The Night Guard Who Got Arrested for Guarding the Courthouse

Through no fault of his and entirely illegally, Mike Driscoll, of this city, is one of the active participants in the court house controversy which followed the attempt of Commissioners Clements and McNeill to bond the county and build a court house.

Last Friday night the stove in the commissioners’ room at the rear of the auditor’s office became so greatly overheated that had it not been discovered Saturday morning an hour before the usual opening time, the court house would probably have been on fire.

Circumstances surrounding the incident were such as to cause County Auditor J. C. Syford to believe that the overheated stove was not accidental, and such as to justify his putting on a guard to watch the court house at night. Sheriff Duffy was out of the city at the time, and Auditor Syford requested Commissioner-elect R. E. Pratt to send up a trustworthy man from Kennewick. Mr. Driscoll was chosen and went to Prosser on one of the Saturday night trains.

He was met by Auditor Syford and put on guard in the auditor’s office with instructions to make the rounds of the courthouse frequently during the night. Mr. Syford notified Deputy Sheriff McClelland of his action, but failed to notify the city police.

After he had gone home, the night policeman bore down upon Mike and demanded that he produce his star or other badge of authority. Mike, however, had no such identification save his honest Irish face and his word. The marshal relieved him of his gun but permitted him to remain on duty at the court house the rest of the night.

The next day Prosecuting Attorney Fristoe, feeling, evidently, that Mike was a most dangerous character and that some great crime had either been committed or plotted against the state, caused Mr. Driscoll’s arrest on the charge of carrying concealed weapons.

Monday Mike was taken before a justice of the peace and fined five dollars and costs. He paid his fine and returned home Monday night.

In speaking of the incident, Mike says he thinks the Prosser policeman was acting within his rights and says that he was in every way courteous, but in telling of the spiteful meddling of the prosecuting attorney he uses some choice and expressive Irish language.

Upon his return to Prosser, Sheriff Duffy relieved the auditor of the necessity of guarding his office and detailed one of his deputies to patrol the court house at night.