The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-21
II IS The OLD FORCE.
Mayor Curtin Replies to the Attacks
on the Present Police
Force.
Except Two, They We're Left Over
From tho Last Admin
1etration.
And With = Few More Exceptions They
Were ALI Appointed Under City
Marshal SimA

Mayor Curtin was very much dipleased
Yesterday at the attacks made by the jour
.al and Herald on the present administra-
tion of the police Department., which he
Thought were intended to belittle the new
.dmipistrat ton Of city affairs. The mayor
pointed out the fact that with two exoep-
tions the police force as ii stands to-day ia
the one that looked after the city during
the previous administration. These two
e~xceptions said the mayor, ara Police
man Barrett, who took the place made
vacant by the promotion Of Joseph Gala
han from tho ranks TO the sergeancy; and
Policeman Carlson. who took the place of
John Back. the officer who resigned at the
beginning Of the month. Not only ID 1t,
with these EXCEPTIONS, the same foroe snAs
went through the last administration. but
tho men Who compose it were nearly
all appointed under the marshall
ship Of William Sims. OF the
policemen ON the force when
Marshal Sims took charge last year. only
four went through the administration, one
of whom was the present sergeant. II 10
apparent. therefore, that the force, "a now
constituted. leaving out the sergeant, she
other three policeman who held over from
Mayor Bradford's administration. and the
two appointed by Mayor Curtin to I'LL Va
csncies, is essentially an old one. Mayor
Curtin has been slow in making changes IN
the police force, recognizing the fact that
the public were entitled to protection. and
that that prote ction could be best given by
not making too rapid changes among the
policemen. The frat vacancy which hadto
be filed was that caused by Callahan's pro-
motion. It was filed by the appointment
of A. 7, Bar rett, q man who had been on
the police force before, and who was known
to be tent to I'LL the position. when
Policeman Back resigned voluntarily. MIS-
place WAS filed by Oscar Carlson, a repre-
sentative Sosndlnavian. whose appoins.
msnt WAS asked by q large element OF tnat
nationality. -
Nayor Curtin said great pressure had
been brought to bear upon him to dlsmlss
men who had been on the old force. and TO
appoint Others. But if the men whose dis-
missals were asked haa Deon koou Ans .
and there was no other charge against them
than that they had voted against him at the
municipal election, he had not considered
that sufi Client cause Tor removal. Az 10
Policeman Carlson's action at the time
Policeman Schxrrenbroich was SHOT, the
new man, unused to dealing with desperate
characters, becoming ratified at the hing
and not knowing as we'll what couise 70
take as would have been expected OF an ola
and tried officer. The oversight, he thouRht.
consisted in notfeeling about the pockets OF
the M en- arrestedto see II they had any Weap-
ons Ever this might be overlooked when
it is remem Der ed that the men were under
arrest simply ~ ordinary vaRrants, sus-
pected of q robbery mp town, and were nov
known to be wanted for such = serious Of
tense As the robbery and murder or the
L-~I-. 49, h1nsA IL II mot AVAn
known that the men who escaped from the
officers when Policeman So"harrenbroloh
WAS shot are the same who committed the
gas house outr age, though the tact That
they took such desperate chances to pre-
vent being looked up would be taken as
an Indication that they had done some
thing worse than robbery.
Since the affair of Sunday night no pains
have been spared to run down every posi-
BILE umor that it WAS thought might lead
to the arrest OF the guilty men. Officers
have been sent on horseback. in teams and
been seen who were thought to
be the men wanted. None
of the rumors have led to
anything. The last report came in yester-
day. A French woman living about half
way between Lenox and East Helena. about
four miles from town, reported that three
men had been IN an old cabin near her
place. They had come in at night but gone
away every morning. -Four officers went
out, but there were no men in sight. 1t is
thought now that the men have separated
and may have cha nged their appearance by
the purchase Of different clothes from those
they had on while here. Some think they
went to Butte, where, If they have any
friends. it would not be a difficult matter
to conceal themselves until they could
sufficiently change their appearance to
travel without danger Of detection. 1t is
believed. however. that they will be caught
somewhere and some time. now that there
10 q reward offered.