OCR Text |
Show SULLIVAN'S PETITION RECEIVEH1D TILED Commissioner Wells Scores Police Brutality; Donnelly Donnel-ly Still at Large. ! The petition of J. T. Sullivan forsan investigation in-vestigation of his beating by former Policeman John Donnelly was "received j and filed" 3resterday by the city commis-I commis-I slon, the case being thereby closed so j far as the commission is concerned. But little discussion preceded the action taken. Commissioner Hcber M. Wells took occasion to reiterate his unqualified opposition to a policy under which Chief J. Parley White is permitted' to instruct policemen to beat any persons of any class whatsoever. He insists that the police should not be permitted to usurp the functions of the courts and that brutality Is inexcusable. Action on the filing of the petition was taken without any formal review of the evidence brought out at the hearing accorded ac-corded Sullivan concerning his charges that various members of the police force were witnesses to his brutal punishment at the hands of the man who is now a fugitive from justice, having fled Immediately Imme-diately upon being informed that a warrant war-rant for his arrest was in the hands of the sheriff. In the meantime the search for Donnelly Is being continued both in and out of the state by the sheriffs office. of-fice. Donnelly is charged with assault and battery under color of authority of an officer of the law. Sullivan has threatened to sue the citv, but City Attorney W. H. Folland said yesterday that he did not think that Sullivan Sul-livan could recover damages from the city, although the alleged beating took place In the public safety building. "In a similar case instituted bv Guv C, Boyle in 1S97," said Mr. folland. "it was held that the city could not he sued in such cases." |