USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 55
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1884 -- J. B. Gross, Thomas Wyatt, John H. Shank, Washington Silzel, D. C. Taft, A. Menke, J. Weinreich, Charles F. Corns, Ira Crawford, J. T. Canfield, A. Pritz, Sr., J. B. Bright, S. E. Kemp, H. W. Myer, J. H. Miller, G. C. Wise, J. H. Stoppelman, C. H. Amend.
1885-John Kunkel, A. Pritz, Sr., J. B. Bright, S. E. Kemp, H. W. Meyer, J. H. Miller, G. C. Wise, J. H. Stoppelman, C. H. Amend, C. J. Gerdes, C. D. Iddings, J. A. Weed, C. F. Corns, H. Rogge, D. C. Taft, J. Huesman, J. Wein- reich, James McEntee.
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1886-J. Allaback, C J. Gerdes, C. D. Iddings, J. A. Weed, C. F. Corns, H. Rogge, J. Huesman, J. Weinreich, James McEntee, C. L. Riber, S. A. Ambrose, D. L. Rike, J. W. Allison, H. W. Meyer, J. H. Miller, G. C. Wise, J. E. D. Ward, W. McGee.
1887-C. I .. Riber, S. A. Ambrose, D. L. Rike, J. W. Allison, H. W. Myer, J. H. Miller, G. C. Wise, J. E. D. Ward, C. J. Gerdes, A. F. Steinmetz, Charles F. Corns, Wilber Heathman, Charles F. Beckler, James R. Mercer, John Huesman, John A. Hahne.
1888-C. K. Gerdes, A. F. Steinmetz, Charles F. Corns, Wilber Heathman, Charles F. Beckler. James R. Mercer, john Huesman, John A. Hahne, Edwin P. Matthews, Samuel A. Ambrose, Samuel C. McClure, Joseph W. Allison, C. H. Shellabarger, David M. Martin, Fred Moehlman, J. E. D. Ward.
1889 -- Edwin P. Matthews, Samuel A. Ambrose, Samuel C. McClure, Joseph W. Allison, C. H. Shellabarger, David M. Martin, Fred Moehman, J. E. D. Ward, Charles J. Gerdes, A. F. Steinmetz, Charles F. Corns, Phillip Bossard, John Rock, John R. Rea, John Weismantle, John A. Hahne.
1890-J. Cloak, Charles J. Gerdes, Charles F. Corns, Phillip Bossard, John Rock, John R. Rea, John Weismantle, John A. Hahne, W. F. White, J. P. Deis, A. Kalbfleisch, P. Adams, J. H. Timmerman, T. Hickey, C. Becker, Edwin P. Matthews, I. Davis, D. R. Miller, C. W. Bell, P. Kingston, C. Aszling, F. T. G. Weaver, W. Hosket, R. L. Schuster, J. Glaser, G. Mercherle, J. Oehlschlager, W. F. Rogge, J. G. Will, J. Bolan.
1891-W. G. Frizell, G. W. Buvinger, Edwin P. Matthews, I. Davis, D. R. Miller, C. W. Bell, P. Kingston, C. Aszling, F. T. G. Weaver, W. Hoskot, F. L. Schuster, J. Glaser, G. Mercherle, J. Oehlschlager, W. F. Rogge, J. G. Will, J. Bolan, A. G. Feight, S. D. Bear, D. Glaser, William J. Stines, S. D. Trone, H. W. Hueffelman, W. Lucking, J. P. Deis, A. Kalbfleisch, P. Adams, J. H. Timmerman, J. Hoban, N. Steger.
1892-W. G. Frizell, G. W. Buvinger, A. G. Feight, S. D. Bear, D. Glaser, William J. Stines, S. D. Trone, William E. Sparks, Isaac Davis, L. K. Buntain, D. R. Miller, H. W. Borghardt, Adam Kalbfleisch, John Hoban.
