Omaha daily bee., 1885-01-08
KNIGHTS OF THE STAR.
Bow the Police and MaEhaIS For
CGS Are at War.
The FubIic VIII Now Get at tho
Facts.

The document filed the othe. night
with the city council by City Marshal
Gudnella, has caused no little stir. 1t
has been evident for some time that the
marshsl's Office and the police department
we're cycling each other with Jealousy.
aud the feeling has been ~rlpening until
the fruit begins to appear.
The marshal's side of the story has
been pretty we'll aired. 1t is to the effect
that the prisoners are being brought first
to police headquarters, instead of to the
Jail; that they are searched at police
headquarters, and the valuables kept
there, whereas an ordinance of the coun-
| Gil makes the marshal a custodian, and q
safe for this purpose has been provided in
the jail building; still more, that
prisoners complain that policeman have
entered the jail, and kicked and other
wise abused them, during the temporary
absence of the marshal or his deputies.
The police force have a side to tell too.
The claim that the building In whish the
prisoners are kept was built for the dou-
BILE purpose of being a jail and police
headquarters, and that the marshal only
had charge of the Jail department. 1t ia
claimed by them that the police were Civ
en- no show there; that loafers and loun.
gers were hanging about the room whore
the desks were, and that the chief could
have no opportunity Of privately talking
with his men, except by going elsewhere.
Attempts were made at times to clear the
room of outsiders, but when ordered tc
go, the marshal orone ofhisdeputie would
Interfere. 1t is claimed that by such
discourteous treatment the police were
forced to vacate the building entirely,
and that they then took the room in tbs
rear of the city auditors Office In the city
building.
The police claim that they have diff
Guilty in finding any one at the jail wher
wanted, and deny that they have eve,
abused prisoners. 1t Is admitted by off
Ger Cusiok that he thumped one mai
named Phillips, butt he only did so sfte
Phillips had called him every nasty cpl
tibet he could devise, and had made tw,
or three dashes at him TO strike him
Then Cusick struck him once, and If Gu
sick's statement is correct Phillips merite,
even more severe punishment. Aside from
this there appears a complete denial o
the charge of cruelty.
AS to searching prisoners, it appear
that the chief of police has issued tn
orders named, but he claims that tn
rules laid down for the guidance of tn
police, and defining the duties of tn
kilt .oo1,o khto ip,~or4tro A. T.
searching prisoners on the streets, this |
denied, except that when q tough charac
ter is arrested at night, a casual search |
sometimes made to see If the prisone
has a revolver or weapon, the officers nc
| caring to take the risk of being slugge
or shot.
There have been many complaints b
prisoners at sundry times about the dis
appearance of valuables and money
Often the matter has been dropped bt
t cause 1t did not appear very clear BIT
what the prisoner lost or spent tn
money before being arrested. 1t |
. claimed that neither the marshal nor th
police have the right to go through th
d. pockets of a drunken man. 1t Is sal
1 that if they did not take their money fc
safe keeping the other prisoners woul
t rob them after being put inside. ]
would, however, be very satisfactory
, have the experiment tried, and sec If th
prisoners who wake up with sore heat
the morning after 8 spree, would hav
any more money than under the presel
system. They find little enough nov
and 1t could not be worse. One thing
. Is hoped will result from the presel
agitation, and that is, q sitting out Of tt
false from the true, and a clear settir
before the public of whatever abus
may exist in either or both department