St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-13
OMAHAsS A. p. A. AGAIN THREAT
EMS TO TAKE POSSESSION
BY FORCE.
CLAIMING LEGAL RIGHTS.
LEADERS SAY JUDGE HOPE
WELLS DECISION WAR
RANTS THEIR ACTION
OLD POLICE READY TO RESIST
Nearly the Whole Force COncen-
trated at Headquarters to
Receive an Attack.

OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 12.-lt now
looks as if a conflict is inevitable
between the Omaha police force and
the A. P. A. faction which claims
authority under a recent law to ap-
point a new police force. Last night
indications were that a compromise
was probable, but the efforts of citi-
Zens who deplore the present strife
to persuade the A. P. A. to submit
the controversy to the supreme court
were of no avail. The A. P. A. board
is appointing it's force tonight, and
assert they will take possession of
the city property by force Wednes-
day. 1t was stated unofficially this
morning that those of the present
policemen and firemen who did not
notify the new board by Wednesday
informing they would hold themselves
subject to the orders of the new
board would receive little considera-
ton when the new board commenced
to discharge the duties of the office.
The police headquarters resemble a
barracks today. The disquieting
rumors which are flying around, ac-
cording to the police, are the basis for
the precautions taken in protecting
the headquarters from assault and
capture in true feudal style. The
door leading from the office into the
police court, and the door opening
out into Jackson street from the
captains office, have been locked
and braced with timbers so that nei-
ther of them could be forced with
out the use of a Sledge hammer.
This leaves but two entrances to
the office and cells One is through
the door opening out into the court
from off Fifteenth street, and the
other through the door and up the
narrow steps into Jackson street.
An assaulting party would have to
come by one of these two entrances,
and when they attempted this twen-
ty-f1ve policemen would be on hand
to give them a warm reception.
ARMED TO RESIST.
The police are armed with their
clubs and short handles such as are
used in pickaxes, and every one of
them has a revolver. There are only
fifteen patrolmen dong duty on the
streets of the city, the rest of the
regular day force and some from
the dogwatch being used to protect
the headquarters and the city hall.
The police put in their time at the
headquarters in sleeping and looking
over the situation. Capt. Mosley said
he did not anticipate any trouble,
but that it was deemed advisable to
keep a force about the headquar-
ters as a protection in case of an
effort to take possession. The men
will be kept on guard until the COM
mission muddle is settled. The state
ment has been made that a guam
tity of arms and ammunition has
been stored in the city hall, as we'll
as at headquarters, to be used by the
men. This is denied by the off,
GERS. They say the regulation re-
VolVers carried by the patrolmen
would be sufficient in case firearms
were needed. The force of specials
has been released, and it is under
stood the men will not be employed
unless the situation becomes more
threatening than it is at present.
The police report that there have
been no disturbances of any kind,
and that there is no more reason to
expect an attacking party now than
a few weeks ago, except that some
of the A. P. A. leaders claim that
Judge Hopewel's decision places the
new board in possession of the de-
partments, and it is expected the
board will demand possession of the
headquarters, the office of the fire
and police alarm superintendent and
operators, and the chief of policies
Office. Then there may be trouble.