The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-28
COPPER OCCUPIES
CELL IN STATION
Arrested Charged With Robbing
and Firing a Branch Public
Library

In default of 81, 600 bail Policeman Swan
NJ. Lindahl, of the South Minneapolis de-
tail, occupies cell No: in the central pc.
is possible the charge OF arson Will be
made against him.
Stripped of his accoutrements he pre-
sents an abiect spectacle and, although he
protests he is innocent of the charge which
has been made against him, he neverthe-
less realizes that he is in a sorry plight,
for he is treated an ordinary prisoner
and has no special privileges.
Last night he had long consultation
with Attorney Iver c. Nelson, who will
appear in his behalf at his examination
today. but at the end of the conference
ne did not appear TO be in pleasant
frame of mind.
The South Minneapolis branch of the
public library is. located at Bloomington
and Franklin avenues. is in the territory
covered by Lindahl. and it is alleged that
Sunday night he robbed the till of 2.35
and set fire to the building, with the pos
sible expectation that the fire department
would be called out and the loss of the
money would be attributed to the presence
of the firemen in the building.
Two times in the last few days the till
has been robbed On Feb u So was
taken and ten days later So was missed
Lindahl was known to have key to the
building and suspicion was turned in his
direction and Sunday night II. -Askeland,
the librarian, and Andrew Peterson an
artist with rooms in the building, lay in
hiding across the street
Watch for Thief
Shortly before 10 o'clock they saw Lin
dahl enter the building. They followed
him, but he gave a satisfactory explana-
ton of his presence and left the place.
The watchers concealed themselves again
and could see him make his way to the
desk where the money is kept
After Lindahl left a bright light was
seen in the rear of the library and the
two men entered i'm haste and found
quantity of rubbish on fire. a small hose
was handy and the flames were extin-
guished before much damage was done.
Then the police were telephoned and De-
tective Morrisey and Lieut. Qvittum, of
scene.
They soon located the policeman and
took him to the South station. where he
was accused of the theft of the money.
He protested his innocence vehemently.
but Detective Morrisey stripped him of
his cap. star buttons and other city
property and ordered him locked in a cell
Yesterday when brought into court he
demanded an examination and will be
given one today. In default of bail he
was taken to the central station and in
In Trouble Before
Lindahl was appointed to the police
1orce about a year ago by Mayor Haynes
and was assigned to the south station
he has been in trouble twice. Once he
was beaten by man he attempted to ar
rest and on the other occasion one of the
witnesses for a prisoner he had arrested
swore he was drunk at the time he made
the arrest.
He is married and with his wife and
one child lives at 3249 Nicollet avenue,
and before appointed to the police force
was street car conductor
lie was dismissed from the force YES
terday morning by order of Chief Doyle.
Fire Was Incendiary
Fire Marshal Ringer investigated the
premises yesterday and he is OF the opin-
lon that the fire in the rubbish was of in
cendlary origin and was not caused by
the accidental lighting of q match for
Iindahl was so familiar with the premises
that 1t was possible for him to pass
through the rooms without the aid of a
light. If it is believed that conviction
on the charge of arson is possible he will
be accused of this crime as well as bur-
glary.
When he appeared in court yesterday
he presented a sorry appearance. HIS
uniform had been stripped of its brass
buttons, his star was missing and instead
OF the uniform cap he wore dented stiff
hat which some policeman had found in
the south station and given him. He pro-
tested against being locked up, but as he
could not furnish bail he was taken to a
cell and treated like any other prisoner
Lindahl has many staunch friends but
the most loyal one is his wife and she
called at the station several times yester-
day and had long talks with her husband.
What was said is not known, for the
officers at the station would permit no
person to interrupt them.
Several friends visited him and promis-
ed their assistance in a moral and financial
way, and the probabilities of a stubborn
defense are of the best.