The Helena independent., 1892-07-27
/ KICK on THE CHAIN GANG
Edward |. Goodkind and Billy Sears
Have ! Disagreement Over
the Matter.
II Comes Before tho City Council
and VIII Be Investi-
gated.
Ths Question or Purifying tho Air Of
Clors street and How 1t VIII Be
Settled.

oil last night communication was received
from Edward !. Goodkind in regard to al
Affair whioh occurred during she day on
Lawrence street. The writer said: In tn.
name Of law and order, Justice and human
lily, respectfully request an Investigation
of She conduct OF William Sears. now in the
employ of ths city ~ ovsrseer OF the cham
gang, and IL the statements now will make
are thought by You to be a. inhumsn as
think them. that he be discharged from
duty" He says while passing down Main
street. at the opening of Lawrence, man
mctioned TO him. On asking what was
wanted the man said he wanted to see Mr.
Goodkind. Sears, the writer says, called
out, HE don't want yon." The man said,
'.Yes do want you. Get me-
GLASS Of watar." When asked why he
didn't Get il himself, the man showed that
hs was chained to post and unable to
move. Mr.. Goodkind says he stepped
toward The man. when Ovsrseer Sears Or
dsrsd him away in a threatening way. He
did not know Overseer Sears at the time.
and, ~ he writes. never thought OF
chain gang or that "suoh inhumanity was
practiced in the nineteenth century upon
Abe Main street Of city like Helena" On
finding out that it was an officer no was
talking TO- the writer says he asked Sears
why he did not give tho man some water
and why the man was chained mp. He says
Sears replied thsa he knew what he was
about. Later on, while speakin. OF the
snatter to SOM othe: people. he pointed
out Sears, who came toward him in
threatening manner. Mr., Goodkind says
he kept on walking and complained to the
mayor.
Oyersser Hssrs. who was in the council
chamber. was called on for statement
under him we'll. That morning he had
very tough gang to dsa! with. When he
went 10 ths Jail TO get the prisoners out for
work thsy were sll drunk. Some ono had
passed whisky in through the back win
dows during the night. The prisoners
refused to 60 to work and one man struck
at him. Sears said he grabbed the man
got him out into the Office and put chain
on him. On the way down the street this
man was swearing at him and everybody
else. The man did not need drink OF
water when he asked for it, as y boy had
Just given him one.
The matter was referred to the commit
tee ON police to investigate.
The question of removing all tho women
Of loose morals from Clors street was post
poned until the next meeting, although tho
Judiciary committee was ready to report.
Tho ladies who are moving in the matter
had intended to appear before the council,
but had other engagements. The COM
mittee are opposed to moving the loose
characters from Clore street. which has
been a sort of corral for them ever since the
city was known. They thought that to do
10 would have the effect Of scattering ques-
tionable houses all over town. In order to
meet the demands of the Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union. the committee
will recommend the enforcement of several
old ordinances. These ordinances impose
certain restrictions ON the manner of dress
and tho conduct of the Questionable class
on the street; besides prohibiting children
under sixteen years Of age being on the
street after nine o'clock without reasonable
excuse, or without being accompanied by
parent or guardian.
The special committee which examined
the proposition of II. B. Palmer to take
charge OF all city pay roll warrants at dis
count of two Ier cent, reported against it
rs bad business move. They found no
law permitting the city to enter into such
m arrangement. 1t would cost $500 a
year, and practically create another office.
The city would lose two per cent of the
amount of its pay roll and would get no
benefit from the possible enhanced value
of city warrants. The report was adopted,
transfer of $6, OO0 from the street fund
TO the general fund was ordered, and the
city treasurer directed to use the amount
In the redemption of outstanding war
rants, at once.
An ordinance was introduced and re-
ferred permitting the city to tear down
those parts of burned buildings which have
become dangerous, if the owners decline to
DO 80 after being notified.
City Marshal Calvin reported that the
two
teams, making six in all. to meet the COM
plants of improper service.
o. B. Totten was substituted for W. b.
Hundley to act with Aldermen Fuller and
Morris as a special commission on appeals
from the assessment for the opening of
Lawrence street.
The first estimate on the Sixth ward hose
house Improvements WAS ordered paid, 1t
amounted to $3.50. less 10 per cent re-
served.