THIRD DEGREE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1932, Page 7

THIRD DEGREE

INSTANCE AT NEW YORK. COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE. New York, July 19 With eyes blackened and bodies bruised three prisoners at the inquiry into the death of Hyman Stark painted gruesome pictures of “third degree” methods used on them by the police. Their evidence was borne out by police and prosecutors. The three men were Stark’s companions, Isse Stein, Alexander Drangcl and Philip Cacala. Stein said: “We were handcuffed to headquarters’ chairs. Four detectives beat us with rubber hose and ‘black Jacks,’ and threatened to kill us unless we confessed.” Cacala said: “We were taken to a cellar. Stark lay on the floor, bleeding. A detective swung a hose on him, then he beat me again.” The assistant-prosecutor, Mr. Littleton, testified: “Deputy Police-Chief Tappen admitted to me, ‘Stark was the toughest man I ever saw. I stood with one foot on his neck and the other on his body, and rocked him back and forth.’ ”

Detective Hizemski said: Yes; I grabbed Stark like this and hit him with my right hand.” Thirteen'policemen, 12 of whom were identified by the prisoners as the attackers, have been suspended pending the result of -the inquiry'. The four men were arrested on suspicion of robbing and beating Detective Hizemski’s mother. Stark's larynx was broken, allegedly by the police, during the application df the “third degree” for eight hours.