Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-15
JOLLY POLICE
LOSE THEIR PAY
MEANDERED LATE AT NIGHT IN
EASTLAKE PARK
Both Pulled Pistols, While Fair Com
panions screamed-TeIl Chief
They Saw Visions Of
Robbers

1ne DOllC6 DOdIQ yOoASi0eey
the action of Chief Kern in suspendint
officer r, H. Morgan (star No. 122) ant
Officer Dennis F. Murphy (star No. l96
for five days with loss of pay for thell
conduct in Eastlake park, charges hav
ing been filed by Park Watchman Geo
w. Rushton.
The policemen explained to the CHIEF
that they thought Rushton was hold
up man, hence displayed their weapons
Chief Kern said, replying to the COM
nlissioners, who wanted to know why
policemen carried weapons when on
duty and what business they had In the
park at such an hour:
s.Policemen must at an times carry
pistols and handcuffs. Some years ago
a street car on which three policemen
who were off duty rode unarmed founo
themselves helpless. The board made
rule then requiring that officers always
go armed"
Watchman Rushton's charges which
were filed and referred by the park COM
missioners to the police commissioners
were as follows:
"I beg to report that while making my
last round in Eastlake park at 1O:SO p.
m. April IL gentleman by the name OF
Clarence Shaw stopped me and said
that there were two couples over on
the grass. That being very dark point
in the park 1 and the watchman at the
merry-go-round proceeded to investi-
gate.
Draws Revolver
eve had only just got there and
located ourselves in position where we
could take a view of the couples when
they all got up and came toward us, one
of the women saying:
"'There he is. See who he is
s'At that moment one OF the men
pulIed out his gun and walked back.
On seeing the gun 1 stepped out and
said:
"I am the man you want, and
showed my star, making the statement
that it was my duty to watch every one
and soon as found out that they were
all right to go away and let them alone,
but being closing time 1 was going to
have them leave the park.
"They then began to abuse me, say
ing that they had right to arrest me
and put me out, at the same time
swiftly pulling their coats back so l
could get a glimpse of their stars. l
then asked them for the numbers of
their stars This they positively refused
to do, one of them saying that he would
see that I lost my job.
KNOWING that Patrolman McAuliffe
(No. 116) would be at the box at
Prichard street and Mission road at
that time I reported to him, asking him
10 come with me and we would see
whether they had authority to carry
stars or not.
"On going back we found one of the
couples sitting on a seat in a very dark
corner. again asked him to give us
the number of his star, which he re-
fusedFto do. The patrolman who was
with me then said he would place him
under arrest for violating park ordin-
ances, at which the man jumped up and
reached back to his hip pocket and
pulled out his gun.
ION seeing this movement I placed my
searchlight on him and demanded him
to come out in the light where we could
look at him, whereupon 1 pulled back
his coat and took the number of his
star, which was No. 122.
"At that time the woman who was
with him called to the other couple for
assistance. The other man came run
ming down with gun in his hand, but
on seeing the patrolman he put up his
gun.
'T asked him if they did not under
stand park ordinances and they both re-
Piled they knew nothing about park or
dinances.
''The other officers star was No. 1875.
Gentlemen, their language cannot be
explained in writing, for it was so low
and degrading, and therefore beg of a |
chance to explain for the benefit of the
department, and this is not the first
time that those would-be policemen
have brought women in the park and
have been caught, but on all previous
occasions have left the park when le-
Quested to-
L also sent report to the chief re-
garding the above on the day following |
the episode. Yours truly,
GEORGE w. RUSHTON,
"Watchman Eastlake park"