The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-11-13
LEAKS FROM CLOSED DOORS.
The BOzeman City Council VS.. The
Night misunderstanding
Proceedings.

&ARG 004[AN8AA NY O00AA~A 20 4A[
Night Northumberland
Proceedings.
The BOzeman city council appears
to have a regular monkey and parrot
time with the night policemen, and
the funniest part Of it is that the
policemen appear to hold the upper
hand in nearly every instance.
On Saturday night last a special
meeting of the council was called for
the purpose Of receiving and acting
upon the report of a special commit
tee which had previously been ap-
pointed to investigate charges against
the two policemen, who are also
night watchmen, the specific nature
Of which has not been made public.
1t is common runner, however, that
the policemen have fallen into the
habit Of greatly magnifying their Of
fees and not infrequently using IN
necessary force, even to the verge Of
brutality, in arresting and Juggling
alleged disturbers of the peace. 1t
is not necessary perhaps at this
time to- cite instances Of arbitrary
and understandable abuse Of persons
arrested for trivial Offenses by the
police force Of the city, except to
suggest that it might be well if both
the city marshal and policemen we're
given to understand that in the pun
ishment Of offenders they have no
T, right whatsoever to take the law into
their own hands-nOt even to the ex-
tent of personally resenting either a
real or imaginary insult or injury.
But referring to the case in point.
and taking the Chronicles version OF
the councils proceedings, it appears
"that the committee reported that
there was no ground for the charges
and %exonerated the police from any
blame" This report appears to have
been unanimously adopted by the
council, yet, strange to say, right OF
the heels Of its adoption, a mOtiC1
was made and carried, five to three
discharging the same policemen
Chapman and Munger, from further
official duty.
This reminds US Of a remarkable
verdict Of a backswoods jury, whicl
read about as follows: eve, the jur!
in the case of the State VS.. JOhl
Smith, charged with horse stealing
find the defendant not guilty, but ad
E wise him not to repeat the offense
otherwise he might not get off s.
, easy the next time"
But the climax of amusement, nc
to say absurdity, must have bee
reached when the council, at the sam
. session, proceeded to vote on a prop
/, ositiOn to reinstate Chapman, and &C
: tually succeeded in doing SO on tn
; ninth ballot!
. In view of the alleged facts, tina
these remarkable proceedings wer
Il conducted behind closed doors, all out
siders, with the exception Of one 0
two interested parties" being ez
. cluded, we are almost led to the cor
! clusiOn that the esteemed Chronicl
reporter was either accorded specis
. privileges or he drew somewhat o
=. his imagination in writing up til
proceedings for publication.
. In any event, Chapman seems I
have been vindicated-with a big "V
=-while the common council has bee
placed "hors de combat" so to speal
+ The Avant Courier, however, expect
a complimentary ticket to the ne1
Special performance. The esteeme
Chronicle appears to be getting el
tirely too many scoops" on excl
= sive deliberations to suit US durir
these days Of Democratic ascendanc