Scott County Kicker

Cape Girardeau has a policeman by the name of Kain who has set in to regulate the press. If there is anything an incompetent 'officer of the law' fears and hates, it is the press. During the past month robberies and hold-ups have been very numerous and the Tribune, the morning paper, told of two men having been robbed and thrown into the river. In the last case Dick Frissell, the reporter, interviewed the policeman and printed what he said about it. I read the article and could find no unfair comment and nothing malicious about it. It was a plain account of what was alleged to have happened.

Yet the next night when the reporter went into a restaurant to buy a cigar, the Tribune tells this story of what happened:

'After a few words and while Mr. Frissell's back was toward the patrolman he struck the reporter a terrific blow with his night stick. Frissell fell to the floor unconscious, and the policeman gathered him into his left arm and began to batter him over the head with his club, which he held in his right hand. Several guests started to the rescue, but Kain dropped his victim and defied the crowd with his club. During this intermission Mr. Frissell regained consciousness and arose. Kain turned and struck at him viciously again. The club missed the reporter, but struck the screen door tearing a hole more than twelve inches. The cook at the restaurant emerged from his room and ordered Kain from the restaurant. After applying vile epithets to Frissell, the policeman left the building.'