The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-25
A RAID ON THE WHEELMEN.
Gathered in by the Police for Not Ring
Ing Bells.
Many Complain That Drivers OF
Vehicles Are Shown More
Leniency.

Acting under special orders from
Chief of Police Drew the police last
night were very energetic IN arreStlng
riders of bicycles for alleged violation
of the ordinance requiring bells to be
rung continuously while passing street
intersections.
The officers made arrests right ana
left, and considerable excitement was
caused, crowds gathering on the slde-
walks to witness the raid. Many or the
riders claim to have been unjustly ar
rested. claiming that they did ring their
bells as required.
At the Capital City Wheelmen's club
rooms the raid was the topic of talk.
The officers and members, many of
whom were present, said that the club
over a year ago had passed and for
warded resolutions asking the officers
to enforce the ordinance. The club en-
Joins on its members to obey the law as
good citizens. They added that scOrch-
ers in the streets have no sympathy
these reckless riders. but most of them
are not club members.
The talk was that the ordinance is
absurd that eXempts a rider who car
ries a lantern. That part of the law
ought to be repealed, they say. One
thing the club men did not understand
was why when one is arrested his wheel
is seized. They say they can find no
law for taking property that way. If
it is taken for evidence how is it, they
ask, that the officers surrender it when
the arrested party puts up So.
However. it was added, I'VE are not
kicking much about that now, though
We think it unlawful seizure, and that
when one is arrested he should be kept
in custody until he puts up bail"
Suppose, said one of the club men,
"a fellow does not appear next morn
ing, is the court going to order his
wheel sold?"
The club men are confident the club,
when it meets, will stand by the law
while it is the law, as it always has
done, but they think violation of street
laws should be uniformly punished,
and cite the fact that siX-tenths of all
drivers in the city grossly violate the
law, especially hackmen and drivers
of carts and merchants wagons. Last
night, it was said, plenty of men were
miles an hour with fast horses, and
whiring around corners without any
warning.
Some of the club members arrested
last night say they can prove they were
ringing their bells, as required by law.
They think, however, that it is difficult
often for an officer to determine wheth-
er a bell rings or not when cars and
teams are passing. The whole express
sion at the club rooms was that most
offenders, sco1 cheers and reckless riders,
are non members of the club; that the
club stands for the enforcement of the
law, and if it is not a good law, that
that is the best way to find it out.
NJ. H. Dunn called at this office to
complain of his treatment at the hands
of Officer Twaddle, who is serving dur
ing Officer Wilson's absence. Dunn
said he was ringing his bell at Seventh
and J streets, but that a street-car
motorman was also ringing a louder
one, and it is possible Twaddle did not
hear his bell, for he stopped him and
compelled him to dismount.
Dunn says he asked Twaddle what he
wanted and the latter accused him of
not ringing his bell. Dunn replied that
he did ring it as soon as he neared the
crossing.
To this, he says, Twaddle cried out
We'll, c. d you, keep it ringing
or I'll take you down."
Dunn was not taken down." how
ever, but he said he was going down to
report the officers conduct and Ian
guage on the street.