Arizona republican., 1901-08-17
SCENES IN POLICE COURT
To be Safe Wheelmen Should Light
 Their Lam ps at Sundown.


 like a half dozen men tremblingly made answer to the awful charge of riding bicycles after dark without the legal illumination called for by the city or dinances.
 Of the number one man, who was previous offender, pleaded guilty and took the usual sentence without a murmur. another who had been arrest ed and given three dollars bail failed tC waste his time in making an appear ance, as he said he supposed he would lose out anyway.
 Another young man who was captur- ed some time after 8 o'clock, was clearly innocent of any intent to break the law He was a new conner, and where he formerly lived there were no such laws and he did not suppose there were here. When Officer Lawrence rode up to ar rest him he noticed that the young man had lamp on his wheel, but it was not lighted. The officer asked him why he did not light it and he said he did not need light, as he could see well enough without one. The young man thsn remarked to the officer that
 
 about that time Mir. Lawrence intro duced himself and then the biggest kind of a light broke over the new arrival. The recorder said there was no provis- ion in the ordinance for clemency on account of ignorance of the law, and accordingly three dollar fine was inn posed.
 There were three other cases against well known and reputable Phoenix gentlemen. none of whom would will ingly violate an ordinance. But an un- fortunate misunderstanding has arisen between the republican city marshal and the democratic city council. through which these gentlemen are the innocent sufferers, and through which more people are likely to get the short end of it if they don't watch out
 When Marshal Kinney was installed into office some three months ago the council instructed him to enforce the bicycle ordinance, A demand was made on the marshal by the public to know what dark meant, or rather whether sundown. twilight or still deeper dark ness was to be considered the dead line. He was requested to name an hour, any old hour So the people knew what it was. as there are many who ride home on wheels after their days work, and it was desired to know just what their rights were.
 Mir. Kinney. realizing the justice of the demand. announced through the papers that s o'clock would be consid- cred the hour to light up. Things ran along smoothly and those who were ar rested after 8 o'clock paid the penalty without murmur, and good citizens for the most part kept close eye on their watches at eventide. Two or three weeks ago the gentlemen of the council ribbed up night Captain Joe Bush and told him people were riding after dark and to arrest them. The inference left with the captain was that dark came pretty soon after sundown, in fact 1t was a race between them to see which would get here first. It was pretty thor oughly intimated that If it got dark be- fore o'clock people were liable to ar rest regardless of the marshars set time. MT. Bush, not wishing to work a hardship on any one. was still leni- ent up to s o'clock till he received a second notice from some of the coun- cilmen to enter upon the discharge of his duty. He did so. and the three gen. tlemen above referred to got into tA,u= ble.
 At the examination the stories of both themselves and the officers agreed substantially in every respect They were arrested, one at 7:20, another at : 80 and the third before o'clock. The hour of their arrest Is the point at is sue. All could have secured lights had they thought it necessary.
 At this stage of the proceedings the city marshal addressed the court He spoke in defense of the men and said he believed it unfair to punish them, as they were the innocent victims Of a misupderstanding between himself and the council He had nothing to say against Captain Bush and his men, as they were hired by the council and naturally would enforce the orders of the council. He had established the eight hour precedent some months ago. and there had been no objection made to it by the council till the order issued to Captain Bush. He believed the coun- ell. desiring a change of the hour. should have notified him before in- structing the night men to violate the precedent Had 1t done so no clash would have occurred Since that time It had been mentioned again in a city paper that the legal hour established by Mr. Kinney was s o'clock. This. he said. was true though the publication of it at this time was not authorized by him, and he presumed the gentlemen of the council thought it was and had taken offense. believing he was trying Io antagoEize them. He concluded his by saying that as he believed the gentlemen arraigned were innocent victims he would volunteer to pay their |