The Saint Paul globe., 1896-10-07
J. MILLER CREUTZER,s REsEMB-
LANCE To SOMEBODFlLEADS TO
THIS ARREST.
WHO lSTTHAT SOMEBODY?
DETECTIVE SWEENEY TAKES THE
NEW sCHOIRMASTER OF ST.
LUKEss INTO CUSTODY.
KEPT UNDER COVER YESTERDAY
Given a Lttle<of the ssThird DeEreev
Business--fIe Promises Damage
SHit.

Two of the city detectives made an
arrest yesterday morning which, If
present indications are to be depended
upon, Is likely to end in a large dam
age suit against the city of ST. Paul.
j. Miller Creutzer, the choirmaster and
organist Of st. Luke's Catholic church,
corner Victoria street and Portland
avenue, was taken into custody as a
suspicious character, as he was on his
way home from choir rehearsal, and.
after being accused Of being a thief re-
Gently released from prison and cross
questioned by several Of the members
/ OF the police department, was locked
In a cell at the Rondo street station,
where he was held until afternoon.
Then he was transferred to the cen
tral station, and after another exam
ination conducted by the chief and
some of his subordinates, was placed in
the cell room to spend the night.
Mr.. Creutzer declares most positively
that he knows Of no possible excuse
for the arrest and stout1y affirms that
he can establish his good character.
His story, as related to reporter for
the q o last night, is as follows:
II came to this city from Chicago
e1OOuI IWO WEEKS ago anu LOOK the
position Of choirmaster Of ST. Luke's
church, which had Just become vacant.
My wife and have been living at the
Astoria hotel and / have made many
pleasant acquaintanees among the con-
gregation Of st. Luke's church. My
profession Is law and during my resi-
dence of ten years in Chicago I prac-
sticed at thessbar, for about five years.
Among the gentlemen have met here
were Judge 5Twohy, of the municipal
court, who kindly offered to assist me
in establishing q practice here, and
County Attorney Butler, who told me
| could use his name in any way 1t
would benefit me-
yesterday morning I went to re-
hearsal at the church and took my
wife with me. left my wife in the
church and went to the parish house
to see Father McNulty, and when I
had finished my business. found that
my wife had gone, SO | stepped out
upon the street to look for her. I walk
ed along turning frequently to look
back and before I had gone far man
stepped up in front of me and said in
rough manner:
leng?'~ e~s-a -,
'.At first I thought the fellow was
gong to hold me up as he wore ne uni
form or anything to indicate that he
had any official authority. + told the
mani thought his question imperti-
nent as coming from a stranger, and
inquired:
"'Whe are you that you are interest
ed in finding out about me?
He said: Never mind who I am.
The thing is to find out who you are
| think we have a photograph of you
at the police station, and that you are
a thief whom we have orders to arrest
AS he showed his star then, I told
him was the choirmaster at St
Luke's, and if he would return with me
to Father McNulty, / would soon con-
vince him that I was no thief Al
though we were only three blocks from
the church then he refused to go back
with me, but told me plainly that
he did not believe me- He said he
saw me turning backward suspiciously
as walked, and was therefore con.
vinced that was a thief, so he got off
the car on which he was riding, and
arrested me. : Still refusing to give
me any opportunity to prove my identi-
ty. Or to inform me as to the charge
upon which I was arrested, he took me
to the Rondo street station, where an
other man in uniform, whom / after
ward learned was the captain. put me
through lot of questions. Then my
private papers, including my admission
to the bar, were taken from me- and
was locked tn a cell.
"About 8 O'clock I was removed to
this station and taken before the chief
Of detectives; whp. after questioning
me said: IS ni
"'Yes, that's tie man, lock him up
"One of the other officers followed me
and said Now, isn't 1t true that you
just got out Of the penftentiary.' While
I was at the Rondo stationS1 was re-
peatedIy told,,that was. not telling the
truth, and that i, was a thief I have
~ 1rxx oIrA~ A-4a u
has refused to tell me what the charge
against me Is. or who this man is
whom I am believed to resemble
asked the chief to- show me the photo
graph which. he spoke Of, but he re-
fused, saying: Tt is enough that I
say there is one. My wife is in deli
cate health, and am afraid the effects
of the shock she has received will be
serious"
At the Central station there appears
on the tab merely notation that J.
Creutzer has been transferred there
from the Rondo street station, but at
the latter place he Is charged with
vagrancy and his arrest is credited to
Detectives Sweeney and Daily.
The police, or rather the few OF them
who know anything about the case,
are reticent on the subject Of Creutzer's
supposed identity. Detective Sweeney
pretended not to know himself last
to be, where he Is wanted or what
crime he is suspected of. And Sweeney
made the arrest.
Chief Goss said he knew nothing
about the case. Chief Schweitzer had
handled it and he had concluded to
hold the man until today to await de-
velopments.
When Mr.. Creutzer arrived in st.
Paul Sept %, he registered at the AS
toria hotel as C. ]. Miller. Last even
ing he explained that his full name
was C. ]. Miller-Creutzer, and that he
had written but a portion of his name
on the hotel register because of the
fact that he had had trouble with his
relatives and had made UP his mind
never to again go under his family