The
committee so decided yesterday after
It had obtained further evidence of the
alleged blackjack methods of Detec-
tive Charles f. Tighe, who is charged
with assauitlng more than q score of
men, women and children last Thurs
day.
John William Black, assistant gen
erai purchasing agent OF the National
Anime and Chemical Company, testi-
ned before the committee at So Park
Row yesterday that while coming out Of
the Century Roof Garden with Captain
Sheldon Wttlesly, of Opelik, Ala, one
night he was bounced upon by Tighe,
beaten until he was senseless and, on
being taken to police station hand
cutfed, was not permitted to communi-
cate with counsel. All he was asked.
said Mr.. Black, was whether he had
$500 cash bail.
Tighe's Record To Be Probed
After Mr.. Black had given his testi-
nlony as a volunteer witness, Senator
Schuyler NJ. Meyer, chairman OF the
committee said he was convinced that
many other brutal attacks by TlZhe
had not yet been brought to light As
result, he said. the committee would
begin at once an investigation of the
whole subject of alleged manhandling
of citizens by the police.
Mr.. Blacks story reveals one of the
most amazing pieces of brutality by
the police that has been brought to
the attention of this committee" said
Senator Meyer "Mr. Black appeared
UNFAIRLY as citizen because he
vas persuaded for the first time that
an agency was at hand to protect him
from the vengeance which Tighe's as
sociates promised if he made any at
tempt to secure redress. 1t is a shock
ing indication of the collapse of police
morale and discipline that an incident
such as befell Mr. Black could 60 un-
investigated.
why did not the police lieutenant
who saw Black take action in the
matter? Why was the case not brought
before the precinct commander? Why
was it not reported to Headquarters Z?
The only answer to these questions. ap-
parently, is that the Police Depart
ment under Commissioner Enright
backs policeman against citizen
MIR. Blacks story seems to reveal
the tactics of police Mafia'
Mr. Black testified that when he was
attacked by Tighe Captain Wittlesly.
who attempted to protect his friend,
also was struck. Mr.. Black was so
stunned that he could not recognize
what police station he was taken to-
Beaten in Police Station
At the police station, the witness
said, Tighe continued to beat him. al
though police captain and several
men in uniform looked on.
Some one kicked me IN the face
when | was on the floor and broke my
nose," continued Mr.. Black. at was
then after O'Clock in the morning.
They asked me to put up bail of $500.
phone to my home, but they would not
let me. They held me until 10 o'clocl:
the next morning, when l was fined 50
for resisting an officer
Mr.. Black said Tighe declared the
police would cruelty" him if he did
not say he was injured in falling down
stairs.
Did you ever make complaint to
the Police Department asked Senator
Meyer
II did not. If you had gone through
night like that you would want moth
ing more to do with the Police Depart
ment,'
More Assaults Charged
Four additional charges of assault
were fled against Tighe before Magis-
trate George W. Simpson, in West Side
Court yesterday. The compliments
were Mrs Catherine Gaiety, 435 IVES,
Fortythird Street; Mrs. Emma Len
non, 561 West Fiftieth Street; Mrs.
Ella Fitzgerald. 1929 West Forty third
Street. and Charles Green, the crippled
negro bootblack
Counsel for Tighe made & motion to
dismiss the charge of assault brought
by Mrs Gaiety, who had testified that
Tighe had attacked her husband and
then had returned and attacked her
while she held her baby in her arms
She said he thrust her into the rear
room Of the saloon at Ninth Avenue
and Forty third Street, with his other
"prisoners."
The court denied the motion to dis
miss the charge and further denounced
Tighe from the bench. Magistrate
Simpson said:
THE evidence satisfies me that Mrs
Gaiety for no reason whatever was
pushed into the back room of the place,
and that she lodged what she properly
believed was q blow from Tighe, who
carried a black Jack. II there is one
thing citizens have a right to expect
il IS safety on The streets. especially
at the hands Of sworn officers of the
peace"