Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-12-07
ARRESTED WITHOUT PROVOCA-
TON.

There was an outrage committed in
our city last Saturday evening for
which all the excuses that the human
mind can frame cannot atone. We
are all prone to erroT, but thank the
Lord majority have the good judg-
ment to rectify mistake before it is
everlastingly too late. This was not
the case, however, on Saturday even
ing when one of our most exemplary
young men, without the least SEM
blance of proyocation was arrested,
hustled down to the city hall and
locked up. Any boy whom it is found
necessary to arrest, no matter what
the offense, so long as it is a minor
one, should be taken to the police
Office and reprimanded and sent home,
not searched and thrust into a cell.
There is no excuse for this kind of
treatment even to the one committing
a slight offense, but to one who is inno-
cent, it is simply dastardly.
Wishing to get at the truth of the
matter the Pilot reporter interviewed
Mr.. Frank Kelly father of the young
man above referred to, who related
the following:
sMy son, Norton Kelly, and his
companions. Karl Larson and Roland
Bartlett were at the Y. M. G. A.
building on Saturday evening and
from there a little after s O'Clock
went down to the Coliseum skating
rink. At about $50 they came out,
and stopped on the corner fer
moment. considering whether to re-
without a word of warning they were
. 10 e,fr NV pnliann1Qn
Martin. Norton asked the meaning
of this assault and was told they
would have to keep off the walk.
Thoroughly incensed at the unpro-
voked treatment, Norton replied that
he at least had the right to stand in
the street. At this the policeman
grabbed him by the collar and handled
him in a rough and brutal way and
with the assistance of special police
man German, rushed the boy TO the
city hall: another officer of the law,
Policeman Schwister, was met on the
way and he brought up the rear 10
see, perhaps, that nothing happened
to his brother officers. Norton was
searched, his watch and gloves taken
from him and other indignitles IN
fiicted and he was thrust into
and disorderlies, and left there TO re-
main over Sunday, Notwithstanding
my name and telephone number was
given to the police, by my son, who
requested that | be notified, but they
refused TO call me. Schwister knew
my son and his answer was that "a boy
who would talk back TO an officer
ought to stay in Jail over night. L
was called up by telephone by one OF
the boys and fastened to the city
hall: called UP Chief of Police Thos.
Malone. and secured the release OF
my son. with the understanding that
he appear in municipal court Monday
morning.
The above are the facts asgiyen the
PTI,or by Mr.. Kelly. On Monday
morning at O'Clock, all appeared In
court and L. A. Pradt was the attor-
ney for Norton. The hearing had
proceeded but few moments
When it was evident that the police
men were on trial and not the boy
The city attorney admitted that
mistake had been made: That 1t was a
case of mistaken indemnity; that Nor
ton had committed no otfense what
ever and he was released.
Judge Marchetti, before whom the
hearing was held. censured the ponce
men for their lack OF Judgment. IL
hardly seems possible that sucn an
outrage can happen in a owned
community. But it has, and now II
is up to our IRE and police COM
mission TO take a hand in the censur-
ing business.