St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1948-10-22
Men Charge
Police Arrest
Without Cause

marley MOTIFS, llU hyland North
Arrested Mems Story
McNeely claims that on the
night of October 10th at about
midnight, he was leaving a quiet
party at the home of his friend
Harley Morris, when he was &C.
costed by two policemen who
asked him why he was creating
a disturbance. He said he was
not creating a disturbance but
was on his way home. McNeely
claims the officers, Ray E. Shum-
way and Bernard E. Mclaughlin
punched him in the stomach,
struck him across the head with
a billy club and kicked him in
the shins, and threw him in the
squad car.
When Morris came out of the
house to inquire what was going
on in his front yard, Morris
claims the police shouted, shut
up or we'll punch you in the
mouth"
When he insisted on his right
to know what was going on, they
grabbed him and threw him in
the car. On the way to the station
the men claimed the officers
swore and tainted, sneering
That's what's the matter with
all you BIS. always doing
something and hollering racia,
prejudice"
When they got the men to the
jail, Morris says he handed one
Of the policemen his pen knife
The other policeman said, Give
him back his knife. It's not ar
illegal weapon and l hope the
BID cuts his throat with it,"
McNeely, who is a veteran
with many years army service
and a 20 percent disability be-
cause of a back injury, has just
had a cast removed from his
back and wears a back brace
says he pleaded with the police
man who was pushing him from
the rear with his knuckles in the
small of his back: why do you
have to manhandle and hurt me?
I'm not resisting arrest"
McNeely was booked for drunk
eness, and Morris for disorderly
conduct.
When the men were arraigned
Monday morning. c r.. Mendoza,
president of the Elks Civil Rights
League and Irene PAUL, execu-
tive secretary of the Civil Rights
Congress, informed Judge Will
liam Larson that their organiza-
tons were interested in the case,
and that if he written statements
of he defendants were true, il
was "the arresting officers and
not the defendants who should
be on trial" Harry L. Scott was
attorney for both men.
The trial took place on Tues
day and when Judge Larson
stated that he thought this case
did not differ substantially from
hundreds of oher disorderly con-
duct cases, Mrs. PAUL of the Civil
Rights Congress and Mr.. Mendo-
sa Of the Civil Liberties League
asked the Judge if they could say
a word. Before they were
silenced by the objections Of Leo
P. MCHale, the assistant city at
torney, they told the Court that
the case would not end with this
trial, that they believed the po-
liCemen were on trial before the
public. McHale objected on the
grounds that the men had coun-
sci.
They stated that it was time
someone challenged the right Of
officers to manhandle
citizens, kick them, beat them,
punch them in the stomach.
Judge Larson stated he would
take the case under advisement
and did not render his decision.
The Civil Rights Congress and
Civil Liberties League are con-
tinuing their work on the case.
A check of police department
records revealed officers Shum-
way and Mclaughlin went to the
Ave. address in re-
Spouse to a phone call. that there
was a fight at that address.
The officers say that as they
pulled up to the curb they saw
chasing a woman across
the porch.
They called him to the curb
to question him. AS they talked
to him, both officers said, Harley
Morris ran out to the squad car,
yelling so loudly that neighbors
came out Of the nearby dwell
ings.
Mclaughlin and Shumway ar
rested Morris. McNeely was ar
rested when he tried to intervene
in behalf of his host Morris. &C
cording to the police.
Both officers denied in court
that they were brutal in making
the arrests.