The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-08-31
Have a Mix.up Which Resulted in
the Former Hustling the Lat
ter to the City Lookup,
Where He Remained
Two Minutes.
Kester's Actions
Pronounced Rash
BY Several Eye.witnesses to the
Affair and Bitterly Denounced
by Them Charges Likely
to be Preferred by Vim.
Burke Against the
Police Officer.

The City OF Clarksburg has been
compromised by one OF her police OF
ticers, whose rash act makes the city
liable TO damage suit. An aged and
respected citizen sitting peaceably in
front Of his place Of business, attend
ing to his own affairs and perfectly
sober was roughly taken from that
chair to the prison dungeon to remain
all night, If Justice had not prevailed
at headquarters.
Monday evening about s O'Clock as
Officer Jason Kester went to his sup
per at the st. Charles hotel, he raped
on the screen doors OF William
Burke's saloon and demanded that
better order be kept. Mr.. Burke went
to the door and asked what kester
meant. Upon Kester's reply, Mr.. Burke
informed kester that he was capable
of running his own place and when he
needed Kester's assistance, he would
call him in. Kester replied hotly but
walked of. At point five or six
yards away, Kester turned around and
made remark that appeared to the
Telegram reporter as threatening.
Kester went TO his room then, Burke
sat down on chair in front Of his
place OF business rs he often does.
Policeman Green came along and Mr..
Burke showed him what Kester had
done, using Mr.. GREEN'S mace In the
illustration. After Burke had finished
the story and Green had passed on,
Kester came out Of she hotel rather
| hurriedly and walked down to where
Burke was sitting. An alteration
occurred there, the beginning of which
we are not clear upon. 1t appeared
to the Telegram reporter, who was
looking, that Kester grabbed Burke by
the shoulders and tried to take him,
but Mr.. Kester claims differently. He
says he quietly told Mr.. Burke to ap-
pear before the mayor the next morn
ing and that Mr.. Burke refused,
calling him a low name. Mr.. Burke,
however, claims Kester grabbed him,
uttered an oath and had his club
liftedt to strike him.
Mr.. Burke attempted to get upand
go to the door of the saloon. Kester
jerked him back and called to Green
for assistance. The two officers then
took hold of him andrushed him oil to
the city lookup, where they commit
ted him without ado. He appealed to
them to let him lock his place OF bust
ness as there was no one there to look
after matters, but heappealed in vain.
Kester had his man and it seemed 70
make no difference what became Of
his victims property and affairs
There was some SIPS in the cash
drawer that any thief might have had
for the going after 1t.
Mr.. Burke and the two or three
persons in the saloon say there was
no unusual noise and that all was
orderly.
| Many indignant citizens followed
the officers and Burke to the mayors
ortice and protested SO loudly against
what they deemed an outrageous and
wholly unwarranted act, that officer
Borgess. at once communicated with
the mayor, who ordered Burke's re-
lease.
The charge Of resisting an officer
was Matched up by Kester against
Mr.. Burke and Wednesday morning
Mayor Thompso tried the case, not
withstanding Kester had summoned
him as witness. Some think Kester
had the mayor summoned as witness
to prevent his trying the case. The
mayor did not see the affair, but Kes-
ter claimed he had head Burke's
story The mayor refused to be
treated in such way and tried the
case.
| Kester and Green on behalf Of the
city we're the only witnesses intro.
duced and the mayor, readily seeing
the city had failed to make out It's
case, discharged Mr.. Burke and rep.
rimanded Kester.
| The affair has created considerable
agitation and several members of the
council regard the incident SUFFICIENT
grounds for his dismissal from the
force.
| 1t is stated that Mr.. Burke will not
sue the city, but will content himself
by preferring charges against Kester,
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