Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-04-21

just made run for it.
II had run perhaps thirty yards when
felt heavy hand on my shoulder. and ,
gruH voice said in my ear, Hold on there
what are you runnin ferY'
looked up and saw a big policeman
standing over me. Twas so surprised tba,
all could say was: I am running to oe,
OUT OF the rain. Didn't think was run
ming to catch train at this time of The
night, did you?'
Don't get fresh, young feller,' per
sisted the policeman, but just tell me
where you got them clothes'
WELL replied, still so astonished
could hardly collect my wits. the overcoat
Is mine and the pair of trousers in the
bundle were just sent from the tailor's
TINS afternoon, and / am bringing them
home
Oh, say, now, that won't do was the
Dluecoat,s reply. I'm on to you and your
game. You'll have to come to the station
with me. See?'
But listen. Pm SO and SO, and haven't
done anything vainly expostulated, CIV
ing my name and occupation.
Where do you lives' said the fellow
insultingly. we are right opposite The
house now replied meekly.
"Oh, we are, are we?' said the police
man with sneer. Well, let's see YOU omen
the door,
but ! don't go in this door, 1 ex-
planned; i 60 in the one ON the side. / have
no key to this door,
"'Just what | thought said the police
man. Well have no more monkeyings. so
you just come along with me-
with that he dragged me off to the
Mercer street police station and intro
duced me to the sergeant at the desk. who
proceeded to question me in much the same
Chesterfieldian manner as had character
lied the policeman's conduct toward me
since he first appeared on the scene.
II explained to the sergeant that was
only harmless citizen and tried to be a
worthy one; that | had been kept down
town late, and was returning with my
overcoat on my arm and bundle contain
ing a pair of trousers under my arm. |
added that had told the policeman where
lived.
"'You liel You're a liarp shouted the
policeman, who was standing at my side.
''At this ventured to get irrtated, and
/ took the policeman's number As he
grew more and more excited the sergeant
sent him into the back room.
Having done this the sergeant took my
name and address, and told me the police
man was perfectly right in having arrested
me, and that | had no right to be out at
night with bundle under my arm; that
had no business to have been running, and
ought to have known enough to have been
particularly polite to the policeman when
he stopped me, and to have at once told him
all about myself without any reservation,
without having been in the least offended
at being taken for thief
"Having read me this lecture the SER
geant told me that might go home, and
left the police station with a feeling that
perhaps l ought to thank the sergeant for
allowing me to live.
1.-THE next morning at II o'clock was at
police headquarters. l met newspaper
friend on the step and he greeted me with
We'll, how did you manage to get locked
up last nightT
"'How did you know it?' 1 gasped. oh,
slip came in here from the Fifteenth
with your full name and address saying
you were arrested as suspicious person
and not held for lack of evidence
"Then l learned that it was possible in
this city for the police to arrest a respecta-
BILE citizen, accuse him of being a sus-
picious character and then when he has
proven his responsibility brand him on the
records at police headquarters for all time
to come as suspicious person still, but |
not held for lack of evidence.
"a little later was closeted with Super
intendent Byrnes, who, after he had |
listened to my story, said calmly: THE |
policeman had right to arrest you. His |
instructions are to question people at night |
whom he meets with bundles, particularly |
If they are running. If their replies are |
not satisfactory he must take them to the
police station. There the sergeant can use
his discretion in the matter.
GAS to the men having been rude toyou,
l have your statement, and will look into
that. Come here tomorrow at II o'clock,
and I'll have both the sergeant and police
man here
Tomorrow I am going up to confront
the sergeant and policeman before the SUI
but from what he says am
afre ID there will be but little done in the
matter unless l take the case into the
courts and sue the city for branding me as
a Suspicious person discharged for lack of
evidence
you can see how far this thing might
90, as Byrnes' men also have Instructions
in regard to women on the street at nlgnt.
thick headed officer like the
one who arrested me were to arrest re-
spectacle woman by mistake.
"She might explain at the station mouse
and be discharged. In that case imagine
The horror of having her name and the rea-
son for her arrest recorded at headquarters,
as was done in my case, with this added,
Discharged for want OF evidence. New
York Herald