St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-08
1ERRORIzED COMMUNITY.
FIRST WARD WANTS BETTER POLICE
PROTECTION
FOOTPADs RULE THE WARD.

Mass Meeting Held Last Evening
The Mayor Will BE Petit
tion-If He Declines, Private
Police Will Be Employed by the
Citizens.
Leading citizens of the First ward to
the number of thirty or more met last
night, pursuant 10 all adjournment ftom
Saturday night, to discuss plans for Sc
curing better police protection The
meeting was held at the grocery store
of Neff Brothers, at the corner of Lafay-
cite avenue and Westminster street.
The gentlemen assembled spoke in
serious vein, and went at proceedings
in buSineSSlike way. The meeting
had been adjourned until last night for
the purpose of securing the attendance
OF the chief of police and the alderman
of the ward, Mr.. Copeland. Edwin K.
Maize stated that they had waited on
Chief Garyin, as appointed, and had
been told that the chief would be pres
emit if he could find time to attend. Aid.
tend a meeting Of the council, so that
neither gentleman was present.
a. NJ. Bachelor presided at the meet
Ing, and lie, as we'll as most Of the gen.
tlemen present. spoke on the matter i'll
hand. Mr.. Nafie said that the object of
the meeting was seriously directed to-
wards securing police protection, and
was not movement by vigilance
committee, as had been stated in
morning paper. Several gentlemen
spoke of the absence of police protec-
ton, and the need of policeman in
large territory where there is dense
population in the vicinity of the Lafay-
cite avenue bridge.
Mr.. Bachelor spoke of the impor-
fancelof having policemen in the terri
tory embraced in the First, Second,
Third and Fourth districts of the First
ward. In case tine mayor would not
grant the application TO detail one or
more officers for the territory, he be-
lieved it to be the duty of the citizens
to provide special policemen.
2. Norris made speech, in which he
claimed that the district referred to had
been neglected and the force is not
evenly distributed, He had not seen
policeman in the vicinity of his street
for year. He also said that the alder
man of the ward had not done his duty
to that part of the ward. He wanted
the alderman present before he would
talk, and when he came to the meeting
he would say what he thinks on the
subject. Until that opportunity is given
he would not enter into a discussion of
the matter further.
4 e. Fl. Griffin said that the citizens
could not afford to wait for the appear
ance of the chief of police and alder
meu to come to the meetings. If delay
were made for that purpose one-fourth
Of the people In the district might be
held up, and there is no telling who will
be the next victim. He did not expect
much assistance from the city. Our
homes and property are at the mercy of
the freebOOters. We have met here to
consult as to what should be DONE We
should raise Il fund to pay for special
policemen, and have the mayor to ap-
point the men whom we are willing to
pay. will contribute to such fund
according to my ability for the purpose
OF protecting the neighborhood during
these times"
Frank Huber said that Ehe had writ
ten TO the alderman of the ward on
the subject, but had received no
reply. lie had not seen policeman
in the district for six or seven months.
He also wanted better street lighting,
SO that the tramps and thieves might be
seen 10 better advantage.
Another gentleman spoke of several
''hold-ups" recently, and said no police
man could be found in the district, al
though often hunted for.
Mr.. Norris favored appointing COM
mlttee TO wait on the mayor at once, with
a petition asking for police protection,
aid i'll case he refused relief, to proceed
TO raise money for special police serv-
ice. This suggestion was carried out,
and Francis Huber, p. Norris and c. IL.
Griffin were named as a committee to
prepare petition and present it to the
mayor, asking for one or more police
men in a territory to be named in the
petition. namely the First and Fourth
districts of the First ward. The petition
was drawn up last night, and a number
or signatures attached. The committee
will wait Oh the mayor in the meantime,
and make report to meeting to be held
Friday night at o'clock sharp at the
store of Netf Brothers.
~zED