Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-01-04
SUES FOR $1,000
John Sellman Alleges False Ar.
rest and Demands Above
Sum in Damages.

George Henry Stephens, our city
night marshal, Is in the possession of
legal paper served upon him about
Christmas time which can hardly be
called q very acceptable Christmas
present. For arresting one John e.
Sellman and kee ping him In the lock-
up over night he has been made the
defendant in q suit for damages to the
amount Of one thousand dollars.
Samuel Porter has been retained by
the plaintiff as the attorney to handle
the case.
The plaintiff who seeks balm to the
above amount for his wounded feel
fngs makes the following allegation:
"That at the Great Northern depot
In the city of Willmar, in said county
and state, in the evening OF the 2lst
day OF December, A. D., 1904, In the
presence OF large corcourse of peo.
pie, and as the plaintiff was alighting
from the passenger train of the said
railroad, the defendant without any
right Or authority and without prob
able cause wrongfully ana unlawfully
arrested the plaintiff, and against the
wish of the plaintiff, took the pl Aintitf
to the city lock up Of the said city and
without any right or authority, and
against the will Of the plaintiff anG
with force and arms, and without rea-
sonable or probable cause, wrongful|y
and unlawfully imprisoned the plain
tiff in the said city lock up OF the said
city from the time he so imprisoned
plaintiff until between four and FIVE
O'Clock the next morning, when the dc.
fendant relel the plaintiff from
such imprisonment.
THAT by reason OF the premises
aforesaid the plaintiff has sustained
damages in the sum OF one thousand
dollars.''
Marshal Stephens Is given twenty
days in which to hle his answer to
the complaint, which bears the date
Of Dec. %. He is not losing any sleep
over the affair and will in due time
file the necessary papers telling his
side OF the story. The case will be
| aired at the coming term of district
| court, which convenes the latter part
of this month. \
On the night of the arrest of Sell.
man he had just arrived from Litch.
fed, and it is stated hat he was in an
intoxicated condition. He was pas
senger on No. ;, the Puget Sound Ex-
press. 1t is claimed that he caused a
disturbance much to the annoyance OF
the passe ngers aboard and when be
arrived here a window pane in the
coach had become demolished on &C
count of his lack of balancing power
For breaking the glass he subsequent.
ly parted with 81 so, the amount of the
Great Northern claim for damages
Our officer of the law being Of the
opinion that he was not a fit subjec,
to be at large took him in tow and be
was given a nights lodging as the
guest OF the city. He was released
early the next morning, when in a so
ter condition, and was allowed to &c
his way without being rt tquired to ap
pear in court. According to the state
ment Of the officer this action was
taken to prevent further and needless
expense to the city. For this lenien
treatment Of the prisoner the guardian
OF the peace is now made the defend
ant Of what may result in a costly Law
suit.
Very little is known Of Sellman ex
cept that he has for q time claimed
Spicer as his home. He has devoted
part OF his time ID Transferring.