The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-18
Strife Stirred Up
By McKevtt.

1
Great excitement was caused on Third
street yesterday by the action OF Poiicl
| Captain McKevitt In dragging a man tS
jail who was perfectly sober and wht
did not appear to have been in anyway
disturbing the peace Several people
stated that they had seen the young man
standing talking to another man on the
sidewalk when the officer walked up and,
without any apparent provocation. ar
rested him. A large crowd gathered and
much talk was indulged In as to the
seemingly unwarranted arrest by, the Of
ficer. Shortly afterwards the same officer
came out Of the jail and walking up 20
man standing alonefon the sidewalk ar
rested him too. and marched him of to
the cells. As the matter seemed extra
ordinary an Astorian reporter proceeded
to gather the facts in the case to satisfy
the anxious desire OF the crowd on the
street.
Captain AlcKevitt stated that John
cronk had been loafing around swilltown
and living at disreputable houses since
about two months before Christmas. He
aad warned him several times to get out
)f that part OF town and yesterday saw
aim on the street talking to a young man,
went up to him and told him Or he did
aot quit loafing around Swilltown he
would be arrested for vagrancy At this
the young fellow who was with him began
% interrupt him In the course of his duty
and asked him what he had to do In the
matter. He told him to "shut up or he
would arrest him. He refused to "shut
up and the officer apprehended him on
the charge Of disorderly conduct and took
hlm to JAIL He released him later on $40
oail. He arrested Cronk on the charge Of
vagrancy and he was released on bail Of
SOS.
Fred. Hoim's statement of the case Is
as follows: II am engaged as cook
on the llghtship and on Thursday came
into town on leave OF absence Yesterday
about noon ] was standing talking to Mr..
Cronk near Herman Wise's store when
the officer came up and said to cronk that
ne had better keep or the streets in the
lower part Of town or he would get into
trouble. told the officer that we were
not talking about the lower part OF town
but about the lightshlp. He told me TO
shut up my mouth or he would arrest me.
| said had done nothing to be arrested.
and he grabbed hold. of my coat collar
and dragged me to jail. had on a new
coat and he tore the sleeve out OF It..
When he had got me In jail he knocked
me down. cried out and he got on me
and choked me. had done nothing what
ever to be arrested and was perfectly
sober.
Cronk stated that he was going to the
butcher shop to get some meat when he
met Fred Holm. They walked on till got
near Herman Wise's store when McKev-
1T came up and tod him II he did not
keep out OF Swilltown he would be ar
rested. He said he guessed he had a
eight to walk on what streets he pleased.
and then Holm told the officer that they
were not talking about swilltown but
about the lightship. McKevitt then arr
rested Holm without further provocation.
He said he thought McKevitt was drunk
He also stated that he was not living In
a house OF III fame. About an hour after
Holm was arrested he was standing on
the street alone. near the engine house.
and McKevitt came up and arrested him
for vagrancy. He was released a little
later Isaac Bergman depositing his bail
OF s25.
judge Osborn stated that the man
Kronk was hard worker when he could
get work, and that II McKevitts zeal
prompted him 70 arrest anybody there
were dozens OF men he could have taken
who never did hands turn In their lives.
lnd VINO were known by the ofiicer to
oe vasrants OF the worst Kind.
The Following petition was circulated on
md largely signed:
To the Honorable body OF poiice com.