The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer

The Intelligencer.

Something for Steubenville Policemen to Read.

One of the New York policemen was recently brought before the Police Commissioners on the charge of maltreating a prisoner, when the following colloquy took place:

Commissioner—The charge is that you assaulted and beat this man with your club without cause. Did you strike him with your club?

Officer—I struck him on the back.

Commissioner—What for?

Officer—Disorderly conduct. A crowd was standing in front of No. 39 Sullivan street. They insult everybody. It's hard to keep them away unless you give them the stick.

Commissioner—What! you give them the stick?

Officer—Yes.

Commissioner—You mean that you club them?

Officer—Yes.

Commissioner—Where did you hit him?

Officer—On the back. There was a crowd on the sidewalk, and I said, "Get away from here," and struck him.

Commissioner—You are a fine officer to use a club. You have convicted yourself by your own statement.

Captain Williams here interposed, and interrupted the Commissioner.

"The officer has got to use the stick, as they say, on those people."

Commissioner—I will not have the club used at all, except in self-defense, and I don't want any such orders given to the men. The club is used by officers too indiscriminately. The police force must be given to understand that they are to use the club only in defending themselves when attacked or in dispersing mobs. If a person commits a breach of the peace, he must be arrested, but the officers must not use their clubs indiscriminately. They must exercise discretion. If they are placed in bodily danger, they must use their clubs, and that promptly, but not otherwise. I do not want any orders issued to the men to use their clubs except in such cases.

Captain Williams—He had my orders to keep the sidewalks clear. The parties were occupying the sidewalk to the exclusion of passers-by. An officer cannot enforce his orders if he don't use the stick. The man O'Donnell has no character, at least, no good character. He hangs round Sullivan street. It's no use to arrest them; a small fine is only imposed, and they are there again the next night.

Commissioner—Officers have no right to take the law in their own hands. If you cannot keep the streets clear, take the whole platoon, or the whole force of your precinct, and, if necessary, telegraph to the Superintendent for aid, but I will not allow officers to club people indiscriminately and without cause. The case is referred to the Board.