The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-22
TOO MUCH FOR ORR
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE CRITI-
CISES ACTION OF WEST SIDE
OFFICERS.
THROWS A HOT SHOT, TOO.
IN DOUBT WHETHER THE OFF,
GERS OR PRISONERS SHOULD
BE ON TRIAL.
INNOCENT MAN MADE 4 VICTIM
Because He Didn't Run When an
officer Told Him to Go
Home.

The alleged brutality of the west
side police has become so frequent OIL
late that even Judge Orr has conclud-
ed it is about time to come to the res
cue of citizens who may fall into the
hands of those officers, and yesterday
rendered a decision which will doubt
less cause Capt. Getchel to think twice
before ordering any of his patrolman
- beat the head off, of a supposed
offender. According to the interpreta-
ton of the law by Judge Orr, a. citizen
who has not committed any otfense ana
who can prove his innocence, has the
right to resist arrest, and hereafter
some of the clUb-wielding West side
policemen may come into court with
their own heads cut open and eyes
swollen shut instead of plain citizens.
The case on trial was that Of John
Beusing and John Yeager, two resi-
dents of the West side, who were lock-
ed up by Officers Hanley and Godbout
on the charge of drunkenness and re-
sisting the police. The men were
bounced upon by the officers while
drinking beer on their way home from
work Yoager was arrested first and
called to Beusing. When the latter
approached his friend, officer Hanley
ordered him to go home, threatening
to arrest him. Yeager was in the GUS
tody of officer Godbout, whom he says
made no attempt to misuse him, but
when Beusing informed Officer Han
ley that he had a right upon the public
streets, the latter rushed at him and
attempted to drag him to the patrol
box Beusing admitted that he resisted
the police and did all he could to eff
feet his escape, claiming that, as he
had done nothing, he was justified in so
doing. At the conclusion of the testi-
mony Judge Orr discharged Beusing
and fined Yeager $40 on the charge of
drunkenness, remarlIing, however, that
he was not at all certain that it was
not the police officers who should be
on trial instead of the defendants.
Officer Hanley, who arrested Beusing,
is the same policeman who dubbed
Charles Meyer over the head Monday
evening. Meyer is out on bail, but,
through his friends, it is understood, is
gathering evidence to present to Mayor
DOran to sustain charges which, it is
claimed, will be made against the Of
ficer. Meyers course is commended
generally by residents of the West side,
who are beginning to fear the terroriZ-
ing actions of the police and deem it
time to call halt to the brutality re-
Gently enacted. Even in the police de-
partment the course of the West side
police is condemned, and many officials
are incensed that the entire depart
ment should receive censure for the &C
ton of an aspiring captain and a few
officers, whose only comprehension of
police duty seems to be clubbing de-
fenceless citizens. There are many po-
licemen on the force who have been
in the service years and have never yet
mad to beat any one to make an ar
rest, and the claim of two strong Of
ficers having to pound one unarmed
citizen half to death to get him to the
station is regarded by them as a mere
mask for an ungovernable temper
The case in which Sergeant Martin
and officer Malmquist beat William
Weimar, of S73 York street though set
tied in the police court by Weimar's
discharge, has not yet reached it's ter
mination, it is claimed as the matter
is still in the hands of Attorney E. e.
Mcdonald. Mr.. Mcdonald refuses to
make any statement for publication.
but declares the Weimar case will be
carried to the farthest possible end.