The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-27
ST. PAUL s POLICE FORCE
FIFTY YEARS AGO
1t Then Consisted of One Man, Who Had Deal With Bad
Characters Who Drfted to This Outpost Civilization
Some Men Still the Force Who Began Service 80 Ago

From a village with single marshal
fifty years ago, to the best policed city
in the United States at present, is a
record of development in which St
Paul may justly take pride.
While statistics of crime show that
there now is less lawlessness in this
city than in any other in proportion
to size at present, fifty years ago, when
"BilP' Miller was the sole representa-
tive Of law and order in the village
the settlers We're constantly at the
mercy of marauding red skins and
more dangerous thieves and murderers
of white skin, who had drifted to the
confines of civilization
The steamboat landing in the early
days of St Paul was the scene of fire.
quent brawls and disturbances, and
the pioneers, whenever necessity re-
qutred them to move about the vii
lage, took the pfecaution of going well
armed. Tough characters sWarmed uu
the river from the South and East
and 1t was not till several years after
the police force was organized that
the village was rid of the dangerous
element.
: Bib" Miller. town marshal and first
chief of police, had his hands full in
protecting the lives and property OF
! the early citizens. In 1856 the first
organized force was established, and
1t consisted of Miller as chief, with
four patrolmen-John Gobel, Nicholas
Miller, M. c. Hardwig and Edward
| Maher The patrolmen at that time
received $3.50 per day.
! With the expansion Of the town the
| force was increased In 1858 the sys-
! tenn was reorganized and the city was
| divided into districts, each being placed
! under captain.
The force then consisted of twelve
men disposed among three districts
| Capt. Solomon Walters, who had
charge of the first district, had undel
him William H. Splitter, Smith Nc.
Auley and Joseph Fadden. The Sec
ond district was in charge of Capt
| Bert Miller and policed by William
Tonika, Andrew Sanberg, Aspinwal
| Cornwall. Capt. James Gooding anc
Policemen M. c. Hardwig, Henry Gal.
vim and Ed Hahner protected the thir6
district Henry Calvin died in ST. Pau
q Few months ago; he was AT the time
/ of his death the only survivor of tn,
| early guard
/ Police Force Is Abolished.
The force remained unchanged from
1858 till 1862, when three of the patrol.
men enlisted in the volunteer reei.
lnents and left the force so crippled
! that Mayor Prince was obliged to cal
meeting Of the citizens to devils.
some expedient. He suggested thai
| the police force be abolished entirely
| and that the citizens organize them.
! selves into q home guard to protec
themselves. This suggestion wa,
adopted.
I. Some of the old residents of the cit,
| may have a recollection Of the ok
home guard which for nearly a yea
| enforced order in the small town Citi
| zens organized themselves into bodie
! and patroled the streets in turns dur
ing the night time. The guard duty
which at first was disagreeable t,
many, soon became popular, so mucl
SO that the wives became alarmed a
the might hawking" habits their hus
| bands were acquiring.
The home guard was finally aban