The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-05
TOOK THE WRONG MAN.
UNJUSTIFIABLE ARREST OF NJ. ID.
KERN BY OFFICER MDONALD.
The Architect and His Friends Are
Fighting Mad ana it is Said That
Damage Suit May Follow.

What is universally characterized as
an objectionable outrage was commit
ted by Police Officer Mcdonald on Arch
Iitect M. D. Kern yesterday evening by
which Mr.. Kern was roughly handled
and subjected to the indignity and hu-
initiation of being marched through
several of the principal streets hand
cuffed although entirely innocent of
having committed any offense.
The facts are that the police in their
very proper desire to bring criminals to
Justice and protect the property of the
citizens put up a scheme to catch "a boy
who was suspected of having stolen
some books from Parsons book store
The books came into the possession of
the police and they in concert with Mr..
Simon, the proprietor of the Little Gem
bakery, on the south side of Second
South street, advertised that a parcel
containing the books was there and that
the owner might have them by apply
ing for them. The supposition was that
the thief would call and claim them
and that then he would be arrested.
Policeman Mcdonald dressed in citi-
zen's clothes, waited on the north side
of Second South street. for two days for
a signal from the proprietor of the
bakery conveying the informa ton that
the man they wanted was there At 6
o'clock last evening the signal came
and simultaneously Mr. Kern who had
gone into the bakery to purchase some
confectionery prior to going home,
emerged with his purchase tucked I'M
der his arm and proceeded to cross the
street When half way across he was
bounced upon by Stalwart Mcdonald
much as lion seizes his prey. Mr..
Kern, who is small slender man, stood
IN imminent peril of being torn limb
from limb. The officer repeatedly shook
him violently, seized the parcel he was
carrying, went through his pockets,
placed the parcel and the articles taken
from him on the ground and proceed
ed to handcuff him. All this right in
the middle of the street and without
deigning to give word of expIanati ton.
At sight of the handouts Kern protest
ed and wanted to know what charge
was against him. He stated his will
!ngness to go with the officer without
being handcuffed. Bystanders also in
terfered and pointed out the absence of
any necessity for handouts as the vic
tim had made no resistance whatever.
1t was all to no use, however, the min
lon OF the law would have his way and
put on the handouts so roughly that
the wrists of the unfortunate Kern were
considerably chafed and hurt and the
Gritty to interfere. In this fashion Mr..
Kern was marched along Second South
up State street and to the city hall,
where more complete search of his
pockets was made and his watch and
everything else he had turned out pre-
paratory to his being locked UP in that
malodorous jail. Fortunately at this
Juncture Captain Donovan arrived on
the scene, the mistake was discovered
and with profuse apologies and every
Kern was restored to liberty
In the meantime the real culprit, J.
Owners, was being held in the bakery
by the proprietor until an officer was
Drought and he was taken to the police
station charged with housebreaking.
McDonalds conduct is severely criti-
clzed. OF course Kern and his friends
are fighting mad and threats of dam
age suits and charges to be made to
the board of police and fire commissions
erS are in the air