The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-12
NEARLY OUT OF JOBS
Are the Officers Who stopped the
Cyclists SUNDAY

Are the Officers who stopped the
Cyclists Sunday.
The action of few men with clubs and
stars supposed to represent the village of
West st. Paul in stopping the century bicycle
flders Sunday In some Of Its aspects is
heartily condemned by residents of the viii
lage.
In speaking Of the affair of Sunday, yester-
day, the newly elected mayor of West st. Paul,
e. Il; Berry said Yesterday: FREQUENT ac-
through our town caused the enactment of
an ordinance prohibiting riding on the side
walks, but the police were simply instructed
to warn all persons infringing upon the law
and to only arrest them il they persisted In
using the sidewalk. No policeman was ever
authorized to throw his club at bicycle riders
nor to hold court, impose fines and collect the
same at the time of the arrest. If this was
done. as it is alleged, 1t was an illegal action
and should be punished. The animus of Sun.
days proceedings, in the opinion of many of
our citizens. Hes in the result of the recent
election, and am informed by a gentleman
who claims to have heard the remark. that
the regular police officer of the village and a
special policeman made the statement in a
saloon Saturday night that they intended Wag-
ing war on the whee.men Sunday and that il
they did not make SIS apiece before the day
was over they were badly mistaken. This
means mean - nothing more NOT less If the state
every reason to believe that 1t is. that the
two officers planned the wholesale arrest of
bicylists with the intention Of extorting money
from them. If the wheelmen were violating
the city ordinance the first duty of the po-
lice was to warn them, and then If they did
not obey to arrest them. In this case they
should have been taken before the city mags-
trate and bonds fixed for their appearance for
trial the next day.
o. H. O'NeiH attorney for the village Of
West st. Paul, stated yesterday that he knew
nothing of the century riders being arrested
and that he did not believe either of the
police officers had accepted money from any
one. II such could be proven to be the
case, however. he said, the official should be
prosecuted There were, Mr.. O'Neill said, six
persons arrested Sunday for riding on the
sidewalks in West St. Paul township and
these were Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Lang and
four boys, two of whom live on the West
side These had deposited bail for their ap-
pearance before the town magistrate today
Such was the state of affairs, Mr.. O'Neill
stated, as he had received the information
from the police officer Of West st. Paul
Charles Koblatz, who had yesterday asked
him as city attorney TO be on hand today to
prosecute the cases before Justice Trip.
The city ordinance Of West St. Paul, Mr..
O'Neill stated, absolutely prohibited riding
on the sidewalks The fact that number Of
accidents had occurred had made the village
police vigorous in enforcing the ordinance,
and the fact that many people did not know
where the city limits OF st. Paul and Ram
sey county and the village Of West st. Paul
and Dakota county begun, furnished many
victims. Annapolis street is the dividing line
and bicycle riders going opt South Robert
street within the city limits Of ST. Paul where