The New York herald., 1921-11-21
MLKMEN SCORE COPS
in APPEAL TO HYLAN
To Charge Brutality and
Intimidation When Mayors
Aid Is Sought To-day.
BEATEN. SAYS WOMAN
Police Accused of Acting as
Strike Breakers and Even
Driving Wagons.
200 BACK, SAYS BOARD
Only 80 Desertions, Retorts
Secretary of Labor Or
ganization.
1900 BACK, SAYS BOARD

George w. Biggs, general auditor
and receiver of the Milk Drivers Union
Local 5S4, announced last night that
he will present to Mayor Hylan to-
day charges of brutality and intimida-
ton. in which will appear the names
OF Capt Patrick J. Gagan, commander
1 OF the West 125th street station; Ser
geant Patrick Sheridan, head of the
! Strong Arm squad, and at least a score
Of other policemen. Mr.. Biggs said
| that if the Mayor does not come to the
| aid of the strikers against what he
! termed the "Cossack-like tactics" of
the police. the strikers will appeal to
the courts to enjoin the police from
| interfering with the strikers constitu-
tional rights.
DR.. Anne E. Monteforte, a chiro-
practor OF 742 East 22Sth street, whose
father, brother and brother-in-law arc
striking millImen, said she would be
the principal complainant against Capt.
Gargan. She promised to display black
and blue marks on her arms which,
she charged she suffered Saturday
morning at the hands of the police
captain. DR.. Monteforte asserted that
Mrs. Joseph Perdy and Mrs. NJ. Por-
wich, who were present when the at
tack occurred, would accompany her
to the City Hall to corroborate her
charges.
Mr.. Briggs said that he would cite
two score instances in which policemen
have used their clubs and Dlackjacks
on strikers at milk plants in all parts
of the city, and that he would make the
charge that the police were being usea
by the milk companies as strike break
ers and would ask why policemen were
permitted TO drive milk wagons and
peddle milk in various parts of the city.
Says MiIkmen Get No Rights.
Every constitutional right OF the
strikers has been disregarded By the
police" Mr.. Briggs said. The strikers
could not hopc to receive worse treat
ment at the hands OF the Cossacks of
old Russia. The right of free assem-
blage has been denied to the strikers.
Their meetings have been broken up by
cite occurred not directly at the milk
plants. but in most instances many
blocks away. at the temporary head
quarters OF the strikers.
THUS far the strikers. save in q few
instances. have conducted their part of
the strike in the most orderly manner.
In fact. attention has been drawn 10 the
exceedingly small amount of violence.
What violence has occurred was due in
1...x .,.N 4.
mitted themselves to be used as agents
in acts of intimidation. Officers of milk
companies have ridden about the
streets, thanked by policemen, threaten
ing strikers with arrest IL they did not
return to work. Such tactics never be-
fore have been employed in labor con-
troversy in this city,"
Dr.. Monteforte, whose brother Joseph
was arrested yesterday morning on a
charge OF felonious assault. told re-
portcrs that she tried to complain 10
Capt. Gargan Saturday morning against
the way policemen had been clubbing
strikers at the 125th street plant of the
Sheffielc Farms Company Inc The
officer. she said, would not listen to her
and ordered that she move on" using,
she said, vile and abusive language.
When she pleaded for an audience, DR.
Monteforte said, the captain headed an
attack on her and a group Of fifteen
other women In which clubs were used
freely. Capt. Gargan, she charged
grabbed her so tightly by the arms that
she screamed with pain, but that he
refused TO let go OF her. although she
told him he was hurting her.
Two inspectors Get Charges,
The charges against Capt. Gargan. she
asserted. were laid Saturday afternoon
before Chief Inspector William ] Iabev
who referred them back TO Inspector
Cornellus Il. Cahalane, commander or
the Sixth Inspection District. DR.
Montefortc said she showed marks of
violence to Inspector Cahalane. and that
he promised to make an Investigation
The chiropractor asserted also that she
told the Inspector OF other clubbing cases
and that he expressed regret over such
occurrences and said the police had
been warned TO be neutral
|, Neither Capt. Gargan nor Sergeant
Sheridan could be found last night. The
Captain was reported "on post" at his
precinct, but he could not be located
Sergeant Sheridan, whose squad has a
rowing commission, was said to be out on
strike duty in some part of the city.
The New York Milk Conference Board
issued statement asserting the unions
admitted that more than 1900 of their
members had returned 10 work. This
Mr.. Briggs denied. saying there were but
eighty-two desertions. most of whom had
returned TO the union fold. The milk
board said distribution yesterday was
equal TO that OF saturday and that as
the days rolled by the conviction became
more firm that so far as the public was
concerned the milk strike is over.
The strikers will hold a meeting this
afternoon in Prospect Hall. Prospect
place, near Fifth avenue. Brooklyn. A
meeting was TO have been held yester-
day in the Brooklyn Labor .Lyceum. but
the hall could not be hired. Hundreds
OF strikers went to the lycoum and to
Arcadia Hall, Iialsey street and Broad
way. In search OF the innntin,r t,,. .r..l