“Arrests Will Be Made”

[The sidepaths were the cinder cycle paths along the roads of Monroe County; riding on them needed a 25-cent licence number from the county's sidepath commissioners. The Democrat and Chronicle of 27 Jul 1898, p. 10 (image 135295271), reports the hearing: "Deputy Sheriff McKeon announced that John and Rudolph Hegnauer had waived examination and had given bonds to await the action of the grand jury."]

ARRESTS WILL BE MADE

The Limit of Patience is Reached—Investigating Cases of Tack-Strewing—Four Arrests by Deputy McKeon Yesterday.

Unless there is a rapid increase in the number of ladies' wheels having upon them the numbers issued by the sidepath commissioners of Monroe county as an indication that the owners thereof have paid for a license to ride on the paths, it is very likely that the men who have paid fines, or have been held for the grand jury for riding without numbers, will have feminine company. Beginning with to-day no discrimination will be made in the matter of arrests. Wheelwomen and wheelmen will fare alike. This course has been made necessary because of the utter lack of attention paid to the law by the great army of wheelwomen. It is estimated by one in a position to know that up to within a few days at least not more than 30 per cent. of the women riders on the paths had numbers on their wheels.

Just why this condition of affairs has existed in and around Rochester, has been a matter of wonder to the commissioners. The daily papers have published the provisions of the law so many times that there is no excuse for any one being ignorant on this point. The only explanation available is the sentiment voiced by one man that the wheelwomen were deliberately taking advantage of the courtesy which they expected as their due. The amount asked for the license, 25 cents, is so small that the offense is all the more aggravating. If the women will persist in violating the law, the commissioners have decided that they are not entitled to any further courtesy, in short that patience has ceased to be a virtue.

There are still a few men who persist in defying the law in this respect, but this class is finding out that Nemesis is not nearly so slow and lame as was supposed. The large number of arrests made and the speedy convictions following are very discouraging for this business.

There is another matter coming under the same general head that is to receive close attention. There are some persons so constituted that they can never be happy unless they have succeeded in making somebody else just exactly the opposite. This genus might be termed the Meanest Men. Of course the genus is divided into many species, the worst of them being the people who scatter tacks, broken glass and other articles of virtu along cinder paths and roads traveled by many wheelmen for the purpose of ruining the tires of the aforesaid wheelmen. This species may be named the Very Meanest Men.

When a vigorous specimen of this species is discovered, the first and strongest feeling developed in the mind of the discoverers is one of sadness that lynching is unfashionable. The law on the subject of tack sowing is very explicit and the penalty is heavy. Recent instances of alleged strewing of tacks upon sidepaths in the city are being investigated closely, and if the guilty specimen of the Very Meanest Men is found, he will have just reason to remember and rue the occasion.

The work of arresting those without sidepath numbers is livelier on Sundays than any other day of the week. This is probably because there are many who only ride in the city during the week and take the chances of meeting a deputy sheriff on the paths during their Sunday rides. So far the risks have been very unsatisfactory to the riders. Deputy Sheriff McKeon has made a good record in rounding up these people, and yesterday was no exception. As a result of his industry, four numberless wheelmen will face Justice of the Peace Smith at Brighton next Thursday evening. Deputy McKeon commenced to get his work in at an early hour. As he was riding along the East avenue path in Brighton at 8 o'clock in the morning, he found Henry Smith, of Fairport, bowling cheerfully along with no certificate of good faith upon his wheel. The deputy politely requested the gentleman to accompany him to the abode of Justice Smith, who was aroused from peaceful dreams to arraign the man.

About two hours later, Orville Gould, who gave his residence as No. 74 Gregory street, was taken into camp on the same path. It may be well to mention that the diversion caused by Mr. Gould's appearance was the cause of a wheelwoman having another chance to purchase a number before facing the bar of justice.

The next time the deputy's net fell he was rewarded with a brace of victims. John and Rudolph Hegnauer, brothers, were the men. John gave his residence as No. 74 Ontario street, and Rudolph said he lived at No. 5 Hensler place. They will appear before Justice Smith next Thursday evening.