Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-11
Determination Against Bicyclists.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
l am glad to letter in The Star of
yesterday calling attention to the per
secuticn" now carried on against bicycle
riders, and especially by Policeman Duvall
and l will refer to an outrageous case of
this kind in hope that very soon public
opinion Will cause change In the con-
duct of policemen and magistrates. On
Saturday night my son, nineteen years
old, was riding on his wheel down 18th
street hill at Florida avenue, and it is i'm
possible to go quite as slow at that place
as on a dead level. He was not ..coasting"
or "scorching," and has never done so,
but as he reached the foot Of the hill 1t
became necessary for him to hurry Up to
pass between a cable car and a team
Unfortunately for him, Policeman Duvall
was lying in waiting in citizens clothes,
ana without warning. nabbed my son and
took him TO the police station. This was
at O'Clock, remember, Saturday night,
and the officer liz default OF s. commit ed
him to the lookup to be confined until
Monday morning with drunken negroes
and criminals, and miles away from his
home and parents, who were in blissful ig-
horance OF their sons misfortune. His
wheel was not accepted as security. The
policeman who took him to the cell was
lnpl esseo by the young mans appeal for
a chance to telephone find a relative
and get the money, and he was finally all
lowed TO go with an officer a few squares
10 his uncle's. Cnfortur ately he was with
out funds at that time. and my boy would
have been locked up had it not been for a.
klnd-hearted stranger, who advanced the
20 and he was free and reached home at
midnight. On Monday morning he appear
ca al the Police Court. charged with rid
ing faster than cable car or six miles an
hour. He did not deny this charge. but
pleaded ignorance of any such reg Haitian
and SAID his extra speed was necessary to
re no ot0
sseape colrslon with car or a team in
his way. The policeman. however. had
made case and his word Is infallible. The
court seems bound to believe him and az
the hne was paid. Let me ask, how many
young nnen VINO rice wheels have S. In their
pockets every time they ride out for bust
ness or pleasure? 1t is now as necessary as
lamp or a bell to have a pocket book.
lawyer friend ventured to say a word.
O ,,, was peremptorily stopped. and the Judge
SUD that the law required bicyclists to
go no faster than six miles an hour. and
he ought to know this was the law n he
read the newspapers. He said, moreover.
than cable car. Now. does any one be-
heve car only gees six miles an hour?
NOW. my reason for indignation and COM
paint Is that trivial ofrense. even II my
CON was guilty, should be punished nv
IMPRISONMENT and that no distinction
should be made in the place of confine
ment of prisoners. Think of the effect on
this boys mind! He was captain of his
Soih1'ohy a. ills military ScnOOl, modest
retiring youth. whose word has never been
DOUBTED. Is 1t any wonder our people are
becoming disgusted?
For year or so I have read with main
ana Indignation OF the trivial and foolish
and unnecessary arrests of all sorts made
many of them SO silly that the judge had
to administer a rebuke to the officers. /
have felt tempted to get up a society for the
exposure OF the records Of the policemen
who have distinguished themselves in these
petty cases as I am sure they never would
In greater ones. Why does Col Moore give
crecit to his officers for every arrest and
missed or proved tc. be wrong? I am glad
that the number of policemen who are
guilty OF this conduct is comparatively
small. WILLIAM r RHEEs