Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-05
For the State Sentinel. !
CITY Affairs.


| any character beliere they are employed by
the City Council TO protect the peace, to make
arrests of those who are violating the laws of the
city, &c will nov attempt to show how well
they perform their duty. II is proverbial that
they are never on hand when needed In case OF
disgracefu row, where pistols and knives are
brought into requisiton, the policeman cannot be
found. For instance: Some weeks ago. about
six o'clock in the evening. opposite the Bates
House, rounder shot one Charley Carter. and
after breaking up things in general, he. With a
comrsde, beat retreat through the alley.
Two Of our uorthy police came up
Just ia time 10 the -t9f. but not
too late TO arrest the parties engaged IN the orol,
| had they had courage sufficient TO make the at
tempt but the rowdies, seeing the two gentlemen
alnded 10, drew their reyolvers, and threatened
TO shoot any one Who should try ~ arrest them,
| and aimed their revolvers at the crowd. which,
| by this time, had assembled. The crowd. with
4, the two brave policemen. took refuge BY step
| ping from the front of the alley, making . clear
passage for the leaden hail, which vas expected
/ at every moment from the numerous revolveTs
/ in tho hands OF the ruffiaus stranger, aud a
! Colonel IN the army, sojOurning Tor day or two
A. the Bates stcod looking at tie disgrsceful
/ scene and inquired If Indianapolis didn { support
9 police force When answered in the atfifms
\ tive and info med that two of them were look
] .
who were drunk in the bargain, whip two armed
| policemen and the whole tom, and he couldn I
| permit il when be was around. So over Colo
mel - stalked, snatched pistol from
! the hands Of some one present. and
started down the alley, a run. and when
! within a few feet OF the rufhaDs, one OF them
fred. but missed the Colonel. Then they both
ran. The Colonel tried TO fire on them. bot the
pistol he bad would not burst cap lie threw
! Il down and "made for them" catching one 81
/ them In the alley in the rear OF the Macy House
and Gissrmed him at once Then Dir Police
man came up, and seeing a half dollar in the
case relieved the Colonel of bis prisoner, aud
marched him of to the Mayors Office When 4
stranger, who has no interest in our city-sff4irs
has To make arrests. and protect the peace, Il
in the presence of policemen employed for that
purpose. then / think il is time for such police
men To be removed.
The laws OF our city require the police to AT
rest all persons seen ON the street drunk, es
pecially if they are disturbing the peace. They
are taken before the Mayor and fined for the
ofense Some few days ago in passing by me
Bates House alley. saw man lying IN the
gutter dead drunk Passing OF ;ew steps.
saw two policemen. and inquired il ii their
duty TO arrest drunken meug yes" "Will
you arres, that man!" HE is a soldier" they
replied Well. don't you arrest soldiersf'
I'VE did. but the Mayor. on account OF this
being their first offence will not fine them and
/ permits them 10 90 scott free" On yesterday
| poor drunken fellow who was crazy from
| the poison he had drunk, arrested by two police
men, and when he refused to 20 with them, one
| OF the oarbarans teIled him TO the earth II he
were an OK; this conduct WAS repeated. Again,
| have seen them beat and drag a woman along
| the street in outrag eous manner, because, in
! = crazg delrium. under the influence of liquor,
she refused to go with them. These acts OF bar
barsm only few out of thousands, and how
| long shall We be doomed to witness these out
RACES. that are shame and disgrace to our once
quiet and psacesble etyi
An ordinance is now in existence prohibiting
| the obstruction of sidewalks. This is carried to
an extreme. Some few weeks since, one of our
| most enterprsing citizens, who has done as much
| if not more than any one person. toward the i'm :
| provement Of the city, and who 10 now erecting
two large and comodious business blocks, WAS ar
rested by one of our city guardians, who saw a
| fee in the distance. and taken before the Mayor
for obstructing the sidewalk iE front OF one OF
| his buildings The Mayor appointed jury TO
try the gentleman They saw the injustice OF
arrest, but owing 10 the existence OF this ordi-
nance, were compelled to infiict small fine
heard numerous citizens speaking of the MUS
tice done to Mr. NJ. and one of them q
member of the City Council. But steps have
been taken to repeal tho ordinance or modify it.
Now, Mr.. Editor. how can one cree. building
without necessarily obstructing the sidewalks to
| some eItentI
Nearly every night we hear Of some one of
our neighbors being knocked down and robbed
or their houses broken into and rihed Of every
thing valuable that be carried off. and often
shot at. as in the case of Mr. John New, some
few nights ago. Are any of our policemen on
hand at those time.I No. Where they ?
Echo answers wheref
When you hear Of citizens complaining OF all
this, and wanting TO know it we cannot have e
! change, know of but one answer TO give them
| Change the administration of the City Govern
ment. Elect Mayor and Councilmen who will
appoint watchful and honest men 20 Office, aud
those, too, who will protect US from the thiering
villains who infsst growing city like ours
Elect Democratic Mayor and Councilnen
Try Democratic city administration for
one year, and see If cannot have some
safety aud order once more Some of your
readers will see this, aud doubt as to
whether or not il will be beneficial to change
the city government from Republican 10 Demo
cratic rule : say to those: You have hsc Que
party TO govern our city for nearly, il not over
ciehf years, and what is the result GU can
see for yourselves From a once quiet and
peaceful city, 20 a now rioteus. thieving. murder
Gus, cruel and demoralized one, so much so that
( We can scarcely venture out OF OOOES hitcE uiht
o'clock st night, without danger. Why, only
two weeks since. Mr Stephen Smith, an honest
| old bill poster, knocked down and danger
ouslv beaten. between the hours OF eleven and
twelve ST night. near the Market House on Ten
/ nessee street and, robbed of what little money
/ he bad, was left by the rufian. for dead. Almost
\ IN the centre of our city was this deed committed
The men. not arrested, were left to 60 UNPUBLISHED
and commit a similar act again. gentleman
Is lot safe on the streets early IN the evening
| with lady. Some two months since. young
| gentleman OF my Acquaintance, IN compsn,
with a young lady friend was returning from a
friends IN the par; OF the city, not later
| than 9 o clock, when be was set upon by one OF
more rufians. who. with drawn revolvers, de
| Inanded his watch aud purse The young lady
who would make better police officer thar
some We have, placed herself between the vi
/ lSins and her friend. and Informed them ths
they shouldn't have his purse without shooting
her fret They. having met With but little cour
age On The part OF our policemen DUNG Insi
operations in Tobbing, were go much astonish e.
that they beat hssty retreat. leaving tue yount
LADY and her escort victors OF the field
Again | say. Mr. Editor. this state OF affair
eaa DC Temedied by changing the city admins
tralon. aud 10 those doubtful ones | can onl
say. You have had your for eight years
Try change for one short year, and II there
no Improvement you can restore the present man
sSement of our municipal affairs
Think vel, over these matters. and a. our mex
csv election elect Democratic ticket and Civ