Evening star., 1925-03-10
ACCUSED OFFICERS
DENY HITTING DAVIS
Counsel Admits Prisoner Was
Whipped, But Claims In
dicted Police Absent.

Testimony tending to show that Ar
thur A. Davis, blacksmith, was Sc
verely beaten while a prisoner at No.
precinct station September p last
after he had surrendered following his
attack on Officer Musselman earlier in
the day was offered today at the trial
before Justice Hoehling and a Jury in
Criminal Division 1 of Joseph W. Pier
son. lieutenant Of the precinct, and
Ralph G. Proctor, a private assigned
to the station, on a charge OF assault
with a dangerous weapon. The case
grows out of an inquiry by the grand
jury into alleged third degree" meth
DDS of police.
The accused officers, through Attor-
neys William E. Leahy and Lucien H
Vandoren. in outlining their defense
to the jury admitted that Davis had
been beaten, but denied they had any
part in It. Pierson, according to
counsel, was out Of the station at the
time. and Proctor was at the third
precinct station delivering a prisoner
Counsel for the defense also pointed out
that Davis had made contradictory
statements. declaring positively at
one time that Proctor had nothing to
do with the assault, and later saying
he had recognized him among his as
sailants.
Identffy Marks on Body.
Assistant United States Attorney
Ffheliy, who is in charge of the
prosecution, today called to the wit
ness stand DIR. Waldo Zambrano, who
received Davis in Gallinger Hospital
the afternoon following the assault;
Miss Halle Frame, a nurse at the
hospital, and Mrs. Mary Ryan and
Mrs. Irene ,LaDain, sisters of Davis.
who visited him at the hospital and
told of the wounds and hrlises re-
sulting from the assault. A photo
graph of Davis, stripped TO the waist,
was shown to the witness, who iden-
tified the marks of the bruises.
DR.. Zambrano- sai id he treated Davis
and his examination disclosed three
or four bumps on the head, apparent
ly from blunt instrument used with
in "a hours. There were seven or
eight bruises on the body of the
patient which might have been caused
by rubber hose or some blunt in
strument, he declared. Davis showed
signs OF increased pain when taking
a long breath and complained of pain
when asked to move his arms.
Miss Frame. the nurse. gave similar
a
policeman was left on guard over
Davis the nurse could not recall.
Would you not be able to say
whether big, burly officer sat at
the side of the bed?" inquired At
torney Leahy.
"Oh. we don't pay any attention to
them" responded the witness. The
answer drew ripple of laughter
from the spectators and the bailif
had to rap for order.
Sister Identifies Wounds.
Mrs. LaDain, sister of Davis, told
Of seeing her brother at the hospital
on the Sunday after the assault. She
described the wounds and Identified
the photograph displaying them.
Two days later she called with her
husband and took Davis from the
hospital to his home. On that occa-
sion she was given the undershirt
and top shirt worn by her brother.
which she also identified, and which
contain marks Of dirt stains. indi-
eating. according to the prosecution,
that Davis was dragged along the
hoor by his assailants
The witness told of ACCOMPANYING
her sister-in-law, the wife of Davis.
to the station to ask for an inter-
view with her brother. Mrs. Davis.
the witness said. inquired of Police
man Poole at the desk about Davis
and was answered from an adjoining
room by Ralph Proctor Mrs. Davis
told Proctor, she stated, that he
should not use such language toward
her, declaring. Il am a lady" Proc
tor answered, according to the wit
ness: You cannot prove 1t by me-"
When reference was made to send
ing Davis to the hospital the witness
asserted Proctor remarked, IF he was
dead 1t would not be too good for
him."