Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-25
BOGUS OFFICER
SENT TO JAIL
Witnesses Declare That Alleged Off
Ger Struck Horst Holden in Jaw at
Police Station After Illegal
Detention

Instead of placing in Jail a man
whom he arrested for an alleged vio-
lation of the city ordinance and gloat-
ing over the fact that he could boast of
having placed an innocent man behind
the bars, G. c. Lockridge, an alleged
deputy constable, who achieved con-
siderable notoriety several months ago
when he participated in d FAKE gun
fight with an imaginary suspect in the
Poltera murder case, was arrested yes
terday afternoon on a charge OF pat
terry, convicted and sentenced to pay
fine of $25 or serve the alternative OF
twenty-five days in the city jail.
Lockridge, having no badge of au-
thority nor right to one, approached
Horst Holden, q young man. VINO was
endeaVoring to have Workingmen visit
the Cooks and Waters hall to attend
a meeting relative to the situation on
the aqueduct and attempted to place
the latter under arrest.
Holden was surprised and asked to
see Lockridge's star. The latter re-
fused to show a badge of authority and
declared he was not compelled to eX-
hibit it. Holden then flatly refused to
submit to arrest.
"officer" Geeks Friend
lgOCkrlQ2G Inen summoned d lIlGllAl
Earl Orr, and stating that the latter
had a star, compelled the youth to so
to the central police station. Lock
ridge then told the desk sergeant that
he had noticed Holden pass several
small printed cards to some men ana
wanted the latter locked up for viola
tion of the city ordinance. There be-
ing no cause for such action under the
provisions of the law covering such
,,,o++arc tba desk sergeant refused to
book Holden.
Lockridge and his companion, Orr
then kept Holden in the lobby at the
police station and discussed the advisa-
bility of preferring a charge of va
grancy against Holden. The latter
produced letters to show that he was
employed at Long Beach.
Holden demurred and asked why he
was being held. Loclridge replied in
an offensive manner and applied vile
epithets to the prisoner.
Later several bystanders became in
terested in the case and asked why
Lockridge did not wear a star. The
latter turned the prisoner over to Orr,
hurried down the street and returned
with badge. Then grasping Holden
by the arm, he said: Now will you
como with me?"
The lad hesitated and Lockridg9
struck him stinging blow in the jaw,
almost knocking the boy down.
Ordered from Office
Lockridge took the lad to the county
Jail, but decided not to enter and
walked to the district attorneys office,
where he was ordered out of the office.
Holden then expressed his intention
of preferring a charge of battery
against Lockridge and the latter was
taken into custody by a deputy sheriff.
The self-styled deputy constable was
arraigned in Police Justice Williams
court on charge of battery issued by
Deputy District Attorney Arthur
Keetch.
Lockridge pleaded not guilty to the
charge and asked for an immediate
trial A number of witnesses testified
to the effect that the assault on Holden
was unproVoked and cowardly. 1t also
was stated in court that Lockridge was
not a deputy constable under Constable
De La Monte, as he had represented,
his star having been surrendered some
time ago.
After hearing the testimony of the
witnesses Justice Williams sentenced
Lockridge to pay fine of $25 or serve
twenty-five days in the city jail Lock
ridge was unable to pay his fine and
was sent to Jail.