Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-17
Troubles of a Policeman.


ing lookout for thieves and rowdies, we don't
see much fun, that's a fact. We earn our mon
ey, and the people know it, though they do
make fun of us. Pve been good many years
IN the department, and have seen Il deal of city
life. Some OF it would rather astoniSh Won if
could put it ali down on paper as you can.
Perhaps you're only talking TO me now Tor
something TO write about. Oil | don't care,
sir; I'm not grumbler, so you can't hurt me.
first Joined the force when Fernandy Wood
put the corps in uniform, and l hung on to him
at first when the metropolitan law passed, for
he and old Matsell seemed to think they would
win in the end. But when the men came down
TO the city hall, under old Dan Carpenter, TO ar
rest the mayor, it made me sick TO see the beat
ing they got from our men, and when the
seventh regiment stopped on It's way to Boston,
and helped to arrest old Wood, | saw the Jig
was up, so resigned in time to become a metro
politan. Eve done duty in all the precincts,
and know a good deal about the streets of the
city. When first Joined | was put under poor
Jim Leonard, when he had command of the
second ward. He was a good man, and kept
us at work without hazing US, las they do now
a-days. When you did good stroke of work
you got credit for it, and you didn't have to tell
everybody that the captain put you up to it, and
helped you at the critical moment. Why, you
know how the captain claim credit in these
days. Don't they pretend that no arrest is ever
made unless they happen to be there? Why,
only the other night Bill Stubs picked up a
fellow as he was leaving house with q bundle
and he proved to be big hotel thief everybody
had been looking up for over a MONTH Of
course, Bill only happened on him accidentally,
but, bless you, the very next day see in the
newspapers that ourcaptain had succeeded after
much trouble in catching the sneak, when the
truth was he was away to the theatre, and did
not know anything about the arrest
until he came back. In those old
days we used to have target ex-
on nd no off for a yhOlo = al,
Dodworth's band, for a holiday, the ward be-
ing looked after by details from other stations
as they do now when there's big funeral. The
last one we had there was so many prizes that
there was more than enough to go around so
we Just banged away at the target up at the old
Red house, until we got tired, and then had
rattle for the prizes. The boys all wanted the
captain to get the best prize, so they lust cheat
ed him into believing that the drawing was all
fair, and so il was, after he had got his prize.
wonder what the commissioners would say to a
target excursion now. | wouldn't like to be the
man to propose it. In those days duty was a
deal easier, and though the politicians had a
good deal to say about us policemen, they didn't
attempt TO run the department altogether, and
if you made an arrest there was some chance
that the party would be given a show for Sing
Sing or the Island. Promotion was thing to
be earned, not got as matter of favor which is
what would like to see now. Oh, yes, Eve been
a rOundsman, and lost it when they made new
deal under Jourdan. And | would no doubt
have been made sergeant if an influential
friend of mine had't died. Influence2 Why.
see that fellow who is a captain uptown; you
know who ] mean. He was a servant for one
of the commissioners, and took a fancy to be a
doorman. Of course he got the place. Then he
became tired of that and went down to the 14th
as patrolman. None of us thought much of
that, for he was good-looking, strong-built
young fellow. But one night a few weeks
after he was read off as a roundsman, and was
sent up town. That riled q good many Of the
men who had done good duty in the depart
ment for more years than he had weeks, for it
seemed little hard that he should be promoted
SO suddenly. But coniound his impudence,
that was nothing, for he was a sergeant before
the year was out, and now he's a captain
VI course there are good captains; they are
nearly all first class men; and so are the SER
geants, but there are cases where the patrolmen
know more about the police business than those
behind the desk. never complain of the duty;
It's not hard when you're accustomed to il and
don't care to shirk; but there are many little
things that make it unpleasant Fires are
awful nuisances, especially in winter for, when
you are on post, fire often keeps the relief
back, as the reserves have to be away to the
fire; and, If you are in reserve, it's as bad for
then you get reused out of comfortable sleep,
aud have to bundle into your clothes in a hurry,
and go padding off TO the fire. half asleep, and
feeling rather stale. My brother, who was in
the war, often told me that he knew how we felt
when gong to fires whenever the long roll sound
ed, and the regiment fell in suddenly to go into
the trenches. But never grumble; what's the
user Somebody has TO 90 TO fires, else the
thieves would have it all their own wav, and the
whole city might burn. It's what we are paid
for
1 often think nights as l 90 over my beats,
trying the doors, how little the people thinks of
the police. AS | said before, they are always
making fun of us, and if you 90 to the theatre,
and policeman is made game Of how the folks
laugh and enjoy it, as though we were all a par
Gel of fools when we amt by long chalk.
