Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-28
Commissioner Says Police Can
not Arrest Without War
rant After Night.
BRUTALITY CHARGES DENIED
So-Called Investigation" Set
Down as Frameup for
Political Ends.

Thieves, bootleggers and other va
rieties of crooks and law violators
are protected after dark, according to
discovery of w. ID. Matthews state
commissioner of charities and correc-
tions, who Is here from the capital on
of Tulsa" to conduct an investigation
into alleged malpractlces OF tho police
department
The twilight sieep' IL thus forced
upon the police department. Chief
Lucas said last night when advised OF
the legislation discovered by Doctor
Matthews.
"lf the commissioner is correct in
his contention, we will take off one
shift and the city will be saved
great sum year in salaries. not to men
tion such incidentals az flashlight bat
teries and electric light bills" the
chief declared.
Startling Statute.
The statute granting law violators
immunity during the period between
sunset and sunrise, as quoted 10y Mat
thews, reads as follows: mo officer
has right to make an arrest after
dark for a misdemeanor without "a
warrant issued by a magistrate and
authorized by him. The warrant must
be shown before the arrest Is made"
2 A magistrate" is defined by the
startling statute to be any higher
court Judge, county judge, justice Of
the peace or municipal judge.
Asked If he did not think the statute
would materially hamper the police
in maintaining peace, Matthews re-
piled that IL was not matter of his
opinion as to the wisdom of the law.
but a matter of the fact that the law
existed.
All of the charges made against the
local police department We're denied
by Chief Lucas.
Mr.. Matthews is evidently not fa-
miliar with the law and he certainly
does not know the facts"
Quick Trigger Needed.
Tulsa is not noted as town whero
the police use their guns freely but
is does have the reputation of having
more crooks in proportion to it's size
than any city in the United States"
he declared.
The men killed here in the last
year by members of the police force
all had police records and were known
'Tiddlums,' who was shot by Officer
Young at the Palm Garden, had gun
in his hand when he was shot and he
was heard to make threats against
Young.
Vernon Hatfield was a whisky
runner and when killed he was at
tempting to escape and was firing at
the officers. Judge Mcneil instructed
the jury that the officers had n right
to fire on Hatfield, even tho he had
not begun firing on them. Mr.. Mat
thews denies that right to the Of
ficers and perhaps he knows the law
on the question better than Judge
Mcneil.
king, who was shot by Officer
Francis, was 'stick-up' man with :,
record and he was killed in n fight in
which he fired the first shot.
'Mdrrhy, another holdup man. WAS
killed after making the statement that
he would rather kill an officer than sit
down to good meal.
There is plenty Of justification fer
the shoe ting of every man that mas
been killed In Tulsa by the police de
partTent under my administration,
Chief Lucas declared.
Third Degree Denied.
The third degree" and Kangaroo
are not practiced by his men, Chief
Luca; said
And cur prisoners are not abused.
o. -.