1893-William E. Sparks, Isaac Davis, L. K. Buntain, D. R. Miller, H. W. Borghardt, Adam Kalbfleisch, John Hoban, William G. Frizell, David Reedy, Frank Munger, F. M. Bassett, William J. Stines, William J. Kronauge, John A. Houser.
1894 .- William G. Frizell, James B. Wheeler, David Reedy, Philip Kunz, Frank Munger, Charles F. Corns, F. M. Bassett, Noah H. Brookins, William J. Stines, Charles F. Kamrath, Sr., William J. Kronauge, Joseph L. Deger, John A. Houser, John Hoban.
1895-James B. Wheeler, John Rock, Phillip Kunz, Adam Adelberger, Charles F. Corns, George C. Lautenschlager, Noah H. Brookins, Samuel D. Bear, Charles F. Kamrath, Sr., George O. Keller, Joseph L. Deger, Samuel B. Smith, John Hoban, Joseph Kist, Albert F. Thiemann, John F. Oehlschlager.
1896-S. B. Smith, Charles E. Pease, J. E. Viot, Phillip Kunz, Charles F. Corns, George C. Lautenschlager, Samuel D. Bear, George O. Keller, John Hoban, John F. Oehlschlager, Thomas Jenni, James O. Arnold, Perry R. Pease, William
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H. Schank, Joseph Kist, L. P. Hagedorn, Adam Adelberger, William Hosket, John Rock. A. C. White.
1897-Charles F. Pease, Samuel B. Smith, Philip Kunz, John E. Viot, Thomas Jenni, George C. Lautenschlager, James O. Arnold, James R. Wallace, William H. Schank. George O. Keller, Charles F. Corns, Franklin Rice, John Hoban, Joseph Kist, Louis P. Hagedorn, Joseph E. Lenz, William Hosket, E. E. Gibbs, Albert C. White, John A. Brake.
1898-Samuel B. Smith, Charles E. Pease, John E. Viot, John R. Kenney, George C. Lautenschlager, John T. Maloney, James R. Wallace, Charles H. Mit- tendorf, George O. Keller, William H. Schank, Franklin Rice, Richard Krewson, Joseph Kist, John Hoban, Joseph E. Lenz, Bernard J. Thill, Edgar E. Giggs, Wil- liam Hosket, John A. Brake, Albert C. White.
1899 -- Charles E. Pease, George Wuichet, John R. Kenney, Charles Winter- steen, John T. Maloney, Edward J. Leo, Charles H. Mittendorf, James R. Wallace, William H. Shank, Joseph W. Miller, Richard Krewson, Henry Rogge, John Hoban, Andrew J. Wenz, Bernard J. Thill, Joseph E. Lenz, William Hosket, Emery F. McMichael, Albert C. White, John A. Brake.
1900 -- George Wuichet, Charles E. Pease, Charles A. Wintersteen, John R. Kenney, Edward J. Leo, William Kuntz, James R. Wallace, Reverdy Johnson, Joseph W. Miller, William H. Shank, Henry Rogge, Charles G. Lander, Andrew J. Wenz, John Hoban, Joseph E. Lentz, Bernard J. Thill, Emery F. McMichael, George W. Yeazel, John A. Brake, Fred H. Nietert.
1901-Charles E. Pease, George Wuichet, John R. Kenney, Charles A. Win- tersteen, William Kuntz, Edward J. Leo, Reverdy E. Johnson, Charles E. Simms, William H. Shank, Joseph W. Miller, Charles G. Lander, Henry Rogge, John Hoban, Andrew J. Wenz, Bernard J. Thill, Peter Zimmer, George W. Yeazel, Emery F. McMichael, Frederick H. Nietert, Charles S. Hall.
1902-George Wuichet, Edwin T. Clark, Charles A. Wintersteen, J. C. Vossler, Edward J. Leo, William Kuntz, Charles E. Simms, Elmer E. Devor, Joseph W. Miller, Wilson J. Pierce, Henry Rogge, Charles G. Lander, Andrew J. Wenz, John Hoban, Peter Zimmer, Henry W. Teigler, Emery F. McMichael, George W. Yeazel, Charles S. Hall, Isaac Kinsey.
