The morning news., 1894-10-21
A CONSTABLE ARRESTED.
Charged With 0bStTHcti1g the Service
Of a United States Warrant.

Joe Brown, Who Was Believed to Know
of the whereabouts Of Renty Green,
Wanted by ths United States for
Larceny, Refused to Be Deputized to
Aid in Making the Arrest-It is Said
His Reason Was That There Was No
Reward-He Was Arrested and Placed
Under a $500 Bond.
Joe Brown, a colored constable who
works at Justice Elsinger's court, was ar
rested yesterday by Deputy Marshal Hey
ward of the United States court on a war
rant charging him with obstructing the
serving of a United States warrant.
! Back of the case it seems there is quite
a story. Two or three months ago some
tools were stolen from the United States
snag boat saulla, and they were after
wards found at one of the pawnshops in
| the city. 1t was found that the party
! wanted for stealing them was a negro
named Renty Green, and every effort was
made to catch him. A warrant was sworn
out charging him with larceny of govern
ment property, before United States Com
| and another was subsequently sworn out
| before Commissioner M. A. Connolly.
1t was this latter warrant that the
| United States deputy marshal has been
eRdeavoring to serve. 1t is stated that
! there were two warrants against Green
in Justice Elsingers court, charging him
with offenses against the state. Some
time ago one of the constahles went to
| the commissioner and told him he knew
where he could get this man, and wanted
to know what reward there was for him
The constable was informed that there
was no reward for his arrest, neither
| special nor general. He stated that he
was under the impression that there was
a reward of $50. When told there was no
reward whatever, II is said, he darted out
Of the office, remarking: We'll, you
don't get your man. See?"
Note was made of this occurrence. Dep
uty Marshal Hayward knowing that Con-
| stable Brown knew of the whereabouts
| of Green. engaged him to go with him
and point out the criminal in order that
he might make the arrest Brown agreed
! TO do so. Marshal Hayward went for
Brown and found him at Justice FL
| singers Office, but Brown. when told that
he was to receive IS for his services, re-
| fused to go for that amount and wanted
more. was believed that he too ex-
pected to get $50 out of it.
When he refused to so Deputy Marshal
IiSS "oIu 'o4u MN ne Would depu-
tie him as United States
| officer to so with him and aid
| in the arrest. Brown laughed at
| the idea. and refused to 60 Deputy Mar
| shall Hayward then said he would place
him under arrest for obstructing the
serving of United States warrant. A
| warrant was obtained from the commits
! sioner and Brown was arrested He
had to give bond for $500 before he was re-
| leased. Ihe examination has been set for
| tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock before
| United States Commissioner Connolly.
The authorities Of the United States
| say they have met with considerable
| trouble from some of the constables in
| just this manner. The consta bles know
| of the whereabouts of prisoners, and it
| is believed have at times had them under
| arrest, holding them to see if there was a
reward If 1t was found that there was no
| reward no information could be obtained
! and the prisoners would never be forth
| coming. OF course. it is not the duty
! of the constables to make United States
| arrests but it is held that there is no
| reason and that it is unlawful for them
| to retain such prisoners simply for the
| purpose Of securing a reward for their
| so-caled capture.
There is another side to the affair
| which was given a Morning News re-
porter by Justice Elsinger last night JUS
! tice Elsinger said on June Is he issued a
/ warrant against RenIy Green at the IN
stance of his wife, Venus Green, who
| charged him with assault and battery
| The warrant was placed in the hands of
| Constable Brown to serve, who reported
that he could not find Green, but that he
had heard that Green had gone to Jack
sonville. 1t was afterward reported that
| Green had stolen some tools from Fort
| Pulaski, Justice Elsinger said.
Marshal Hayward, who was looking for
| Green, went to Justice Elsinger's office
yesterday morning, so the latter said,
and offered him S. TO catch Green. Brown
told him that he knew nothing of Green's
| whereabouts, and could not go with him
in search of Green, as he had some papers
to serve in the afternoon.
Marshal Hayward went back again and
insisted upon Browns going with him to
| search for Green. Justice Elsinger was
| then writing out some warrants, he says
which he told Marshal Hayward Brown
would have to serve in lie Pageville. The
marshal then threatened to make Brown
go, telling him that he believed he knew
where Green was, He left, but came
back about o clock in the afternoon with
warrant charging Brown with obstruct-
ing legal process, upon which he arrested
Brown, and carried him before Commits
sioner Connolly.
Justice Elsinger is indignant at Brown 8
arrest, which he declares to be most
frivolous, as well as unjust He is anx-
ious that the matter should be thorough
ly investigated, he said, in order that the
frivolousness of the arrest might be