Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-02
CITY MARSHAL IS
ARRESTED AFTER
PRACTICAL JOKE
HAS SISTERS BRIDAL PARTY
SENT TO JAIL
OFFICER "PINCHED" FOR AUToiNG
WITHOUT LIGHTS
Chief of Redondo Beach Police Con-
Quoted to Ocean Park Station,
Where He Meets Newly
Married Couple
FEW HOURS after the marriag,

A FEW HOURS after the marriage
Ia of the sister. of Lee Stanchheld,
"A city marshal of Redondo Beach,
the newly married couple, two friends
and the Redondo official were under
arrest at Ocean Park, the bridal party
as the result of practical joke played
by the marshal, and that officer Of the
law charged with operating an automo-
bile, the lights of which were not in
use. Tears, explanations and apologies
so confused the Ocean Park police that
the entire party succeeded in getting
away.
The marriage of Stanchfeld's sister
occurred in Los Angeles Saturday even
ing. The bride and bridegroom, accom-
panied by the best man and the brides
maid, went to Venice to attend a we'd
ding supper at the Ship hotel Mar
shall Stanchfield promised to follow i'm
mediately, pleading business as an eX-
cuse to remain in Los Angeles few
minutes.
Police Put on Trail
AS soon as the bridal party had
started on the car ride to Venice Mar
shall Stanchfield got busy on the tele-
phone. He called the Ocean Park
police requesting them to arrest four
suspicious characters who were due to
arrive in that city soon and to hold the
quartette until he arrived with the war
rants. The brides brother gave the
Ocean Park police minute descriptions
of the four persons they were to ap-
prehend.
Scenting a great crime and feeling
that the ends of justice would not be
served unless the four desperate char
acters were arrested, the entire polio
department of Ocean Park and Venice
was stationed at the stops on the Los
Angeles-Pacific line. Every bluecoat
was warned to exert extra vigilance
that the four clever criminals should
not escape the peshes of the police.
Arrested Immediately
Before the car on which the happy
bridal party was riding had come to
stop at Venice it was boarded at each
end by grim looking policemen. The
four were instantly recognized. The
bushes of the bride turned to crimson
stains when rough hands were laid on
her shoulder and she was informed she
was under arrest. The bridegroom
used language never before heard from
his lips by his startled mate.
Protests and explanations were of no
avail. Bride and bridegroom, brides
maid and groomsman were escorted
under close scrutiny to the city Jail.
The officer in charge of the station was
half inclined to believe the story that
the arrest was the result of n practical
joke, but he took no chances and held
the party for the expected arrival of
the brides brother, City Marshal
Stanchfield of Redondo Beach.
1t was a long wait before brother ar
rived, and when he did enter the Jail
it was between two stalwart police
men. For brother had had troubles of
his own, and with the same police force
he had used to play a joke on his
sister.
After telephoning the Ocean Park
police to arrest the bridal party,
Stanchfield' jumped in an auto, threw
into the high and started for Ocean
Park to be at the police station when
the discounted reVelers should arrive
But Marshal Stanchtields auto was
not used to such a pace and refused
to work. First it was one thing and
then another that detained the marshal
along the road. Just about the time
the marshal realized the brilliance of
the intended joke might have waned
a little on the bridal party, all became
dark The marshafs lights, or the
lights on the auto. went out They
stayed out
Arrested and Released
Throwing caution to the winds, the
officer again threw 1t into high and
sped merrily toward Ocean Park. But
again the efficiency of the Ocean Park
police force was demonstrated and
Marshal Stanchfield was arrested for
operating an auto without lights.
Such a bewilderment of explanations,
tears, apologies, reproaches and more
tears followed Marshall Stanchfield's
appearance at the police station that
the Ocean Park police were only too
glad to release all members of the
party.
Now Marshal Stanchfield Of Redondo
Beach is considering carefully the pos
sibility of raising the Redondo Beach
force to the efficiency of the Ocean
Park police.