St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-29
1T FELL. HAIR NaESS.
What Was Played for n Hard Cam.
- NssaIxr 4

For some days past it has been known
that certain leading Republicans have been
carrying information to the grand jury, in
the hope of bringing the city adminstra-
ton into disgrace, and wise Republicans
have been mysteriOusly whispering of the
bombshell the jury would soon throw into
the Democratic camp. The other day
prominent Republican. from distant part
of the state was i'll the city and paid
visit to Republican headquarters. at the
office of CA. PIlsbury & Co. TO one Of the
bosses he remarked: Our chances, [ mist
confess, lock pretty blue;" to which the
boss replied: "Oh. well, they will change
when the grand jury gets in its work" The
grand jury yesterday brought in the follow
ing lecture:
In investigating the system of arrests con-
finement and discharges pursued by the city
police authorities and the conduct OF the
prisoners under their charge. the grand jury
finds much to condemn and little to commend.
The records of the First precinct station and
the testimony OF the officers in charge dis
close Il most reprehensible system of pro-
cedure, No attempt is made to ascertain the
name, residence or occupation OF persons
arrested, no record OF any OF these facts is
preserved. In the disposition OF large
number of cases the city courts are ignored,
ana t0Glr dclIOI utSCT llFOhCu. nCu duu
women arrested and confined for violation
are released upon order of the mayor, or
that of some subordinate, and their cases
never presented to the court. Fines are col
lected by policemen at the station, no record
of the disposition of the money made, and
the person of whom collected permitted to go
at large Bail is fixed by officers without the
intervention of the court and without its
knowledge or consent. Criminals are re-
leased upon the request of criminals, and the
voice of the gambler appears to be more
potent at the city prison to obtain
release from confinement than the
Judgment of the court. The sys-
tenn disclosed and which apparently
prevails has clothed the police authorities
with judicial power not contemplated or
confirmed by law, and the exercise OF which
in the manner pursued borders close upon
the criminal. The grand jury recognize the
principle that no person should be subject 10
arrest unless under suspicion of the commits
sion of crime or for the actual known COM
mission of such ofense, and when arrested
is entitled to an investigation before court
of competent jurisdiction, and by its judg-
meut and it alone be held Or discharged.
In the utter disregard of this prin-
ciple pursued by the police authorities
as evidenced in the management of the
First precinct station, the grand jury recOg-
nize q violation of at least the spirit if not
the letter of the law, which declares that Il
Sleriu or Otuef OIuter VI DeFSOu ilO dliONS q
person, lawfully in his custody, in any action
or proceeding, civil or criminal, or any
person under his charge or control to escape
or go at large except as permitted by law, or
connives at or assists such escape, or omiLs
au act or duty whereby such escape is oc
ca stoned, or contributed to or assisted is;
First, if he corrupty and willfully allows,
connives at or assis is the escape, guilty of a
felony; second in any other case, is
guilty OF a misdemeanor, and while
the facts which the grand jury have
with difficulty been able to obtain are not
fully sufficient to predicate an Indictment
upon, yet such facts fall little short of the
necessary suficiency. most thorough and
speedy reform is, in the judgment of the
grand jury, requested and demanded, that
criminals may be held to answer for their
crimes. the law decently observed and justice
administered by the authorities legally
clothed with the power of such administra-
ton.
This report was very freely discussed by
the Democrats last night, the general senti-
ment being that the grand jury, instead of
making indictments as an example, had
merely delivered lecture.