Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 185, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1911 — REAL RENSSELAER NERVE. [ARTICLE]

REAL RENSSELAER NERVE.

Opposes Having Steger Dominated by Piano Manufacturer and Goes to Jan After Punching Policeman. Dr. Bernard S. Maloy, better known here by the name of “Bernie” which was given him during the time he was in the Rensselaer schools, and which continued during the years he worked as a printer at The Republican office, has rebelled at having Steger, 111., where he practices medicine, dominated by George Steger, the head of the piano factory company. The story is told in the following way in the Chicago Tribune: Warrants charging Chief of .Police Rance of the village of with malfeasance in office and oppression were sworn out yesterday, morning by Dr. B. S. Maloy, who has lived in the village for nine years. This action followed the incarceration of the physician in a 6x6 cell of the village calaboose from 10 o'clock Friday morning until 8 o’clock Friday evening. During that time, it is said, he wasrAepriyed of food and water and a sanitary place to sit or lie down. In the meantime, it is charged. Chief Rance came to Chicago with the keys to the jail in his pocket. He returned to find a crowd of 200 citizens gathered about the jail with the intention of breaking down the doors. The crowd is 'said-ta have threatened the chief with a coat of tar and feathers and to have pursued him through the town until he finally found refuge for the night in the residence of George Steger, son of the wealthy founder of the village. All this was denied by Mr. Steger at night, save the fact that Dr. Maloy had been arrested. Mr. Steger said Dr. Maloy had been arrested for assaulting the chief of police and locked up until bis friends provided bail. He denied absolutely that any crowd had threatened the jail or the chief, and also denied that this official had left the village with the keys. That these things really did occur, however, was stated during the day with equal emphasis by Dr. Maloy and his attorney, former Assistant City Prosecutor J. J. Sullivan of Chicago. Mr. Sullivan expressed, the belief at night that this case would lead to an exposure of government conditions in Steger which he pronounced as being an "autocracy with the Steger family as the autocrats.” It is charged by Dr. Maloy and Mr. Sullivan that the physician has been ‘persona non grata” in Steger for several years, owing to his refusal to "bow the head and bend the knee” to the Steger family. *

About three months ago, it Is said, a village ordinance was passed requiring the report of all contagious diseases among children within twen-ty-four hours. It is said Dr. Maloy was ill himself at the time and failed to report a case within a few hours over the limit As a result he was arrested and fined |5, although he protested tllat the official blanks of the village had not yet been printed. Ever since that time, it is charged, Chief of Police Rance has been threatening to “get” Dr. Maloy, but a fight between Dr. Maloy and Dr. Sully, the commissioner Of health, which nearly wrecked the village drug store, has been the only exciting developement in the situation. Dr. Maloy says he was suddenly attacked by the chief on Friday morning as he was entering the postoffice and was taken to the village jail wi .faout any charge being preferred agaias l . him. Dr. Maloy’s friends immediately busied themselves in his behalf and procured a writ of habeas corpus from Judge Abbott at Chicago Heights. It was then discovered that Chief Rance had gone to Chicago, taking the keys of the jail with him, it is said. As men of the village returned from their work in the evening, the news of the “prisoner of the Steger bastlle” quickly spread and the dangdr to the prisoner in case of fire was pointed out. Axes and crowbars were produced. It is said that Justice of the Peace Kentner of Steger was just abbut to authorize their use when the chief of police appeared. Dr. Maloy was taken before the justice and a Wordy war ensued between the magistrate and the chief concerning whether spectators should be allowed in the courtroom, said Dr. Maloy. The justice.refused to clear the room and the chief accordingly locked them all inside. This was followed by the crowd breaking down the doors to get out, it Is said. The lowest, price of the season—final markdown on all summer goods, great August sale.

ROWLES A PARKER.