The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-24
The Late Police investigation.

Mr.. EDITOR The report in the. PRESS Of
Friday morning, Sept. 81, relative to the police
investigation conveys wrong impression OF
the decision of the Mayor and the people pres
emit.
In the first place officer Langmaid made the
arrest on the strength of an anonymous COM
plant made to Marshal Bridges, that the boys
living in the neighborhood of Park st. church
are in the habit of collecting on the steps. OF
the church and disturbing the people in that
vicinity. In the report the Burnham boy IS
mentioned as though he was the only one
present, when in fact there were five or SIX
others with him quietly sitting on the steps al
the time. The article intimated that the Burn
ham boy is in the habit of making disturb
ance generally, but not at this particular time
The insolence complained of by the officer
was in the boys attempting to repeat the worus
of the Marshal to his father some weeks pre-
vous that the boys could sit there unmo-
Tested as long as they were quiet. AT the near
ing the neiehbors were out in force to testify to
the good department of all the boys, and OF
the Burnham boy in particular. All were
unanimous in saying that the nelgnoorhoou
was not disturbed. Part of them said 1t was
positive pleasure seeing them there. The May
or, after hearing the remarks from all who
wished to speak, decided that the arrest was
illegal and entirely uncalled for. We think
we speak the sentiment OF the community
in saying that no parent should consent to
member of his family being dragged through
the streets by the police like common thief,
without cause. The company separated after
being satisfied that the Mayor would use his
good Judgment in reprimanding the officer.
The Mayor is ready at any time to explain the
matter to any one concerned.
The writer of the above is laboriEg under
some misapprehensons. The impression con-
veyed in the second paragraph that nothing but
anonymous complaints have been received at
the station concerning disturbances at the P ark
street church by boys who congregste there is
wrong one. The officer in charge at the
station informs US that complaints have been
received again and again signed by respectable
citizens, and that one gentleman at least has
appeared in person there and made complaint.
These complaints had been brought to the at
tention of the officers. officer Langmaid among
the rest. On the night in question Mr.. Lang
maid found a number of boys congregated on
those steps and remembering the complaints
addressed some cautionary words to them,
when, as he says, the Burnham boy made some
insulting remark which vexed him and betrayed
him into making the arrest At the station
young Durham was lectured by the Marshal
and allowed to depart The officer was doubt
less at fault in making the arrest but his trans
gression was not of the sort to call for punish
ment. A word of caution was all that was
needed and this the Mayor gave, at the same
time exonerating him from intentional iDjus-
tice. At the conclusion of the investigation
one of the gentlemen who had appeared feel
ing that an outrage had been committed, ex
pressed himself as entirely satisfied that the
officer had at the most only committed an error
of judgment. The best way for all concerned
is to let the matter drop. Neither the boy nor
the officer has been seriously damaged.