never yet saw good police character on the
stage, except in the "Ticket-of.Leave Man"
But that HawkShaw is queer cove, too. He
makes good point or two; but then you know
detectives don't go about making speeches in
banks, nor do they make such fools of them
selves as to wear false wigs and whiSkers, lust
TO pull them off again when they make arrests
and shout, ''Pm Hawkshaw, the detective" OF
course it's all very well in the theatre and it is
exciting to the audience; but here on post it's
good deal different. Why, I'll tell you little
story: Four years ago / was over in the Fifth
precinct, and was stationed in Worth street
My side partner was Joe Billings-he that had
burglar, the other night. Ohl Joe is a cool
hand, and no mistake. Well, him and me had
just parted on the corner Of Broadway; so
walked on down toward Church street, irving
the doors, as usual. hadn't been in the Fifth
long, and was little afraid of old Petty. for the
old man is always considered hard one on the
boys. But l never found him so. Just attend
to your business and obey orders, and wouldn't
want better or kinder captain than Jerry.
though he does twist his mustaches so fierce
Once, when my baby was sick, he let me off
whole night, though we were short handed. and
did bit of extra duty himself to make matters
straight.
Well, as | was saying, kept on trying the
doors until had got half way down the block.
when found one Of the store doors unfastened
Now had tried the same door half an hour be-
fore, and knew it was allfast and safe then. 90
l saw at once that gang had got in while
was patrolling. My side partner was too far
away for me to call him, and was afraid TO
rap, for it would give the office to the thieves
SO determined to 90 it alone especially as |
had full hand, counting my club and revolver.
Creeping in under the iron shutter that comes
down over those little doors, | managed to
crawl up the broad stairs until got to the sec
ond floor. 1t was all full of hoods, piled up on
the long counters and covered with long cloths.
as they always do in those stores over night,
AS couldn't see anything, / concluded to keep
quiet bit and see what would turn up. Sud
denly light flashed from dark lantern. and
way down in the rear of the store | saw
three men busy at work in sorting out and
packing up some of the more valuable goods. [
tell you my heart jumped just then, when saw
~ many LOT uhun tcOunteu on more than two,
But was there, and so determined to make a
fight Of it; for, you see, it wouldn't be the ex.
act thing to funk out when could cover at
least one of the thieves. Before did anything,
| took the bearings Of the store, for | knew the
gang would douse their glim as soon as thew
were alarmed, and we would all be in the dark
then. Squatting down behind some bales. |
cooked my pistol, and on getting to my feet
again, just give it to the gang right and left,
and, as luck would have it, one of 'em went
down kicking and yelling, so knew my bullet
had hit him. As had expected, the dark lam
tern went out in jffy, and heard ball wbis-
tie over my head. Everything was silent for a
minute, and then | heard scuffling noise as
though somebody was coming toward me. |
grabbed my club tightly and poked it out into
the passage way between the counters, when |
felt it 90 against man. Quick as fash
swung the locust overhand--as they teach you
at drill-and whack IL went right on to the fel-
lows skull, making him 90 down like log. |
was soon atop of him, and getting a good hold
OF his collar, started toward the front of the
store, the thief all the time struggling and ours
ing and swearing like mad. gave him two or
three more bats over the head before he would
Keep quiet, and finally managed TO get to one of
the windows, which | smashed open with my
club and then gave an alarm, though il was
hafd work doing it with shat fellow to hold on
70. Luckily citizen was passing and he ran
up 70 Broadway and got Billings to come down,
anu lhen ran TO the station house. When Joe
came ne struck match, and finding the lantern
We soon had chance to see what we were
ABOUT Inc chap ! had shot was still living
4 * 80