“The man had been confined in the county jail, and the return of the sheriff, when the prisoner was brought into court, read: ‘Edward H. has been detained in my custody at the request of J. K., Chief of Police for the city of Chicago.’ Judge Brentano evinced great displeasure when he read the return of the illegal detainment of the prisoner. ‘A man,’ said the court, ‘cannot be held at the simple request of K. or any other person. K.’s word is not sufficient to keep any man in custody. I won’t tolerate any such actions, for if the man was guilty of shooting an officer, or committing any other crime, Mr. K. has had sufficient time and knows how to take the proper steps to punish the prisoner.’
“‘The court certainly would not allow this man his liberty when he is under arrest and has not been booked or complained against before a justice of the peace owing to the neglect perhaps of such a high official as Mr. K.,’ remarked the assistant city prosecuting attorney.
“‘I certainly would, regardless of whose neglect it is,’ said the court. ‘The prisoner is discharged.’
“No witnesses were heard, the prisoner being discharged on the ground that it was shown in the return of the sheriff that H. was simply being detained to please Chief K.
“Attorney D. had witnesses in court to show that the prisoner had been beaten and injured by the police who arrested him, both before his arrival at the Twenty-second street station and after he was installed in a cell at that place.
“Prisoners who were in the station at the time H. was taken there were in court to testify that the officers who had charge of the prisoner beat and struck him in such a manner that they thought H. would be killed.
“The prisoner’s face and condition in court were the best evidences of the treatment he had received.
“Both of his eyes are closed, swollen and discolored to such a degree that they stand out in bold contrast to his own color, which is a dark copper. Two gashes, each six inches long, on the top and front of his head bear testimony to the means said to have been used by the officers in carrying out their chief’s new disarmament policy.
“It is also alleged that the prisoner was confined in a dungeon cell while he was in the custody of the Twenty-second street police.
“After his discharge the injured man had to be helped to the elevator by two of his friends because of his injuries. The names of the officers who assaulted the prisoner were not obtainable, for the reason that the prisoner had not been booked and the officer making the arrest had not signed any complaint.”