1903-Edwin T. Clark, Charles A. Wintersteen, John R. Buck, Charles E. Simms, Wilson J. Pierce, Charles G. Lander, John Hoban, Peter Zimmer, Emery F. McMichael, Isaac Kinsey, Charles A. Stainrook, Joseph W. Miller, John M. Betsch.
1904 -- P. D. Clark, Charles A. Wintersteen, John R. Buck, Charles E. Simms, Wilson J. Pierce, Charles G. Lander, John Hoban, Peter Zimmer, Emery F. McMichael, Isaac Kinsey, Charles A. Steinrook, Joseph W. Miller, John M. Betsch.
1905-E. G. Pease, Charles A. Wintersteen, J. W. Baker, Charles E. Simms, Wilson J. Pierce, Charles G. Lander, G. A. Miller, Peter Zimmer, Byron Brewer, Isaac Kinsey, Charles A. Stainrook, Joseph W. Miller, John M. Betsch.
1906-E. G. Pease, D. J. Sixsmith, J. W. Baker, M. J. Hosler, Wilson J. Pierce, Jacob Simmerman, G. A. Miller, Thomas P. Kearns, Byron Brewer, Charles E. McDargh, Charles A. Stainrook, Walter B. Moore, John M. Betsch.
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1907-John M. Betsch, E. G. Pease, D. J. Sixsmith, J. W. Baker, M. J. Hos- ler, Wilson J. Pierce, Jacob Simmerman, George A. Miller, Thomas P. Kearns, Byron Brewer, Charles E. McDargh.
1908 -- John Cissna, W. O. Cord, J. B. Zehnder, G. W. Miller, William H. Shank, L. C. Weimer, T. H. Borgelt, Thomas P. Kearns, Charles Roehm, H. D. Wolfensparger, Walter B. Moore, E. L. McConnaughey, Robert T. Johnson.
In 1909, three of the members of council resigned: E. L. McConnaughey, whose place was taken by Joseph C. Stifferlen, John Cissna, whose place was taken by Charles A. Phillips, Thomas F. Kearns, whose place was taken by Gustav A. Hodapp.
At the recent election of 1909, the following councilmen were elected: C. A. Phillips, Fred J. Nurrenbrock, Joseph B. Zehnder, George W. Miller, C. L. Reynolds, Elmer R. Weaver, Theodore Borgelt, Gustav A. Hodapp, Charles Roehm, Harry D. Wolfensparger. The newly elected councilmen at large are: W. Kuntz, J. J. Hoover, H. L. Kline.
The following is the list of the presidents of council beginning in 1852, with the year in which they were elected president: 1852, Jonathan Kenney; 1854, John H. Achey ; 1855, James Turner ; 1856, B. M. Ayres; 1859, Williams Bom- berger ; 1861, Amos Decker ; 1864, Isaac H. Kiersted; 1865, D. W. Iddings ; 1871, William N. Mills ; 1872, D. W. Iddings ; 1874, E. M. Wood; 1875, William Huff- man; 1876, E. M. Wood; 1878, J. R. Fletcher; 1879, Joseph Comer; 1880, Stephen T. Bryce; 1883, John R. Fletcher; 1884, Jacob Weinreich; 1886, Galen C. Wise; 1887, Samuel A. Ambrose; 1888, Joseph W. Allison; 1889, E. P. Mat- thews ; 1890, John A. Hahne; 1891, C. W. Bell; 1892, William G. Frizell; 1894, F. Munger ; 1895, John Huber ; 1896, Samuel B. Smith; 1897, Charles E. Pease; 1898, John Hoban; 1900, Joseph E. Lenz ; 1901, Edward J. Leo; 1902, H. Rogge; 1903, Calvin D. Wright; 1908, John M. Betsch; elected in 1909, William D. Huber.
CITY OFFICERS.
