Year: 1873




NEW YORK, Dec. Is, 1873. I
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-


hereby wish to seek some information through
your valuable paper in regard to the rights of a
citizen VS.. the police. On the 26th OF November
last, between the hours OF hali-past ten and eleven
p. NJ, my attention was called 10y the cry OF a
child, and found, going into tine hall of my
house, a child between seven and nine months old,
also small bundle of clothes, apparently aban-
doned by the owner. then went out on the SIDE
walk to see il / could find the mother or any per-
son who may have owned the child, but could see
no one then went In search OF policeman, but
could not find one within a few blocks OF my resi-
dence. then entered my house and got a club,
and went out on the sidewalk and gave two raps
with 1T as call for assistance from some police
ofcer. After had raped saw party OF four
or six men across the street, In the act OF entering
liquor store, who called over TO me to know
what was rappng for at first gave no answer,
until they came close to me- On then again being
asked told them 1 was rapping for police officer,
when one OF the party said to me, "what do you
want an officer for2 Here Is one" Then another
OF the party said TO me, 'D0 you know you are
allowed 10 rap with club, and II you do 1t again
snail arrest your then said, ''No; II you are an
officer come and take TINS child which have found,
and II nave done anything wrong and laid my
self liable TO arrest then arrest me. and don't
reprmand me here on the street., This nerson
then took hold Of me and told to come along
10 the Eighteenth precinct station house. ana on
the way there delivered me over 70 an officer In
uniform. then asked the oficer who the person
was that arrested me at first. He then informed
me 1t was Captain lyman, OF the Eighteenth pre-
cnct. When / arrived at the station house he
Captain lyman told the sergeant in command TO
put me down as q prisoner. i then asked him II
could not talk or explain this matter over
reasonably, and he said no and forbade
me to say another word. ! then told
him he could not prevent me from speaking,
and in the presence OF the Sergeant / asked him TO
let me know what he arrested me for. | then
stated the circumstances again before the SER
geant, as related above, In regard TO finding the
child and rapplng Tor an officer and then asked the
captain also whether he was going to send an
oficer after the cAd, which at my residence,
and he said, "No; II IS none OF your business what
/ do with t.N Alter apoioglling TO the captain he
discharged me, when asked for the return OF my
club wnicn | had used In rapping. This request
in to tile property clerk at Police Headquarters
| am led TO believe that Captain lyman has appro-
prlated 1t to his own use. On my return TO my
residence an Otiicer accompanied me and TOOK
away the unfortunate child.


Alter q good deal Of trouble and loss OF time to
me went 10 Police Headquarters, and seeing Mr..
seth &. Hawley, Chief Clerk, he informed me that
had done my duty as citizen in rapping and ad-
vsed me TO make complaint against captain
lyman. After more difficulty succeeded in seeing
Commissioner Gardner, who advised me to make
formal complaint which j did. On Monday, the
18TH inst again went 10 Police Headquarters,
determined to have justice, ana asked about my
case, but could ascertain nothing about IL, except
that some OF the Board would take no notice OF IL,
leaving the inference that politics had superseded
Justice


Now, Mr.. Editor was IL right for me to leave the
child in the cold 10 freeze TO DEATH act as did,
and again, is justice In New York played outf
Yours respectfully, d. +. FULLE.