Sworn to before me this 5th day of September, 1900.
GEO. P. HAMMOND, JR., Notary Public (164), N. Y. County.
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_City and County of New York, ss._:
Miss Belle Johnson, being duly sworn, deposes and says:
I reside at 275 West 39th Street. On Wednesday evening, August 15th,
1900, between nine and ten o'clock, I heard a disturbance in the
street, and going to my window on 8th Avenue I saw a crowd of people on
the sidewalk, and saw them rush toward a Negro boy who was standing on
the corner (northeast corner 39th Street and 8th Avenue) and beat him.
He rushed into a delicatessen store on 8th Avenue, but was thrust out
by the proprietor. When he reached the sidewalk two officers grabbed
him and clubbed him and then pushed him into the crowd, saying with an
oath, "Run now, for your life!" He then ran to 39th Street and east on
39th Street with fully one hundred people after him. Right after this
occurrence a colored man came along, and after being attacked by the
mob was knocked over towards four police officers who were standing
on the corner, one of whom was Officer 6312. All four of the officers
then rushed for this man and clubbed him unmercifully about the head
and body. I could not stand the sight any longer and shouted to the
officers that it was a shame when police officers, who were supposed
to be protecting peaceable citizens, assaulted them in such a brutal
manner. About this time they ceased clubbing the man and thrust him
out into the crowd of rioters. This sort of thing continued during the
entire night, and until the next day, as at nine A. M., when
I went out on an errand, I saw a colored man, who was carrying a small
sign, beaten by a crowd of roughs. I saw a number of colored persons
struck who were riding on the cars, and at least six colored men
clubbed by the police during this time.