Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-10-12

all their coarse ana ruInanly con-
duct when they had me where l had
no witnesses against them l did not
lose my temper, for l did not want
to give them the slightest chance to
get complaint that would stand.
After much delay they finally took |
me up to the central police station
and after more scolding and delay,
entered a complaint Of "interfer-
ing with an officer" The jailor al
so seemed anxious to goad me into
desperation by his coarse and in
sulting conduct. but l kept good
natured as far as possible, and wait
ed until they got the tangle around
their own necks complete.
II now phoned to the homes of
Mayor Haynes and Cheif of Police
Corriston, as it was after office
hours. They were not at home.
but their wives got busy in my be-
half. l had bought ticket and
sleeper berth on a train that left
for Chicago in a short time. Thier
was no time for explaining now, so
l put up $25 to assure my appear
ance in court on my return.
Returning to Minneapolis Fri
day morning stated the facts to
the Chief of Police. Some time
later he called in the two officers to
get their story. Attorney Jerome,
John Lind's law partner, went with
me to hear what they had to say.
The one who strangied the old man
did the talking. He first related
how he came to make the arrest.
He admitted choking the old man
till he tainted. Then he said.
this Teller said something about
not having saloons in his town and
something about officers. After
awhile he started to take our mum.
bers and 1 said to Stafford, Lets
run him in, too, and we did,
Chef: Did he resist?'
Patrolman: NO.
Chief: Did he say anything
more?'
Patrolman: NO
Chief: How far was he away
|. from you first?'
Patrolman: About three feet.
This was the only point of DIFF
ference between their story ant
mine)
1.-The chief then turned to mt
, and asked if l had any objections
to having the case dimsissed.
, said: l was brought here by. thes'
! patrolmen. l have Influential
friends all over this city and an ap
? peal to them at the time would hav'
! prevented my name from going OF
the records. But l wanted thi
whole affair to be shown up. D.
your duty. If I have committed
!: any offense give me my punish
ment. l have no apologies. an
: going to do the same thing owe
. and over again right here in Min
e neapolis, for | strike blows at tn
booze business wherever there is
good chance. Look at the hundred
r of poor drunken wrecks in you
/ court. They are there because 0
t conditions WE tolerate. In m,
t home county and town we have al
. most abolished drunkenness, crime
: and poverty because we have broker
away from the control Of the liquo
F.. interests. In the beginning a few
e of US had to do the fighting, bea
the odium and become targets TO
4 abuse and persecution. Now W
r have won, and no man who want
q office dares to come out openly 70
: the breweries. We have clea
: towns, happy homes, and the fines
O types Of men and women. and es
e pecial]y of young people. in tn
e state. The same thing can be don
J. right here if a few men have tn
q courage to do what is now unpor
o ular.''
q "Chief Corriston went immedi
h ately to the court and asked to hav
d the case dismissed. He was yer
courteous and hoped I would hav
" no i'll will against anyone for tn
= way ] had been treated. Every
- body makes mistakes, he said, an
,, policemen often make fools q
r, themselves. The SIS cash bail wa
9 9 returned to me and the Chef, tn
~ ~, Municipal Judge and the Cler
y shook my hand, treating me wit
e. the greatest politeness.
- "But the tale is not yet ended
~ Several of the most prominent pei
= pie of Minneapolis called me u
over the phone and some came
the hotel to get the facts. Base
on these events a movement h;
been started concerning which l al
> not at liberty to say anything :
. this time; but the movement wi
not give any comfort to the brew
; ers, the dive-keepers. the gaml
lers. or their supporters in the cit!
One letter received since my n
, turn to Willmar contains the 70
lowing:
" l am sorry you got into diff
culties trying to protect a helple
old man, but you know the Officer
of a city are particularly sensiti,
about the whiskey revenues tn,