failed, and in 1894, after contests between Roanoke and Metamora, Eureka offered to deed the county their city square for the location of a new courthouse, and secured approval in the election which followed. The courthouse was completed in 1897 with El Pasoan George Andrews one of the building committee, and the matter of county seat seems now permanently settled.
EARLY JUSTICE. Uncle Billy Willis presided over the city court, and when Constable Frank Keys brought in a culprit Uncle Billy would always fine him $5 and costs, regardless of the enormity of the offense. In case the fine could not be paid, the prisoner had a ball and chain fastened to his leg and he sweat out his fine at the handle of the town pump at a rate of $1 per day. There was no thought of appeal, and the modern writ of habeas corpus was an expense not considered. Offenders paid or pumped, else Dad Keys wouldn't feed them.
The first jail was a wooden building located on the Illinois Central grounds on the north side of Second Street at Central. Once when James F. Keys was marshal a drunken tramp set fire to his cot in an effort to escape. The jail burned, but the tramp was rescued. Keys is the only marshal whose identity is known who served prior to 1875.
The second jail was of brick construction and was located along the west Y, just north of Main Street, now Route 24. It was always referred to as the calaboose and it stood for some years after the new city hall provided jail cells, then used as quarters for the transients. It was finally sold to R. L. Beshers for $145, plus paving assessments, and was removed by him.
A recorder's court was established here in March, 1869 at a time when it appeared El Paso might become the county seat. It had all the powers of the courts at Metamora, with J. J. Cassell as the first and only judge. It operated only about two years and the old records were lost in a west side Front Street fire.
After the turn of the century a city collector was appointed to collect water, sidewalk and other assessments, and this continued until March 5, 1923 when the collectors duties were added to those of the city treasurer. The council forgot to add anything to the treasurer's salary for his increased duties, but did so when he refused to qualify without it.
Police officers were elected when the city was under special charter. W. T. Tucker was elected marshal in 1875, the earliest except for Mr. Keys that we can find record of. He was followed by Mr. O. R. Webster, and in 1880 E. S. Paul served until the election of Ozias Johns in 1889. H. J. Morris was elected in 1891, and was appointed when the city began operating under the general law that year. Morris resigned in January, 1892, to be followed by George W. Tegard, probably our first uniformed policeman, but he resigned in 1895. Ozias Johns then returned for four years, and in 1899 F. L. Newton was appointed. He was succeeded by L. F. Tobias in 1908. In 1911 the position was discontinued temporarily, with Theodore Faulk serving in
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