The city solicitors (city attorneys) since 1853, have been as follows: 1853, E. J. Forsyth ; 1857, G. W. Houck ; 1859, L. B. Bruen; 1861, Josiah Lovell; 1865, William Craighead; 1867, D. B. Corwin ; 1869, Elihu Thompson ; 1870, D. B. Cor- win; 1871, J. C. Baggot (died October 21, 1873) ; 1873, A. A. Thomas; 1875, O. M. Gottschall ; 1877, W. Belleville; 1879, A. W. Kumler ; 1883, John Hanitch ; 1889, D. B. Corwin; 1890, Harry F. Nolan; 1891, William Craighead; 1895, E. P. Matthews; 1906, Thomas B. Herrman; 1908, Philo G. Burnham; elected 1909, Frank S. Breene.
The list of city clerks since 1852 is as follows: 1852, G. W. Malambre; 1855, D. A. Houk; November, 1855, Fielding Loury, elected upon the resignation of D. A. Houk ; 1859, A. A. Butterfield; 1860, A. Stephens ; 1864, John U. Kriedler ; October, 1867, J. A. Leonhard; 1869, A. Stephens; 1870, D. H. Dryden; 1871, A. Stephens ; 1872, A. A. Butterfield; 1875, N. Metz; 1876, A. H. Whytte; 1878, N. Metz ; 1879, George M. Lane; 1883, C. H. Herbig ; 1887, Eugene Shinn ; 1891, John A. Hahne; 1903, C. Preston Floyd.
The following is the list of city treasurers from 1854 to 1863; 1854, David Stout ; 1856, A. V. Stansifer; June, 1857, Smith Davisson; 1859, C. C. Kiefer;
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1861, James Anderton ; 1862, D. W. Reese. From the expiration of Mr. Reese's term until 1904 the following county treasurers served also as city treasurers: 1863, Jonathan Kenney; 1865, Daniel Staley; 1867, John W. Turner; 1872, D. H. Dryden ; 1875, Henry H. Laubach ; 1879, Jonathan Kenney ; 1880, Stephen J. Allen ; 1884, Louis H. Poock; 1888, Frank T. Huffman; 1892, Thomas B. Minich; 1894, W. P. Sunderland ; 1898, Thomas A. Selz; 1902, Charles Ander- ton, Sr. Since 1904, the city treasurers have been: 1904, John C. Ely; 1908, George M. Lane ; elected 1909, G. W. Martin.
Since 1892, the police judges of the city have been as follows: 1892, Charles W. Dale; 1898, John Roehm; 1901, Edward T. Schnediker; 1904, William B. Sullivan; 1908, Lindley G. Long.
The police prosecuting attorneys, beginning with the year 1899, have been as follows: 1899, Benjamin F. McCann (S. A. Dickson filling unexpired term, until 1901) ; 1901, S. A. Dickson; 1903, Walter D. Cline; 1908, William H. Pohlman.
The clerks of the police court since 1894, have been: 1894, Will H. Tomlin- son ; 1895, C. J. Mattern; 1898, William R. Sullivan; 1901, Charles H. Winch; 1908, Carl B. Thompson ; elected 1909, R. A. Argabright.
C. Preston Floyd has been clerk of council since 1903.
The city auditors, called comptrollers from 1892 to 1902, since 1888, have been the following: 1888, John D. Turner; 1890, H. W. Lewis; 1891, Charles A. Herbig; 1897, J. E. Gimperling; 1899, Robert H. Ferguson; 1903, Edward Phillips; elected 1909, George W. Bish.
The civil engineers of the city since 1852, have been the following: 1852, David H. Morrison (resigned, succeeded by Joseph B. Johns) ; 1853, Joseph B. Johns; 1860, Samuel B. Shoup; 1862, Joseph B. Johns; 1864, J. S. Binkerd; 1869, Frank Snyder ; 1871, Samuel B. Shoup; 1873, J. S. Binkerd; 1875, Frank Snyder ; 1876, J. S. Binkerd; 1878, Joseph E. Waltz; 1886, Edwin C. Baird; 1890, Frank M. Turner; 1906, Robert E. Kline; 1908, Fred J. Cellarius.
