Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1908-12-19
Capt. Haragadon Reduced Because
He Was Attentive to
His Duty.
Serious Clash Between Police Depart
ment and Sheriff's Office
Prospective.
POLICE SPYING ON EACH OTHER

Ano present Guy administration
continues to pursue dark lantern
methods unless the men that under
take to guide affairs feel that they
are pulling off a grand stand play.
In the latter case the daily news
papers are given a surfeit of news
about raids on saloons, shortage
or an overplus of police. and the
handsome new automobiles pur-
chased for the fire and police de-
partments.
NO dall y paper was vouchsafed the
information that Tom Hargadon was
reduced from Captain of the No. 3
Engine Company to driver of the
coal wagon last Saturday night, and
that John Jacobs was made Captain
in his stead.
In what did Capt Hargadon Of
fend? When w. II. Taft spoke here
at the Coliseum in October Cant.
Hargadon and his men were fighting
a fire at Thirteenth and Oak. while
other members of the fire DEPART
ment and fire department horses
were in the Taft parade. Hargadon
led his men into the fire, ex-
tlnguished the flames, prevented n
great loss of property, and when he
came from the burning building anil
drew off his gloves the skin came
from his hands. He has been reduced
for attention to duty.
Herman Roehr, who keeps a saloon
in the East End, and who was n
Deputy Sheriff, at least he was on
the payroll. has resigned. There is
story out that the resignation wa
brought about as the result of y
clash between the Sheriff and the
police department The daily papers
have not even limited at the cause of
Roehr's resignation.
But that is not all. The word has
gone around that all city Jobs now
held by Democrats nrrst-bs Tfrre5 nv
Republicans. even in the police and
IRE departments. What do they ex-
Pect to do? Put negroes in the fire
department. or on the police force?
Imagine a big black copper. clad a
Ia Foster, ordering people to keen
moving on one of our congested thor
oughfares. Such a thing is possible.
Out of $4,000 registered Republican
votes 10000 are negroes. and many
OF the remaining 5000 are thriving
business men who have no desire to
be police or firemen. Surely there
are too few white Republicans left
to 60 around.
The Luschinger episode has also
attracted attention. Luschinger was
formerly conductor in the employ
ment of the Louisville Railway Conn
pany. Can anybody tell why his con-
nection with that company was
severed. or whether he could be rein
stated if he so desired. Luschinger
got his ideas of detective methods
from reading sold Sleuth" stories.
Certainly Col. Haager nor any
reputable policeman or detective ever
went spying on their fellows dis
guised as tramp. Luschinger had
four policemen before the Board of
Public Safety; said he found them
loafing in an engine house. The
defendants and their witnesses say
he was disguised as a hobo The
Board of Public Safety took the Nat
ter under advisement.
To say the least the present police
force of Louisville is absolutely
demoralized. Each man, whether he
be patrolman, Sergeant or Captain, is
watching his fellows more than he
is guarding the city's interests. The
Republican administration knows
this; it knows that Chief Hanger
knows it, and his enemies want to
see how long he will stand it.
Louisville under the regime of
Mayor Grinstead has more policemen
than under Democratic rule, still
Col. Haager asks for more men, and
the understanding is that they will
be appointed early in January. De-
spite the increased police force the
city is less carefully patrolled. Why?
On account of so many new sub
police stations, which entail many
more stationkeepers day and night
and so many petty officers. Instead
of giving Louisville a properly
patrolled police service the depart
ment is putting on style with three
new automobiles at 1,400 per. Why
not buy an airship or an aeroplane
for the department?
To cap the climax of the tribula
tions of the city administration came
the terminus of the Lee Figg case
on Monday. Mr.. Figg is well known
street contractor, and last Jsly was
arrested at the instance of Alderman
Hess, who claimed Figg tried to bride
him. The testimony was heard Mon
day. The jury evidently did nSt
believe Hess and his witnesses. for
they acquitted Figg in five minutes
after they retired.