Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-10-17
FERKEL TO FIGHT
Will Push His Claim for Killing
Dogs Against the
City.
TELLS SOME INSIDE HISTORY
Loses His Job Because of Refusing
to Let Up on the
PeddIers.

William Ferkel, eX-member of the
police department, says there is yet
another inning to his suit against the
city of Rock Island for $105 for an
initiating dogs, which was dismissed
last Monday after a hearing in the
court of Justice ID. II. McFarlane.
| Ferkel wishes it understood that he
! is not a gutter. He says that he was
not only a terror to the canine va
grant population when he wore the
blue and welded the billy, but like
wise the crooks and other evil-doers
found him a difficult proposition to
hand the bunch to-. He was always
there with the goods when the oc-
casion arose during the performance
of his duty
Bill-he is called Bill by his init
mates-tips the scales at over 200. He
| is young and strong, and made
sumner in the uniform of a copper.
In fact when it came to front Bill did
not have to take rear bench for the
best of them. His long suit was as a
night sleuth. He has pair of lamps
that can see through a crooked alley,
or over the top of a four-storv when
there is not an electric light within a
mile. At least that is what they used
to tell of Bill when he patrolled Il
night beat.
All this is told simply to bear out
Bits contention that he made a model
officer. He allows he made mistakes,
like other men and like others who
serve on the police force. But he per-
formed his duty, that is what is what
he wishes understood
Tells of Dog Killing.
$50 when those fellows say that |
killed dogs after l had been instruct
ed not to do so, they tell what is not
So says Bill. 81 remember having
orders from the health commissioner
to let up on the slaughter of dogs.
and thereafter when l shot one |
kept no record of it, | am asking pay
for only those that | had orders to
shoot. When | was on the force peo-
pie would come to my house every
day and ask me to kill their dogs,
stating they had been to police head
quarters time and again and left re-
quests for the shooting of the dogs,
but no heed was given them. That's
the way affairs were run. l tell you
| propose to enlighten them.
Il lost my job as an officer simply
because l did my duty. and I'll tell !
you how it happened: You know every
fall a crowd of peddlers goes through |
the streets selling potatoes. and many |
of them have short measures. | was
on to those fellows. and arrested one !
every time | caught him selling short |
measure. Several of them were |
brought up and fined. Finally the ped |
dlers got their heads together and |
registered a kick against me. | paid |
no attention to that but went about |
to my duties. Another of |
the peddlers was hauled up for the |
same offense at my instigation.
Loses His Job.
Then, / was officially informed that |
the next peddler l arrested for short
l would be bounced. just |
to see if a man was to be fired for |
doing what he is sworn to do, the next |
time | caught peddler giving short |
measure | pulled him, / got it in the
neck. So that's the way it goes. If |
Il fellow isn't right with the gang he
don't last long.
But returning to the dogs, l want
the city officials to know that | do
not propose quitting, simply because
one justice turned my case down. I'm
going to the limit That's me- have
a good claim, and should be paid"
This afternoon FerkeIs suit against
the city was taken on appeal to the
circuit court.