Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-11-03
WOMAN POLICE
RULES TOWN
Accepts Place Provided Her
as a joke and Enforces
Many Blue Laws.
Drags Man From Saloon When He
Refuses to obey Order to
Blanket Horse.


| Chesaning, Mich.-In reply to scath-
, ing criticism through the columns OF
! her paper Miss Blanche ingalls,, To-
cal editor, was put in charge the Ches-
aiming police department by the Village
Council. The position was proffered
in a spirit of sarcasm, but Miss In
I gals snapped it before the offer could
| be Withdrawn and as a result she is
! making history for the place. Chesan-
ing is absolutely under the control of
female Cromwell.
4 1t seems that for long time Miss
ingalls, had not been in sympathy with
what she termed LAX law enforce
ment," and she threw the light of pub
licity on every flaw in the village gov
eminent she could uncover. In being
given the chance to carry out her rec
concentrations, Miss ingalls, was made
the only woman police chief in the
, United States.
She has been in office for more than
a week and has inaugurated the fol-
lowing reforms:
Abolished card games in saloons and
pool rooms.
Abolished playing dominoes for
money and throwing dice.
Established an 1Syear minimum age
, limit in pool rooms and a 10 o'clock
closing order.
! Ordered blanketing horses on streets
in the winter.
Miss ingalls, in enforcing the last
order tackled Tom Elderly. who has
whipped nearly every man in the coun-
ty and who openly boasts he respects
neither sex.
Elderly drove into town on a day
when a sleet was falling. His horse
was left standing unblanketed and
steaming in the cold. while he entered
saloon. Miss ingalls, spied the horse
and traced Elderly into the barron.
Here you," she called to him. go
out and blanket that horse"
Elderly laughed.
ooh, I guess not blanket the horse"
he answered roughly.
You heard me-" the Marshal an
swered, her lips tightening. And l
want you to blanket him right now"
Jaw, mind you own business" Ed
erly grunted, as he poured out an
other drink of whisky.
Drop that drink and get out of
here" ordered Miss ingalls,, white with
anger. I'VE want none of your ilk
in Chesaning."
Here's luck" badgered the other
insolently. 1.
There was a sudden movement and
then sound of breaking glass. and
liquor trickled over the bar. Miss In
gals had stepped forward and knocked
the glass from Ederly's hand as he
lifted it to his lips. Then, in per-
fectly feminine manner, she locked her
fingers firmly in his hair and backed
to the door, jerking the man along.
TO the side of his buggy she conducted
him, and repeated:
Now, go
Elderly shambled sheepishly into his
buggy and then looked at her.
well, I'll be d." was his COM
ment as he snapped the reins over
his horses back.
This is only one of the numerous
experiences this militant editor has
had since she became chief. She has
watched the saloons viligantly and
does not hesitate to enter II there
are sounds of undue revelry.
In about six months Chesaning will
be the model village of the county,
Miss ingalls, declares. Card games are
absolutely unknown now, where pre-
viously they flourished.
A party Of men from nearby town
came to Chesaning and rented hall
in order to indulge in little game or
draw poker. The first hand had hardly
been dealt before there came rattle
at the door Miss ingalls, ordered the
men back to their home town.
Being editor of the only paper OF
the village, she. naturally has the
press" behind her. Aldermen who
sought to be funny in Offering her the
position are being besieged by saloon
men and others who are opposed to
blue laws, to GUST Miss ingalls,. The
officials, however, fear to attempt to
supplant the militant female chief OF
police.