St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-22
BETTER THAN A JURY.
Chief Bracket Says His Police
men Are Angels.

Chief of Police Bracket yesterday re-
ported the result of bis investigation of
the action of Officer Mcleod and the
other South Minneapolis policemen
against whom jury in Judge Rea's
court rendered verdict of $4,000. The
chief, in his report. stands by his Off
GERS, and declares the finding of the
jury was travesty of justice. He also
takes occasion to roast Judge Rea and
the newspapers, and if the report is to
be believed Mr.. Bracket knows more
about the law in the case than does the
Judge OIL the bench who charged the
jury. After reviewing at great length
the story told by Mcleod, and stating
that Mcleod had been detailed for just
the work he was doing when he entered
the White home, the chief says:
Understand that Judge Rea, in his charge
to the jury, lays great stress upon that ven
cradle and well-known principle of English
law, that every mans house is his caStle.'
This principle has been the theme of much
poetical and oratorical flourish, and magni-
fed out of all due proportion. but when
examined closely the privilege dwindies to
very meager dimensions. The outer door
only is protected, and even that only under
certain conditions and circumstances. The
officer is justified or not in breaking into any
door by the event. and acts at his peril IN so
doing, but IN this case we find that the officer
or officers did not invade the castle until
after the assault and then only to secure
parties fleeing from arrest and thai the dis
turbance was mainly upon the outside of the
house and off of the premises of the plaintiff.
1t is true that officers act at their own peril
at all times and are liable to be shot knitted
or slugged while in the legitimate discharge
of their duty, but, under this recent ruling,
not only are their lives endangered, but what
little property they may have.
Cl,;oe
continues:
Believing that the verdict against these
officers is rank injustice, not only to them
but to the department generally, ana cannot
be sustained upon an appeal, l would re-
specially recommend that your honorable
body take such action as will give these Off
GERS a new trial, or an appeal to the supreme
court
The commission took the report under
adyisement, and will consider it at
meeting to-day when Assistant City At
torney Hall, who conducted the defense,
will be present.
The case of Patrolman Thomas Col
Inns, who was reported by Sergeant Leon
ard for being off his beat and using
abusive language to his superior officer,
was taken up. Sergeant Leonard testified
that he had found Collins off his beat
talking with another officer and that
when he reprimanded him he was very
disrespectful, and that Collins had told
Capt. Day that if he were reprimanded
again he would knock the teeth down
Leonard's throat. DR.. Kilvington made
a strong plea for leniency, saying that
through the efforts of Collins one of the
worst neighborhoods in the city had
been greatly improved. Mayor Babb
said there was entirely too much famil-
iarity between the officers and the
patrolmen, and the other commissioners
said they had seen officers loungfng