The Progress., 1893-08-19
A LITTLE TOO MUCH OFFICIAL
ZEALOUSNESS.


y
journals have not been sufficiently
keen to detect indiscretiOns on the
part of our police force.
Now we believe it is generally con-
ceded that Shreveport has very eff
cient police force. In fact SO vigilant
are they at times to detect crime and
apprehend criminals, that they be-
come ''over zes slous," I'VE believe that
is the expression to use) and do things
which no authority allows save the
unwritten (but thoroughly under
stood by all, even the mayor law
governing the police OF Shreveport.
The Efforts of our city guardians
to please and show proficiency is 50
marked that the wayf ring man,
though a fool, may not err' in noting
it. A dispatch that fugitive from
some other State or parish is heading
this way sets the whole mechanism
of the department to vibrating, and
in an incredible brief space of time
every nook and corner in the boun-
daries of our city is being pried into
and every III IN, woman aud child in the
town, visitor, stranger and citizen, Is
under strict surveillance if per
chance he, she or it might be the
fugitive in disguise.
The accused must be found, goes
forth the edict, and he will be too
though dozen unknowns, or only
partially knowns, must be arrested and
incarcerated in the lookup to make
them tell what they know. And if
the ca becomes desperate some of
the most alert will 60 beyond the
limits of the town in order thai the
force may not be placed in default.
1t seems that in order to make the
officers more efficient, a leather medal,
with pretty trimming, IS said to have
been made under the direction of the
to be worn by the member
performing the extraordinary feat of
the day, and they are constantly Wy
ing with each other TO gain possession
of the coveted trophy. Everything has
worked serenely with the membersbe
cause one medal has been enough. no
two members ever having perform
ed anything on the same day of sufii-
cient importance to enable each to
claim this badge of honor. But that
time has passed, and another with
lew more rings Of red ink had 70 be
made and it came about in this man
ler, last week we believe.
1t was declared that Officer Basch
vas entitled to the medal because he
lad performed the dexterous feat of
lrresting a negro and con6ning hi n
n the city lookup all night without |
warrant, but on suspicion simply,
md to force him to tell something he
vas supposed to know about horse
hieves. Such an unlawful proceeding
vas entitled to special and speedy |
and it was, for without
Waiting to call the coronation con-
-ention, the mark of distinction was
,laced on Mr.. Basch on the streets
n the presence of an admiring crowd.
3y chance Mr.. NJ. Weinst 3ck happen
ID to pass by going to dinner and
eeing the performance, his heart be-
anne so fired with ambition that he
esolved to have that medal or one
ike it or die. While his bosom heaved
With emotion his busy brain was at
evening as he paced his beat
Until hightfall when, ah inspiration!
hou hast befriended me he cried, as
e buckled his belt more tightly
round him and darted out past the
esidence of Capt. I. f. Bell about a
1ile or more beyond the city limits,
ushed into one Willis Bryant's (col-
red) house, carried him in triumph to
be lock up and kept him in durance
lie ali night, charged with being a
uspicious character" This match
,ss display of official acuteness was
D muchly beyond even the extraordi-
airy accomplishment of Mr.. Basch,
nat this extra medal with the red
TX borders was ordered for Mr..
Veinstock. while messengers were
ant out in all directions to bring in
he people to see the badge of hooor
,nferred. Just what part Chief