Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-02-15

ARREST OF
DERICKSON
CONTINUED From First Page,

John 8. Hamilton. OF this city. q
friend OF the family:
"Marshallton. Feb. 10. ieei.
Mr.. Hamiton--Dear Sir: The
facts OF the case or Saturday were
as follows:
Les was coming out Chestnut
street and was run into at Broome
street crossing. The machine wa
badly damaged and Les 90 badly
injured that ne is in bed and unable
70 move without assistance, under
the attendance OF Doctor John Ball.
In spite OF his serious condition an
officer appeared OF the scene and
ordered Les 20 go with him 20 the
city hall.
/ Les asked 70 be allowed 70 phone
home or to call someone 20 care for
| his machine as there were things OF
value IN Il but this was not allowed
( him. He told the officer he could
/ get plenty Of mon I'm Wilmington
/ TO vouch for him and asked 60 be
/ taken 90 the Plunkett house close
10 the place OF accident. for the
Plunkett family had known him IN
business way for years. This WINS
also denied him.
A young business man Of New
port who knew Les slightly. hap
pened to drive up and told the Of
hcer he knew his man and that he
was hurt and that ne would take
him home and get his license cards
and bring them back 20 the City
hall.
Unfortunately Les had for
gotten his license cards and that
wac the reason for all the trouble.
The oficer ordered him 20 come
along. took him two squares and
called the patrol. even asked 20
smell his breath, evidently thinking
chat he was drunk. and treating
him accordingly.
when the patrol came Les was
suffering so he could hardly stand
on his feet IN Il. The officer in patrol
put handouts on him. The blood
was streaming from his wounds ana
ne was unable 20 wipe 81 away and
Il dripped all over his clothing.
Mind you, Mr.. Hamilton, Les was 20
badly hurt and never by word or
manner resisted the officer, yet was
treated like a bum. Is Il aliy Won
der his family is furiOus?"
The officers took him 70 the City
Hall and marched him in handouts
20 the desk where he was ques-
toned and ordered 20 appear Mon
day morning at $40 o'clock.
Les asked 10 use the phone 20 call
his family. which they allowed. but
ordered him to hurry up for some
one else might need Il. OF course
he was free 20 go after this, but he
was in no condition 20 go on the
street for medical attention. so he
remained at the City Hall until we
went for him.
Il Is reported IN Wilmington that
Les was drunk. but OF course that
does not bother us much for peo-
pie who know him also know that
Re does not know the taste OF liquor.
The country Is in an uproar about
Il and want Lester 10 take the mat
ter 10 court. but you know Mr.. Ham
ilton all he would gain would be
the removal possibly OF one or two
little men from the police force, but
we feel that we want II put before
the public because OF the indigni-
ties heaped on Les. and perhaps II
the police set a far they might he
Just a little more courteous 70
travellers.
They dld not allow him TO try 70
remove the blood after ne asked 20
do so. We took him 20 Doctor I
Crum baugh. who can tell you what |
condition he found him in.
have given a lengthy account F..
OF Les condition simply TO show I
that he was unable 20 put up a fight |
even n he was that kind OF a man. /
received a phone call on Sun
day saying that they were satisfied .
that Mr.. Derrickson was entitled 20 .
operate a car and need not appear .
IN Monday. asked them what I
satisfied them, for they refused 10 +
look AT his cards. which our son
took IN TO them on Saturday when
he went for his father.
Doctor John Ball IL attending
Les and while here yesterday called
chief Black and asked what they
meant by such an outrage: that Les
8 one Of the best citizens OF MIL
'reek hundred, a person who never
lad trouble with any one, man
Who never had drank drop OF
liquor, and yet he was treated Ike
! bum.
The law allows a man twenty-four
hours TO produce his cards. Les
ould have produced his in an hours
ime and had no wish to evade the
aw in any way.
Our only complaint Is them treat
ng him as a criminal for such
minor offence and he wac the inno-
ent one in the accident.
The people OF this community
Irge that the report be put in all
he newspapers. Thanking you for
our kindness. Yours truly.
MRS. DERRICKSON.
Mr.. Hamilton, in forwarding cop
es Of Mrs. Derickson's letter TO the
newspapers, said:
Il might have commented on this,
ut. does It need any comment? Do
lot the startling, salient facts in this
sitter from this good woman about
his outrage on this good man, tell
heir own story and say more than
could possibly say l think they
10.
JOHN S. HAMILTON"
When Superintendent OF Police =
black was spoken to about the in
ident today. he said that he had dis I
used the case with the Police De
artment directors and had also Z
romised Mr.. Derickson's physician
hat the case would be inquired into
7hen the condition of the injured
nan warranted him to leave his
ed.