The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-12-09
POLICE PROTECTION NEEDED.

POLICE PROTECTION NEEDED.
In the Minneapolis Tribune last
Thursday evening appeared the head
line, mayor Offers 81 1000 for Slayer,
and Friday evening close on the heel;
of this announcement, came the FOL
lowing news, "Mail Train Robbed ii
Minneapolis" Saturday evenings is
sue reported the murder of former
Princeton boy, Lisle Nicely, taxicab
driver, who was shot while attempting
to prevent 5000 payroll robbery.
We wonder just how these start.
ling headlines affect the residents OF
Minneapolis. It would seem that theil
senses must have become, somewhat
blunted by the frequent repetition of
such reports. Month after month the
Minneapolis press chronicles the most
daring robberies and the most cold
blooded murders. Occasionally, as in
the case Of Mr.. Borte's murder, the
police capture the culprits but the ma
jority of the criminals are never ap-
pretended.
On the evening of December first
a tragedy was enacted which must stir
the blood Of every respectable citizen
of Minneapolis. James A. Borte, a
grocer, was shot in his store in the
presence Of his wife and sister-in-law
at s o'clock in the evening. The
Tribune reports, "The shooting was
declared to be one of the most wanton
murders in the local holdup annals and
was believed due to the extreme
nervousness of the young despera-
does" Mr.. Borte's failure to COM
ply with the demand was not due to
negligence but the fact that the un-
fortunate man was somewhat deaf and
consequently did not hear the COM
mand.
If the criminals operating in Mime
apolis must remain in that city, pro-
visions certainly should be made for
LIS VI uIClIlS Clle 6tlllaCeuiS Ill Ill1 me
points of their art. Here is man
who was attempting to earn an honest
living by conducting modest business
in respectable neighborhood, mur-
dcred in cold blood because of lack
of understanding on the part of the
young bandit to whom Mr. Borte
would undoubtedly have handed over
the money without the slightest hest
tation if the program had not been
quite so hurried.
An account of the death of Lisle
Nicely appears elsewhere in this issue.
This young man was shot at 9:15 on
Saturday morning at a corner in the
business district in the presence of
more than dozen men.
Some Of our people are bitter
against the government because they
are not at present receiving sufficient
returns for their produce, others are
constantly complaining about being
overwhelmed with taxes, but how
about the families that suffer from
such tragedies as these? Mr.. Borte
and Mr.. Nicely had unquestionably been
paying tribute to the state and city
to maintain civilized form of govern
ment and not much less respect of
human life could have been accorded
them in band of savages.
1t would be difficult to convince the
majority of the people in the state
that there is not something radically
wrong with the police service in Min
neapolis. If the officers are capable
and efficient, there cannot be suffi-
Gent number to furnish adequate pro-
lection to the residents and to the
courageous travellers who occasionally
venture into that city.
Minneapolis is the largest city in
Minnesota and the unpleasant notorie-
ty that she is receiving touches the
pride of all the citizens of this state.
We are not particular about having
any city in Minnesota advertised from,
the Atlantic to the Pacific as fertile
field and safe harbor for all the
thugs, crooks and criminals of the
country. If the city of Minneapolis
cannot cope with the situation it is
high time for the officials of Hennepin
county or the state itself to take
matters in hand. Undoubtedly legis-
lation should be enacted making capt.
tai punishment the penalty for GER
tain crimes. However, this is not the
only remedy required because with our
existing statutes life and property are
now fairly safe in both St. Paul and
Duluth. There is room for considera-
BILE improvement in the Minneapolis
city government.
UNEMPLOYED LABOR.
IT is ronortad that the officials If tho