The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-09-04
FOR I'M THE ONLY
GREAT HIGH SHERIFF.
I'm the Whole Police
and No One Else
Is in It.
AND | NEVER BElErArE NY POWER.
I AND ONLY I CAN RELEASE
ANY ARRESTED MAN
ON BAIL.
And When I'm Not at Headquar-
ters, Which Seldom Am, Espec-
islly at Night, Everyone
is Locked Up.

At 1890 o'clock last night there WIS
nobody at the police station with au-
| thority sufficient TO admit TO bail a
man charged with the petty offense OF
being drunk. although three respon-
sibie citizens OF this town were there
and offered security and were resiy
and willing TO take charge OF him and
see that he was immediately taken
home
Ii was Inquired OF the clerk at the
station how much the bail was. DE re-
piled that they must see the sheriff.
that he had no authority TO admit a
man to bail. The captain OF the watch,
one of the arresting officers, WAS ap-
pealed to. He said be had no authority.
that he was only carrying out his or
ders. There was nothing said about
an outrage having been committed
upon the man who was arrested. tie
was a little drunk. This was not de-
MED. The man in charge seemed TO be
the clerk. and he could hardly be ex-
pected 10 use any discretion. He is
told his duty and follows it out to the
letter.
There are three watch captains and
three intelligent lieutenauts of the foot
police. They are men promoted for
good and faithful service. They are
supposed to be reasoning human beings
and TO know 10 whom and when to be
lenient. As il is, they have absolutely
no power except TO make an arrest
The sheriff holds the city under his
thumb. He must be consulted before
any action may be taken in the matter
OF releasing prisoner, charged with a
petty offense.
The reasoning power Of the whole de-
partment is centered in the person of
the high and mighty high sheriff. II is
fortified by big badge Of Office and
lace and tight-titting coat and big
cap.
In just such cases as the one above
stated. where but one man has the
power to release prisoner, il would
appear that he should be in charge at
the station at all times. Hunting him
up or ringing him up by telephone is
not the proper way. He should be on
the spot. That is what he is for. He
is the servant of the man who may be
arrested. He is the servant of the pub
lie whose laws the prisoner is accused
of having infringed.
Suppose that instead of man being
arrested for being drunk il was wo-
man arrested by Policeman Hanrahan.
because she was driving. in the opinion
of this highly efficient officer, heed
lessly and recklessly. She would be
taken to the station and booked. Then
she would be searched and taken be-
low and put into cell. III the station
clerk and the captain of the watch have
no authority to release on bail. they
certainly have no right 70 keep pris-
oner from being locked up when be or
she is arrested.
Take person arrested for riding a
bicycle without light. He must first
obtain the permission of the sheriff be-
fore he is released. He may not leave
his wheel as security for his appearance.
He Is looked upon and treated as q per
son who has committed some heinous
crime. For XII crimes excepting muir
der, man is supposed 70 have the
privilege OF bail Being liberated upon
his own recognizance is also known To
be the rule III other civilized portions
of the world where there are sheriffs,
but not high sheriffs.
Sometime somebody who is arrested
viii have his friends 90 to a commit
ting magistrate and have the Judge is
sue an order for the prisoners release.
1t will be presented at the police sta
ton and the clerk will refuse to obey il
because be has orders from the high
sheriff. Then should the Judge get his
danderup, the high sheriff may be sorry
that he did not repose more authority
in his captains and heutenants Of the
watch.