The board of review consisted in 1905, of J. R. Lindemuth, H. W. Kaiser and W. S. Kemp. W. S. Kemp was succeeded in 1908 by Charles H. Winch.
The board of tax commissioners consisted in 1903 of Henry Zwick, Thomas W. Gable, John F. Campbell, and John A. Murphy. Thomas W. Gable was succeeded by Bernard F. Wendler. Henry Zwick, was succeeded by William T. Wuichet. These same persons have constituted the board of trustees of the Sinking Fund of the City of Dayton.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
That man should have to contend with savage beasts and protect himself against fire and flood, is not strange, but that he should have to defend himself against robberies and violence at the hands of his own kind, strikes one with surprise. Civilized man, instead of acting in his own behalf, commits his de- fense to his fellows.
The Dayton community was at first subject to the police powers of the North- west Territory, with its militia and Hamilton county with its sheriff, and then of Dayton township, with its constable. It may readily be supposed that in the earliest time, the moral sentiment and spontaneous justice of the pioneer set-
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tlers, must in the absence of formal authority, have had a very necessary part to perform.
June 10, 1797, Cyrus Osborn was made constable of Dayton township, includ- ing the territory out of which several counties have been formed, and Daniel Symms was sheriff of Hamilton county. The chief work of the constable was to make returns of persons and property to the assessors. When Montgomery county was organized in 1803, George Newcom was the first sheriff. In the hamlet of Dayton, the first public building after the block-house, erected in 1799, was a log jail, built in 1804.
When the town of Dayton was incorporated in 1805, the charter provided for a marshal, whose duty it was "to suppress all riots, disturbances and breaches of the peace, and with or without process to apprehend all rioters, disorderly persons or disturbers of the peace of the town and forthwith convey them to the presi- dent, and in case of resistance * * * to command the aid of any by-stander." When the ordinance regulating the running at large of hogs was adopted, the marshal's duties were turned largely in that direction. The first marshal was James Miller.
From the incorporation of the town in 1805, until the granting of the city charter in 1841, with the exception of brief periods, the marshal was the entire police force. Down to 1833, the annual salary of the marshal was not over $25. He generally had also the office of clerk of the markets, thus doubling or trebling his salary. Sometimes he had the additional duties and fees of assessor and collector. In 1833, the salary of the clerk of markets was seventy-five dollars and of marshal one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The amounts were in- creased till in 1838, the combined salaries of marshall and clerk of markets were four hundred dollars. In 1833, Joseph L. Allen was made a watchman to patrol and walk every half hour around the square from the courthouse to Jefferson street, thence to Second street, thence to Main street, and thence to the place of beginning. He was paid by individuals. He was to have a badge made of tin, six inches wide reaching nearly around his hat, painted white with the word "Watch" painted thereon. In 1835, nine persons served as assistant marshal from one to three nights each and received one dollar per night. In 1838, the mayor was authorized to swear into office any number of individuals not exceeding ten, to act as watchmen, they to be paid by individual subscriptions.
The charter of 1841 did not bring any great changes to the "police depart- ment," either as to character or proportions. The marshal was still the "force" and yet Dayton had above six thousand inhabitants. The corporation boundary and Dayton township, were made co-terminus, and in this territory, by act of council of December 9, 1841, two constables were to be elected at the annual election for city officers. They were of course to support the constitution of the United States, and discharge the usual duties of contables.
Because of an epidemic of burglars, council, on an appeal by a meeting of citizens, authorized March 16, 1855, the mayor to employ one hundred detec- tives. This show of spirit seems to have had the desired effect.
