Butte semi-weekly miner., 1889-09-18
4 REPUBLICAN OUTRAGE.
How a Respectable Citizen Suf-
fered Insult Because He
Was a Democrat.
Arrested Without a Warrant by
Order of a Republican
Registry Agent.

A high.handed outrage was perpetrated
upon well-known and respectable work.
ingman bo one Of the Republican registry
agents yesterday, and for no other reason
than that the victim OF the outrage hap.
pened to be q Democrat. Aside from the
insult and indignity heaped upon the gen.
tleman, the occurrence went to show to
what straits the Republicans are driven
and to what measures they are willing to
resort to disfranchise Democrats whenever
possible, whether rightfuliy or not.
The victim OF the attempted bulldozing
was w. J. Rowan, teamster who has re-
sided in Butte for years and who COM
mands the respect OF everyb body with whom
he comes in contact. At about IL o'clock
yesterday morning he presented himself at
registry district No. 8 and stated that he
desired to register. the registry agent, j ohm
Kirby, gave him one OF the blank affidavits
which all applicants for registration are
required to sign. Mr.. Rowan read the
instrument, signed it and was sworn as
prescribed by law. Mr.. Kirby, in his very
pompous manner, then began to PROFOUND
the usual questions, all OF which MIR.
Rowan apparently answered to the satis-
faction OF the very important and exalted
registry agent. Finally, when asked where
he was born, Mr.. Rowan replied, "In Ire
land" "Where are your naturalization
papers?" demanded the very important in
dividual behind the desk. II have none" F"
was the reply.
Without another word Kirby commanded
the gentleman assisting him to hold Rowan
while he frantically rushed to the telephone
and ordered Sheriff Lloyd to come to his
Office Immediately and arrest man for
fraudulent registration. Under-sheriff
Thomes answer ed the summons and placed
Mr.. Rowan under arrest without even serv-
ing warrant. Mr.. Rowan was rushed to
jail and locked up. Fortunately some OF
his frleEds heard of the outrage and inter
ested themselves in his behalf notably
Shelly Tuttle. Counsel was employed and
petition for writ of habeas corpus was
filed with Judge De Wolfe, who set the
time for hearing at o'clock.
Before the petition could be heard Mr..
Tuttle offered bonds for Rowan's appear
ancs. but Sheriff Lloyd refused to accept
bail, saying that he did not know what
amount was proper and said he would con-
suit justice of the peace as to what course
to persue. Finally the time set by Judge
DeWolfe for hearing the petition arrived
and just before the case was called an Off
Ger appeared with q warrant and arrested
Rowan in due form, thus rendering unnec-
cessary further proceedings in habeas
corpus, Rowan was taken before Judge
Hopkins and waived examination and was
bound over to appear at the next term OF
the district court. He gave bonds and was
released from custody.
Before finally dismissing the case Judge
DeWolfe read the officers interest ed in the
case q severe lecture on the matter of ar.
resting people and depriving them OF their
liberty without any form OF law and
authority, and said that such proceedings
were tolerable only in cases where capital
offenses had been committed and even then
it was necessary to file information as soon
as possible after the arrest had been made.
If Mr.. Kirby had not been 80 very fast
to exercise his authority he would, upon
questioning Mr.. Rowan, have learned that
although of foreign birth the latter gentle
man was q citizen, made SO by the natu
ralization of his father while the son was
yet mere boy, years ago, and as such had
voted ever since he attained his maj ajority.