The Arrest of Link Davis
A playful, staged arrest of a former police chief turned into a heartwarming tribute by his former force.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Ex-Chief of Police Link Davis was arrested today on a warrant charging him with stealing the affections of all the members of the police force. There were real tears in his eyes when he was arraigned in the police court before the members of the force and city officers. There was a big lump in his throat when he said in a broken voice: 'I hope—I hope I am guilty.' He was presented with a magnificent gold watch and chain by his former associates.
“I hope—I hope I am guilty.”
In an era where police departments were often centers of intense political friction, this story highlights the unusual, personal camaraderie between rank-and-file officers and their former leader. It serves as a reminder that local institutions in the 1890s were as much defined by personal relationships as by their public roles.
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