Michael Slavin complained that Officer Traviss of the Fifth Precinct had arrested him without legal cause, in Fourth street, Eastern District, on the 23rd of last May. Mr. Slavin saw some friends on the opposite side of the street, and called out to one of them that he was "going for him." Traviss thought the remark applied to him, and after exchange of a few verbal civilities the officer determined on arresting Slavin, which he did, and took him to the station house. On reaching there a charge of drunkeness was preferred against Mr. Slavin, but Sergeant Davis refused to take it, and the accused was discharged. Officer Chincester gave it as his opinion that Mr. Slavin had addressed officer Traviss, and that he had also told him to "go on you big sucker, you, go on." On his own behalf officer Traviss testified that he believed Slavin was drunk at the time, and that he would have arrested him had there been no aggrivating remarks made. The officer was proceeding to relate a story about his having arrested Slavin about seven years ago, but the story lost its interest when it was ascertained that he had not taken him to the station-house.
Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle, June 16, 1870.
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