In 1856, it was ordained that the council might authorize the mayor and mar- shal to appoint not more than four watchman for each ward to serve during
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night and day, the same to receive two dollars for every twenty-four hours of service. This was simply a provision for emergencies that might arise. Septem- ber 3, 1858, council ordained "that the police department of the city shall consist of the marshal and six police officers." The mayor was to nominate and pre- scribe rules, and the marshal was to be chief of police. One year later, the number of policemen was increased to seven, one of the number to be designated as captain.
In 1866, another policeman and a deputy marshal were added. March 29, 1867 an act was adopted by the legislature whereby Dayton, a city of the second- class, was given privileges in organizing its police department, which were be- fore conferred only on certain cities of the first-class. Commissioners were given charge of the police department with a chief, known as captain and acting superintendent directly in charge. E. W. Davies was made president of the board of commissioners, and P. O'Connell was made chief. Along with the chief, the force consisted of twenty patrolmen and two sargeants. This was Dayton's first metropolitan police force. After a trial of eleven months, a democratic legislature repealed the act of 1867, and the police department was put back under the council and the marshal. In 1868, the council appointed a captain, two lieu- tenants, and twenty patrolmen. Conditions were not much changed till 1873, when the metropolitan police force was put on a permanent basis.
March 29, 1873, the general assembly passed an act providing for larger and more permanent police service. The first commissioners were E. W. Davies, E. S. Young, William Clark, William H. Gillespie, David A. Houk and Joseph Clegg. E. W. Davies was elected president, and, upon his death, during the first year, was succeeded by William Clark. D. B. Wilcox was chosen secretary. As long as there were commissioners of the police department, the mayor was ex-officio president. Under the law, the maximum number of policemen was placed at forty. The actual number, however, was for some time much below this. The detective force consisted of two persons appointed from the regular force. November 29, 1873, the present station house was first occupied, being used for a jail, mayor's office and police court.
The following is the list of the officers at the head of the police department down to 1909, they being known as captain and acting superintendent, until the election of J. C. Whitaker, March 1, 1901, when the title, chief of police, was authorized : April 7, 1873, to August 6, 1873, Thomas L. Stewart; August 25, 1873 to September 11, 1875, W. H. Martin ; September 15, 1875 to 1881, Amos Clark; 1881 to 1883, George Butterworth; May 1, 1883 to 1887, William Patton; March 12, 1887 to May I, 1889, W. W. Shoemaker ; July 1, 1889 to January 30, 1890, A. F. Steinmetz ; May 15, 1890 to March 10, 1892, Charles T. Freeman ; May 3. 1892 to January 11, 1900. J. T. Farrell ; interval to February 21, 1901, J. N. Allaback ; February 21, 1901 to October 30, 1908, J. C. Whitaker; Novem- ber 5, 1908 to the present time, J. N. Allaback.
The secretaries of the board of police commissioners have been the follow- ing : 1873, D. B. Wilcox; 1876, F. M. Hosier; 1880, Pat Kelly; 1881, John H. Gorman ; 1883, J. H. Ensign; 1885, C. W. Faber ; 1887, O. E. Davidson; 1894, J. V. Lytle ; 1895-1903, F. W. Whithoft.
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The Dayton police department has been much under the influence of poli- tics. The first police commissioners were elected as other officers. A republican legislature in March, 1887, passed an act establishing "an efficient and non-par- tisan police force." The act provided for four police commissioners, two to be ap- pointed from each of the political parties, the mayor to be ex-officio a member.
The first commissioners appointed were John L. Miller, John C. Cline, J. E. Gimperling and R. C. Anderson. In 1888 and 1889, the same commissioners served. In 1890, the board consisted of John C. Cline, John L. Miller, George Diefenbach and J. E. Gimperling ; in 1891 of George Diefenbach, C. G. McMillen, W. B. Anderson and Henry Hanitch.
