SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG FIST

From the "Cheektowaga Informer" August 19, 1976

A new twist on "Police Brutality" took place in 
Manhattan, N.Y., yesterday immediately after a 
defendant, Willie Smith, was pronounced guilty 
f extortion, mugging, assault, resisting arrest 
and counterfeiting food stamps.

The presiding judge, Nathan O. Cohen, then 
addressed Mr. Smith in this manner.

"Mr. Smith, you have been found guilty by 
this court of several vicious crimes against 
the people of New York State, especially the 
heinous crime of mugging and assaulting a 
93-year-old woman in a wheel chair.  And then 
having the audacity to sell her dope to ease 
her pain.  And throughout the trial your 
constant harrassment of this court with 
charges of 'police brutality,' which I have 
reason to suspect are unfounded, have 
irritated me to no end."

Wherupon Judge Cohen left the bench, stepped 
in front of it, walked up to defendant Willie 
Smith and punched him square in the nose.

Then, in a matter of seconds, before a shocked 
courtroom, the judge had Willie doubled up on 
the floor while he punched, kicked and pummeled 
Smith like a mongoose attacking a cobra.  He 
then returned to his bench before two stunned 
deputies could regain their senses long enough 
to pick Willie up off the floor.

When they finally did get him to his feet, 
without Willie's help and who now looked like 
a Raggedy Ann doll with its stuffing coming out, 
Judge Cohen addressed the totally relaxed 
Willie Smith thus:

"That, Mr. Smith, is a sample of real, 
honest-to-goodness police brutality.  If that's 
what they did to you, then I suggest having a 
retrial on those grounds, and I'm on your side.  
But if that's NOT what the police did to you, 
then go serve your sentence like a good 
criminal should.  Take him away!"