under the leadership of Capt. John Bonfield, indulged in a brutality never equalled before; that even small merchants, standing on their own doorsteps and having no interest in the strike, were clubbed, then hustled into patrol wagons, and thrown into prison, on no charge and not even booked; that a petition signed by about 1,000 of the leading citizens living on and near West Madison street, was sent to the mayor and city council, praying for the dismissal оf Bonfield from the force, but that, on account of his political influence, he was retained. Let me say here, that the charge of brutality does not apply tо all оf the policemen of Chicago. There are many able, honest and conscientious officers who do their duty quietly, thoroughly and humanely.
As a specimen of the many papers filed in this connection, I will give the following, the first being from the officers of a corporation that is one of the largest employers in Chicago:
Chicago, Nov. 21, 1885.
To the Chairman of the Committee, Chicago Trades and Labor Assembly:
Sir: In response to the request of your committee for information as to the treatment received by certain employees of this company at the hands of Captain Bonfield, and by his orders, during the strike of the Western Division Railway Company's employees in July last, you are advised as follows:
On that day of the strike, in which there was apparently an indiscriminate arresting of persons who happened to be up on Madison street, whether connected with the disturbance of the peace or engaged in legitimate business, a number of employees of this company were at work upon said street, near Hoyne avenue, opening a trench for the laying of gas pipe.
The tool box of the employees was at the southeast corner of Hoyne and Madison street. As the men assembled for labor, shortly before 7 a. m., they took their shovels and tools from the tool box, arranged themselves along the trench preparatory to going to work when the hour of seven should arrive. About this time, and a little before the men began to work, a crowd of men, not employees of this company, came surging down the street from the west, and seizing such shovels and other tools of the men as lay upon the ground and about the box, threw more or less of the loose dirt, which before had been taken from the trench, upon the track of the railway company. About this time Captain Bonfield and his force appeared upon the scene, and began apparently an indiscriminate arrest of persons. Among others arrested were the following employees of this company: Edward Kane, Mike W. Kerwin, Dan Diamond, Jas. Hussey, Dennis Murray, Patrick Brown and Pat Franey. No one of these persons had any connection with the strike, or were guilty of obstructing the cars of the railway company, or of any disturbance upon the street. Mr. Kerwin had just arrived at the tool box and had not yet taken his shovel preparatory to going to work, when he was arrested while standing by the box, and without resistance was put upon a street car as prisoner. When upon the car he called to a friend among the workmen, saying: "Take care of my shovel." Thereupon Bonfield struck him a violent blow with a club upon his head, inflicting a serious wound, laying open his scalp, and saying as he did so: "I will shovel you," or words to that effect. Another of the said employees, Edward Kane, was also arrested by the tool box, two of the police seizing
