St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-06
Officer Rafter Badly Used in
a "Turn-Up" at Fire
Headquarters.
IN Attempting to Arrest a
Fireman, He Is Resisted
and Fooled.
The Officers Written Charges
Are Kept Saeredly Secret
by Superiors.
Assistant Fire Chief Cook
Says It. Is Case OF
Ratified Copper.

Patromau John NJ. Rafter yesterday
1iled with the chief ofpOlice an account
of the row at fire department head
quarters Tuesday night. during which
he was knocked down and badly kicked
by members and officers of the fire de-
partment
The patrolman, who was on duty in
the vicinity of fire headquarters. notl-
fed the -firemen who were displaying
their patriotism by firing salutes from
an anvil and shooting tirecrackers that
the practice of placing t0rpedoes on
the street car tracks must be stopped.
AS his remOnstrace seemed to have no
effect he announced that he would ar
rest the next person who placed any
explosive on the track.
A moment later there was another
explosion. and Rafter placed under ar
rest fireman who he says put the eX-
plQsiye OH the track. Other members
at the fire station gathered around. and
after taking the prisoner away from the
officer, Knocked him down, and while
he was down put the boots into him."
The written report Of the officer was
handed to the chief of police yesterday
afternoon, but Chief Garvin declined to
make it public until after the mayor had
perused it. Asked about the facts In
the case, Chief GarYin said it was not
certain that the man whom Rafter
placed under arrest was fireman. and
for this reason nothing had been done
in the matter.
why z his Secrecy!
At 5 O'clock yesterday afternoon Chief
Garvin had a consultation with the
mayor, and gave to the chief executive
the written facts of the assault as sent
III by Rafter. The mayor refused to
allow the charges made to be copied or
looked at. and to GLOBE reporter SAID
he had nothing to say about the affair.
Ratter was on duty yesterday, but
bears the marksof the kicks he received
on his body and legs, and was so stiff
from his bruises that he could hardly
walk his beat.
Chief Garvin'S statement that it was
not known who committed the assault
OIL Rafter is not verified 10y the story OF
Lieut.. PottgieSer or Capt. SchweitZer,
to whom the affair was reported a few
moments after it occurred. Both the
lieutenant and the captain decided it
best not to take any action i'll the affair
Tuesday night for fear the mayor and
chief would be displeased.
Lieut.. Pottgieser said last evening
there was no doubt but that the officer
had been badly used by the firemen.
He had been acquainted of the assault
by Rafter a few minutes after it had oc
CURED and had reported to his superior
officer, Capt. SchweitZer. The state
ment is made that the report filed with
the mayor by Rafter goes into details
and gives the names of the fire officials
who took part i'll the assault.
The Firemen's Version.
Assistant Chief Cook emphatieally
denies that he exercised his pedal ex-
tremitieS Oh the anatomy of Officer
Rafter or that he in any way assaulted
the policeman. sit was just this way"
explained the chief. People all alung
Eighth street were putting dynamite on
the car tracks and the tiremen were sit
ting out in front of the engine house
enjoying the excitement The police
man came over 10 us and told us not to
put any more explosives on the tracks,
and we told him that our stock of fire
works had been exhausted and that we
were not putting anything on the track.
Just as he was walking away some
boy threw big cracker under passing
car and it went off SpRndidiy. Then
the copper came back and undertook to
arrest one of our men, who hadn't done
anything at all. l protested, and when
the policeman began TO drag his pris-
Oner away by the ann, he stumbled or
some one tripped him anyway he fell
down and his prisoner and l fell on
top of MIN. When we got up the police
man released his man and walked
away, while somebody laughed. 1t was
a case OF ratified copper. that's all