The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-09-01
THE LAMP
AND WATCH.
An Investigation of the Arrest of a
Special Officer.
STORIES OF WITNESSES
The Case Based Upon Councilman
MeluSkey'S Request That John
SapOliS' Fine be RENTED.

a meeting of the lamp and watch com
mittee was held in the Council chamber
last night for the purpose of investigating
the arrests made on circus day, and in
connection with which Councilman Me.
luskey has asked that a fine imposed upon
one of the men arrested be remitted. This
man was a Pole who claims that at the
time he was arrested he was responding
to a call for aid from Policeman Walaitis.
The first witness at the investigation
was Policeman Walaitis, who stated that
on the day of the circus he, in company
with Officer Casey, undertook to arrest a
fakir and was interrupted by cOmpauions
of the fakir, who insisted that the officers
had no right to make the arrest Wa
| laitis was told by Casey to take the
prisoner to Justice Williams office, which
he did, and the prisoner was put under
$500 bail. Walaitis did not know what
the justice did in the case after. Walaitis
| also helped Casey to arrest Adam Mort,
who had abused Walaitis. Walaitis told
Mort to leave him alone and did
not have anything to do with him.
Walaitis asked Johh Sapolis, citizen, to
assist and while Sapolis was doing this he
was arrested and placed in the lookup.
subsequently he had to pay fine of 50.
Adam Mort told Walaitis that he should
not arrest the fakir, as he was not break
ing the law. He accompanied the police
and fakir and took the shells from tue
fakir
Policeman Casey testified that Adam
Mort called him a. and when
Casey attempted to arrest him Mort struck
the officer twice. Mort was taken to the
lookup. He has since settled the case.
Casey could not find the Chief Burgess
and took Mort before Justice Bailey.
Casey was with Walaitis when he arrested
tO I'M
liams office. Casey then left and when he
returned, the prisoner was gone. Walai-
tbs and the Justice were conversing in n
back room Casey made no search for
| the prisoner. He had no time and did not
think it worth while. CounCilmen Finney
| and Mcclure interceded for Mort and il
was on that account the case was settled
Frank Cadrington stated that he was
| standing at the brewery and saw the eX-
citement attending the arrest of the
fakirs. He saw the special officer (Sapo-
| l1S) with uplifted cane in the act of strik-
ing the prisoner, but did not see him hit
| anybody. Codrington was instructed to
arrest Sapolis, which he did.
Policeman Casey (recalled) stated that
he told Codrington to arrest the special
officer for no other reason than that he
| heard the crowd call for his arrest.
John Coslett stated that he saw the
officers bring The fakir, Billy Fitzsimmons,
| who asked COslett to see that he got a
trial. Coslett asked he officer to give the
| prisoner a trial and was told that he
would be put in the lookup. Coslett saw
the special officer WELD his cane before he
was arrested. Did not see him hit any.
| body with a cane.
Mr.. Hesser stated that he saw a crowd
with the special officer following the
prisoner, having hold of the prisoner
coat tails and welding cane. Sapolis
struck the prisoner once with the cane
but did not hit him hard.
Andrew Sapolis stated that he had hold
l'of the prisoner and somebody struck him
| (Sapolis) on the back of the neck. John
Sapolis was with him. Andrew was sure
John did not strike the prisoner.
Chief Burgess Burns stated that he was
in the lookup at IL o'clock on the night OF
the arrest. Policeman Walaitis told the
prisoner (Sapolis) not to pay the fine and
told Burns he had no right to fine him.
Burns told Walaitis the prisoner would
have to pay fine or serve time. The
fine was paid.
The case was adjourned for further
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