The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-27
BOY HELD IN POLICE CELL.
Why is it That the Public is En-.
dangered by Police Custom
Making it Possible for One
to be Held Without OPP
pOrtunity TO give
Bail?


to be Held Without OPP
pOrtunity to give
Bail?
For piece of innocent fun.
behaved white boy who runs the ele-
vator in the Carolina Trust building,
was last night arrested by a man
named Buck, who occasionally helps
out the police force, and confined in a
cell with several DRINKS for some
fifteen or twenty minutes until the
writer telephoned to Mayor Powell
and secured his release upon mis- own
recognizance. From the best reports
that could be obtained last night the
young mans offence consisted only
in throwing and exploding torpedo
on the street, near Kings drug store.
Many torpedoes had been exploded
during the evening, but this was the
only arrest on that score. The arrest
occasioned considerable indignation
on the part of a large crowd when
gathered and in one way or another,
interested themselves in the boys re-
lease Young Clark was entirely
sober, and as far as could be gathered,
was in no way and no sense to blame
In company with many others he was
enjoying Christmas eve pleasantly ana
nationally and was merely a victim OF
over Zeal--Or WOrSe-on the part OF
q man who seems to be professional
policeman getting odd jobs to fill out
on the force and trying to make
good" by putting arrests on the
docket.
Hearing of a disturbance, / visited
the station house at about eleven
o'clock and found there in a cell with
several sad eyed DRINKS, young Mr.;
Clark Soon after 1 arrived several
gentlemen came into the station
house. and one of them produced a
roll of bills and offered TO go the
young mans bond by giving cash
deposit This was refused by the
turnkey who stated that the rules
were that no one could be dismissed
on bond except by the mayor or chlef
of police. He also stated that both
of these officials went home early, and
that anybody arrested at night was
put in a cell and kept there until Or
ders from one of those officials.
Upon this information, l at once
telephoned Mayor Powell and secured
the boys release, without BOND. Ihat
might of course, have been done elth-
er by the turnkey or any policeman
but no one seemed to take any inter-
est in the matter except the gentle
man who wished to give the bond and
myself A remarkable instance of IN
difference was displayed by the uncle
of the boy Policeman Creighton, VINO
was present and who seemed TO be Ut
terly devoid of any desire TO secure
his nephe WIS release. Inc entire IN
cident smelt bad. The offence was al
most a minor one, the boy was almost
too Young for responsibility, and ms
father was we'll known by the ponce
In spite of these facts he was locked
up and would doubtless have been KEEP,
| in a cell with common drunks al
| night had not outsiders InterIered'
The mayor by his prompt action IN re-
| leasing the young boy absolVeS MN
| GOLF from any blame in the transac-
tioo. but the system that leaves citl-
Gems at the risk of being put rex
| communicable when arrested on any
| trumpeG up charge is BAD one
| There should be at all times at, the sta
| ton house some one capable or ac-
cepting q bond.
Buck, the man who made the ar
rest. was formerly a policeman, bu'
was dropped from the force. 1t Il
| said that he is trying to get back. lie
| has recently done some service as al
| extra or an emergency policeman. !
was he who was some time ago, one
| of the two men who swooped down
on a crowd of circus laborers prepa!-
| ing To leave town and arrested two OF
|
| the trial or the evidence of the ponce
failed to develop a scintilla of proof.
Booze and Scrapping.
Tom Parrish, drunk, was arrested
and allied.
Oscar Robinson, for firing a pistol
was also Jailed, he being likewise
drunk.
Ivan Horton for carrying pistol
| was another recruit for the mayor; as
| also was John Andrews, colored, Wnt
| was arrested for indulging In ar
ARRAY
| Henry Olive. Joe Barbee and Nj. }
| Driscoll, as the result of a Christmas
eve scrap, found themselves in du'
rance vile" Booze did not Inquire IL
| this episode.
The same remark, however, doe!
not apply to Willie Freeman, j. r.
Lane Dune Williams, j. l.. Young
| Eldridge Smith, Fred Miller, b. III
Spain, Marion Ruth, Walter Sugg anC
| Frank Moore. These young gentle
| men it appears had looked at liqulo
| Christmas cheer until its color mac
gotten into their eyes. whereupon the
guardians of the peace found 1t neces
| sary TO take them in until the war
| like mirage should vanish.