MUST NOT ASSAULT
THEIR PRISONERS.
POLICEMEN MUST SUBMIT TO ALL
VERBAL ABUSE.
Board Issues Instructions Regarding
When a Man May or May Not
Club or Slap a Person
Under Arrest.
According to a ruling made in a case before the police commissioners at their meeting yesterday, an officer will in future take abuse from persons placed under arrest, and shall not use force to stop such abuses unless the person under arrest shows fight or refuses to be taken to the police station. Patrolman J. J. Waters was before the board charged with hitting Ray W. McMillan, a boy of 18 years old, in the face with his fist. He was suspended for three days, and told hereafter to refrain from hitting a person unless he gave more cause than abusive talk.
Officer Waters testified that McMillan called him names and told a comrade, who was arrested at the same time, not to answer questions asked by the officer. According to McMillans testimony he did these things, but Waters struck him in the mouth because he did and he wanted the officer removed from the police force. McMillan was arrested about midnight at Westport avenue and Main street not long ago.
