St. Paul daily globe., 1892-11-19
Summary Suspension Of a
Policeman Because He
Acted as a Man.
Official Pluralities Of City Of
ficers Elected and Other
Council Business.
For Sweet Charity's Sake
Maids, Matrons and Beaus
Make Merry.
Insurance Men Quarreling
Again--Big Skating Races
Coming.

Great men have great ways. There
in which great man conduct affairs of
state, which is truly refreshing to ordi-
nary mortals. The superintendent of
police has his nOnchalant way of doing
things. He suSpends patrOlnen and
elects captains without the slightest
effort, by wave of the hand, as it
were. On Wednesday night Patrol
man James Murphy, whose beat Of
late has been at the corner of Plym--
outh and Washington avenues north,
had occasion to act after the manner of
an honorable man and father. He dis
covered that his young daughter, ten
der flower, was visiting the rooms OF a
woman whose reputation he considered
unenvable. Miss Murphy is but fifteen
years old and not able to choose between
right and wrong as we'll as her
parents. She visited occasionally a
woman who went by the name
of Mrs Davis, but who was senten-
fenced to pay fine of So for shoplift-
ing some few weeks ago under the name
of Emma Ayres. At one time the
woman lived in house on Fifth street
south, near Thirteenth street, two
doors from the home of Officer Murphy,
12l3 Fifth street south. She removed
to the basement &. tar block near the
corner OF Franklin .;tcuue and Six
teenth street.
Patrolman Murphy lear; 81 hat his
young girl was in the habit s. visiting
this place, and Wednesday night he re
solved to put stop to it. He went to
the door of the basement occupied by
the Davis woman and requested admit
tance. He was refused. Knowing that
his daughter was in the house he re-
solved to get her out. The door was
locked in his face. so he broke it in.
Mrs. Davis still refused to allow him
to take his daughter away, and finding
that it was necessary to use tOrce. at the
same time being blinded by a love for
his child, Murphy pulled his revolver
and threatened to shoot the woman un-
less she was given up to him. This had
the desired effect, and the officer walked
away with his child. Under the circum-
stances he felt justified in using threats,
for he had dread that some harm
might come to her. A number of peO-
pie were witnesses to the occurrence,
and all were of the opinion that the Of
ticer did what was right. The next
day, however, Mrs. Davis called at po-
lice headquarters and told her story to
the uperlntendent of police. The super
intendent, ever anxious to please men,
berS of the fair sex, suspended Officer
Murphy indefinitely. The unfortunate
officer told his story and the circum-
stances which led up to the event. He
was of the opinion that he had done
nothing wrong, when it was taken into
consideration that the safety of his child
was in the balance. He was suspended,
nevertheless, and it is said he will be
given a hearing today. The story is
known to many members Of the force
and there is general indignation over
the treatment accorded Officer Murphy.
Mrs. Davis. alias Emma Ayres, was
arrested in company with woman who
called herself Mrs. Ada Rodier, for
stealing number of articles from the
Glass Block. The evidence against
them was conclusive, and they were ac-
cordingly sentenced to pay fines OF S25
each, OF serve thirty days i'll the work
house. Male friends paid the fines.