Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-21
A GAME OF FORFEITS
Can Once Again be Played by Pris-
0ners in Station Houses.
his HONOR REScINDS THE ORDER
Requiring Bail for Persons Arrested for
Minor 0ffenses.
SOME VERY EFFECTIVE ARGUMENTS

Mayor Gourley has receded from the stand
he took few days ago, when he ordered a
stop to be put to the practice of taking cash
for the appearance for trial Of prisoners ar
rested by police officers at night. His
Honor thought the practice was a bad one,
and injurious to the morals of the commu-
nifty, and when he said stop, Chief Brown,
of the Department OF Public Safety, like a
good soldier, obeyed the order, although he
knew that it would cause considerable
trouble.
Mayor Gourley did not insist upon a
prisoner staying in the lookup all night,
but held that reputable citizen who had
the misfortune to be arrested could easily
secure bail. The bond, however. had to be
sworn to before Police Magistrate or His
Honor.
Here the trouble commenced. Police
Magistrate Gripp, whose acquaintance with
police business is wide and varied, took the
handle off his doorbeI promptly at 10
o'clock every night.
A NIGHTLY sERENADE.
Nevertheless q steady stream of persons,
eager to 90 on bail bonds for the release o.
their friends, would seek the Magistrates
residence on Montour way as soon as the
shades of night fell, and would still
be coming when the rosy tints OF
dawn lit up the eastern sky. The bondsman
would feel for the door bell, but not finding
it would scratch matches on the steps to aid
him in his search. Seeing that the bell was
gone would not discourage the baIlor, but he
would stand in front of the door and thump
it. Getting no response, the citizen would
sit on the steps and pound, and pound and
pound, until his knuckles and his patience
were worn out, and he would sadly get up
and go away.
Police Magistrate McKenna has reputa-
tion for kindliness that caused him to lose
several hounds of flesh while the order stood.
Mr.. Mckenna was routed out OF his bed at any
hour Of the night or early morning to fill out
bail bonds
The police magistrates in the East End and
the Southside Jared better, as they were harder
to reach, and they could afford to laugh at the
troubles of their fellow-judges.
While the trouble lasted the Mayor himself
did not escape. From five to 20 times a night
a bailer would climb up Wylie avenue to His
Honor's residence and pull on the door-belI
until the Chief Executive of the Gas City was
forced to don few garments, admit the visi-
tor and hll out bail bond. This was un.
pleasant. In fact, the most careful barbering
could not conceal the ravages made by His
Honor's loss of beauty sleep.
CHIEF BROWNS ARGUMENTS.
Yesterday afternoon Chief Brown visited the
Mayor and argued the matter with him. The
Chief held first that the order decreased the
city's revenue. Many man arrested for drunk
enness is only too glad to escape by putting up
$40, for which he never returns If he was
forced to appear at the hearing he might be dis
charged. or possibly fined but 81 and costs.
Then. again. the Chief argued, that the order
was unjust in many cases. For instance, a
stranger might come to the city, get intoxicated
and be arrested. The man might have pocket
full OF money, but no friends in town, and
would be locked up all night while a resident
of the city who had been just as criminal, could
easily get bail. To sum it all up, the Chief
claimed that the order was opposed to good
government and public policy, more espe-
cially, as in many speak-easy cases. little ones
were forced TO suffer for the sins OF their
parents. and stay in the lookup all night, the
police having no discretionary powers.
1t Is not known whether the Mayor was in
fuenced by his own experiences or by the
Chiefs argument, but he rescinded the order, |
and last night Chief Brown notified all the
police inspectors that hereafter as in the past,
forfeits 60.