South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-26
SAYS Officers Acted Within Law
and Showed Good Sense in
Treatment of Supposed Pick
pocket Circus Day.
SAFETY BOARD WILLING
TO HAVE CHARGES FILED
Proposal is SidetraCked BY Re-
port That GafiII is Sat-
iSfied That it Was Mutual
Mistake.

Declaring that the temporary arrest
of r. A GafH on suspicion of being a |
pickpocket, as made by Chief of De-
tectives Kuespert and Detective Diver
last Friday was excusable, and that
Cain so recognizes it and is without
anirnus against the officials on account
of il. Chief Of Police Kerr sidetracked
the mailing Of a letter by the board of
safety Friday suggesting TO Mr.. Gahll
that il he has any complaint TO make,
TO make it in writing at the next meet
ing of the board and that it would be
investigated.
MIR. Kuespert and Mr.. Gafll went
over that matter thoroughly after the
latter's identity was established. and
there was a thorough understanding,
saws the chief They shook hands
and separated, Mr.. GahIl realizing that
a mistake had been made. for which
Mr.. Kuespert apOlogiZed, and his
apology was accepted. Mr.. Gaill was
pointed out TO the detectives as an
swering the description of one of the
men wanted. They had a perfect right
To take MIN anu uolu AllAAA ApA AANN'Sf
on suspicion, If necessary, and ap-
prove OF what they did"
The matter of an investigation was
suggested by Pres. Augustine, that Is,
to the extent Of proposing a letter TO
Gafu that he make charges against
the officers should he wish 10 do SO.
81 have seen considerable IN the news
papers about this, and If he wishes 10
have II done am in favor Of having
him appear before the board and that
he be giving a hearing" he said.
Need Not Look for Trouble.
"I can't see that IL is necessary that
we should rG2 around town looking Tor
trouble said Commissioner SmogOr.
He knows that the board Of safety is
here and that by filing a complaint 1t
viii have TO be considered. If he
doesn't know il it is we'll enough 10
pass him the word, and put him wise,
but / am not in favor OF any such
formal invitation"
Mayor Keller. who had stepped in at
the meeting. was inclined TO favor
Pres Augustine's plan at first but
when Chief Kerr announced his posi-
tion in the matter, the proposition was
dropped
''These men do not know everybody
in town. and neither do 1, and neither
do YOU" said the chief. 4 understand
that when the officers approached him
and told him he was wanted, he reach
ed for his pocket. They had right
To assume from the circumstances that
he was reaching for a gun, which of
tenders of the pickpocket variety very
frequently do. A. officers, they really
had no right 20 assume that he was
reaching for a card at all. Too many
policemen have been shot down just at
that point Mr.. GahH sees that IL was
his mistake as we'll as that of the Off
GERS and as Z understand IL, the in
afdanf a hpfyVcnu the N IL iG
closed"
There was very little 20 the police
department meeting Friday aside from
the brief consideration of the Gafill-
Kuespert affair. Chief Kerr reported
his expenses 10 the meeting Of the Ma
tional association Of Chiefs Of Police.
at Grand Rapids last week. 10 have
been $21.03. The board was inclined
10 congratulate him. lie will render
q more detailed report OF the conven-
tion at the meeting next week.
Care for Emergency Cases.
The matter OF making some pro-
vision for caring for emergency cases
at the city hospitals, where patients
are destitute, and are furnished by
the police, came up. but was not dis
posed of. Pres. Augustine proposed
an approDriation 10 the hospitals in the
next annual budget. Trouble between
the hospitals and the police Depart
ment i'm the past, and failure of the
city 10 care for emergency patients
has brought the hospitals to the point
of refusing To receive such patients
unless the bills are guaranteed and at
present the city has no fund for that
purpose.
Bids for coal for the various fire
stations will be advertised for by the
board OF safety at once. Chief Sibrel
recommends the purchase OF 175 tons
pocahontas coal. ana 34 tons egg nut
coal, bids 10 be I'm by July 9Th, each
ACCOMPANIED 10y a certified check for
S1O0. md a bond for $500 10 be fur
nished bv the one TO whom the bid is
awarded.
The board of safety also arranged a
meeting with the building code COM
Tnittee at Architect Adelsperger's Of
ice next Monday afternoon, 20 see
what can be done with regard to com
pleung the framing OF the code. Upon
looking up its minutes. they show that
the committee accepted the job with
the definite understanding that $500
was 20 cover the expense. while now
Air. Adelsperger. "A member OF the (
committee. wants $500 for his work /
alone. The board hopes 20 have a re- /
port ready for the common council in I
time FOR It's next meeting in the hole. /
A small crimp was put in the army I
OF unemployed 10y the board Friday 4
when IL appointed Floyd r. Hudson TO /
The position of hneman under Supt I
Beaning ia the city electrical depart
ment