March 17. 1892, the general assembly passed an act by which police directors were to be appointed by the tax commissioners, not more than two of whom were to be of the same political party, the mayor to be an ex-officio member. The first directors were E. M. Wood, H. H. Laubach, W. E. Crume and E. Thompson. The same served through 1893. Throughout the years 1894-97, the directors were W. E. Crume, E. Thompson, J. E. Lowes and J. M. Sprigg. In 1898, they were W. E. Crume, E. Thompson, E. M. Wood and C. J. Ferneding. In 1899, the place of E. M. Wood was taken by W. C. Kennedy. The board remained unchanged through 1900. In 1901, it was composed of C. J. Ferneding, Charles E. Underwood, W. C. Kennedy and J. C. Antrim, Orion Dodds, succeed- ing J. C. Antrim upon the latter's death, January 26, 1901. In 1902, the direc- tors were Charles E. Underwood, Orion Dodds, Jesse R. Lindemuth and W. C. Kennedy.
The new code which went into effect in May, 1903, made an entire change, the board of public safety taking the place of the board of police directors, as well as the place of some other municipal bodies.
After the building of the county jail in 1845, at the corner of Main street and the railroad, the city was granted for a time the use of a room in the base- ment of the jail for a lock-up. In 1858, rooms were fitted up in a part of the Deluge engine house on Main street, south of Fifth street for a city prison. These were occupied for this purpose until October, 1861, when the Oregon engine house at the corner of Sixth and Tecumseh streets was fitted up and occupied as a station house, the Oregon engine company having previously removed to the engine house on Fifth street, facing Brown. In the lower part of this building, four iron cages were fitted up for men and wooden cages for women. The upper part was used for various police purposes. November 29, 1873, the station house still occupied first came into use, the same having been purchased the year previous from the trustees of the First United Brethren church. Headquarters for the police force were shifted from place to place until, in 1892, the location was fixed in the city building, where it still remains. For many years, efforts have been made to secure city buildings that should afford accommodations for all of the city departments, but thus far without avail. In 1879, a substation was established on Fourth street on the West side. In 1881, a building on West Third street at the crossing of the Home avenue railroad, was occupied as a station house.
The patrol wagon system was adopted in 1883. The building on Brown
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street, near Fifth, and the patrol wagon came into service in December of that year, at which time also the telephone system was nearing completion.
By the expenditure of one thousand, one hundred dollars for horses and equipment, a system of mounted service was introducted for the outskirts of the city.
The Gainwell police telegraph system was adopted in 1896. The Bertillon system of identification was installed August 25, 1902, with Frank W. Whithoft as the first superintendent.
In 1887, a police surgeon was appointed, Dr. P. N. Adams being the first to be appointed.
July 6, 1888, Miss Lou Bowman was appointed police matron. The posi- tion, however, was a temporary one. After much agitation and the use of no small amount of effort, Miss Bowman was again appointed police matron to be- gin her duties January 1, 1894. As there were no funds provided for the pay- ment of her salary, the Woman's Christian Association at the first paid the same.
Dayton in its earlier period was relatively free from crimes of violence. As time passed, such crimes became more numerous. The first murder committed in the county for which the death penalty was inflicted, was that of Mrs. John McAfee in 1825, at the hands of her husband. A long poem written by the condemmed man shortly before his execution frequently appears in print. The next murder avenged by law was that of a mother-in-law and brother-in-law by Francis Dick in 1853. Excitement ran so high that a lynching was narrowly averted. In recent years, a number of horrifying murders have been committed. A number of the perpetrators of these crimes have been arrested and made to pay the penalty for the same. Others have escaped detection. January 17, 1880, Lee Lynam, while in the performance of his duty as a policeman, was wantonly shot down by John Francis. Francis was given an inadequate sentence of ten years in the penitentiary. In 1894, the police won credit by the arrest of the no- torious diamond thief, Fritzy Dhein. He was the principal in a robbery of twenty thousand dollars worth of diamonds in this city. After being arrested and released on bail, he forfeited bail and escaped from custody, but was finally located and arrested and sentenced to the Ohio penitentiary. Skillful detective work led to the arrest and conviction of Charles Stimmel for the murder of Joseph Shide, November 22, 1902, and the breaking up later of the Rose Shafor or "bungaloo" gang.
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