Year: 1875

How An rNoFFENsIvE CITIZEN WAS KEPT gEv-


ERAL DAYS IN FILTHY CELL.


very many charges Of brutality and outrage IN the
treatment Of peaceable law-abidng and inonensve
citizens have been made against the police OF this city,
but few, If indeed anyof aggravated nature
than the herein related have brought 70
the attention Of the public. From the facts below
stated seems perfectly clear that man. matter
what his position in life may be- safe from arrest
and detention in filthy cell at the station
house, II he chances to be found the
street after twelve O'Clock at night As though
Is were not enough that citizens should be
compelled to meeky submit TO insult, and all manner
OF uncvi usage At the hands Of the guardians OF the
peace with and then first class OF clubbing
thrown in, they Will learn that any bury ignorant
officer who so DESIRES throttle them the public
highway, drag them to prison, incarcerate them for
from thrtysx TO forty yeight hours and then dismiss
them with kick.


Mr.. John Cassidy is highly respectable gentleman,
who lives IN Williamsburg but does business in New
York He is fifty years of age and has been employed
for number Of years foreman for A. H. Richie,
printer and engraver Of No. 100 Liberty street Last
Friday the 24th nst he was absent from the printing
house the greater portion of the day. being engaged in
collecting some bills up town. He returned to the oice


LATE IN THE AFTERNOON
and was given money with which TO pay of three or
four hands who were TO call there at seven O'Clock.
His work having been neglected during his Absence he
concluded to at It and bring up before he went
home. The workmen who to receive their pay
did not come at seven O'Clock per agreement, but
MT Cassidy having found more to do than he had
anticipated continued to work until after two O'Clock
in The morning He then took his hat ana overcoa and
left the building, taking with him small picture and


frame he had purchased the day previous for the pur
pose OF presenting them to friend for Christmas
present on reaching the outer entrance he set down
his picture and turned to lock the door Just then
observed him and called him stop. He did
quested, and when the officer came up explained his
saying that he was EN- employed in the the baldins'
that he had been detained there at work and that the
picture be carried was his own. This, however, did
mot satisfy the mind ~ OF this brilliant officer, and he
laid hold OF Mr. Cassidy and marched him on TO the
station house. Acting Sergeant Flanagan at the
desk, and before him Keeling arragned his prisoner
Mr. Cassidy told TO the sergeant the story he had
related TO the o1icer This modern Vidocq, however,
eyed him suspclously . few moments and, as he
slowly shook his massive cranium remarked that the
narrative was "too thin II shall lock you up,n he
continued. Search him. officer" The officer now be-
gan rihng the prisoners pockets turning each wrong
side out and empying them of their entrc contents
All his private papers, his watch and money together
with that belonging to- the workmen, was taken from
him. Mr.. Cassidy meanwhile protested with


THE UTMOST vEHEMENCK,


but all to no avail He plead for opportunity to
send or telegraph for friend who could identify him.
but even this privilege was denied in brusque and in
decent manner.


Finding that all his protestations his peadings and
his entresties OF avail Mr. Cassidy had nothing
to do but TO quietly submit TO the ndgntes that
being heaped upon him and suffer himself to be led
down into the cellar and thrust into a cell already
cupied by two dirty tramps, who were in disgusting
state OF intoxicaton. The atmosphere OF the place,
always unwholesome was now rendered doubly nox-
ious by the unsavory emanatng from the bodies
OF the two drunken prisoners Indeed, so foul
was the air that Cassidy was compelled 10 stand with
his face close to the grating until half past o'clock
In the morning, when he was marched through the
streets TO the rombs Police Court Here he put in
the pen in Company with the lowest and vest class OF
drunkards and criminals until such time "Hs
Honor should be ready to dispose OF him. AT last the
nour arrived and he was led up TO the desks Justice
Bixby VAS on the bench, and, being hurry to get
home TO his Christmas dinner, could not OF course
spend much time investigating the charge against the
Mr. Cassidy had to say and then inquired IL he had any
person in court who could identify him. In view of
the manner in which he had been treated al the station
house Is not surprising that he compelled to
answer In the negative


''Well, sir shall remand you TO the station until to-
morrow Sunday morning and If you cannot then
establish your identity shall send you the Island.
Take him back.h He taken Blackjack to the
filthy cell he had occupied before and kept there until
the following morning. Meanwhile friend having
heard OF his predcament went to the Tombs and when
Cassidy again arraigned before the magistrate
ceeded in efecting his discharge.


From friday morning, when Mr.. Cassidy left his
home, until Sunday forenoon when he released
from the hands or the


'PINEsT POLICE WORLD


his family ignorant of his whereabouts. His abb
all day Christmas wholly inexplicabe to them
and when at last he returned IL only find his wife
prostrated from the effects OF nervousness and fright
His Christmas dinner in the cell at the station house
consisted OF sour bread soup and chunk Of corned
beef handed IN through the iron grating.


These are the facts OF the latest police outrage and
1t 10 not altogether pleasant to reflect that Mr. Cassdys
tate may be the fate Of any other citizen who chances
TO fall into the hands Of ignorant police officer
self wiled sergeant and hungry magistrate.