African Americans -- New York (State) -- New York; Riots -- New York (State) -- New York
I reside at No. 323 West 37th Street, in the Borough of Manhattan. I
am a cigar maker, and am employed by Gahio & Roverie, on East 37th
Street. On Wednesday, August 15th, 1900, at about eight P. M.,
accompanied by my wife, I called at the residence of Thomas H. McGuire,
a friend of mine who resides at No. 410 West 36th Street, where we
remained until about 11:15 P. M. We walked east on 36th Street
to 8th Avenue, where we met four police officers in uniform on the
northwest corner. We passed them and turned into 8th Avenue, walking on
the west side of the avenue, towards 37th Street. We had not gone over
fifty feet when the officers ran after us and beat us with their clubs.
One of the officers said to me. "You black son of a b----, you have a
knife!" and struck me on the head with a club several times, and then
led us to the station house. There we were searched by the officer, who
took eleven dollars in money--two two-dollar bills, one five-dollar
bill, and two one-dollar bills--one rent receipt for thirteen dollars
and fifty cents for August, signed by Herbert Peck & Co., none of
which has been returned to me. The sergeant, in uniform, was behind
the desk, and the roundsman made the entry. I was charged with being
drunk and carrying a knife. My head was bleeding profusely from the
wounds inflicted by the police officers, and the police surgeon at the
station house had to dress them. After this I was placed in a cell. The
next morning I was arraigned in the Magistrates' Court on West 54th
Street. The officer swore that I was drunk and disorderly and carried
a knife. The magistrate held me in $500 bail, and I was bailed by Mr.
Garner. I was not drunk on the occasion in question. I had drunk three,
and positively not more than four, glasses of beer at Mr. McGuire's
house. I did nothing which would justify this conduct on the part of
the police officers. On August 23rd an officer called at my house. He
said he was generally known as "Bootsey," and was sent by the Captain
to obtain a statement from me, which I gave him. He was in citizen's
clothes. He called again on August 24th, and said that Captain Cooney
wanted to see me at the station house. I did not go to see him.
JAMES JOSEPH LOCKETT.
Sworn to before me this 28th day of August, 1900.
STEPHEN B. BRAGUE, Notary Public (125), N. Y. County.
----
_City and County of New York, ss._:
Lavinia Lockett, being duly sworn, deposes and says:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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