Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-28
Men Who face Death.
THE POLICEMAN.

Don't you 20 and make any mistake The
pictures in the comic papers. aud all the
rest of tho jokes about policemen may all
be very well in their way. and l can
laugh myself to good joke at the expense of
the Force, but for all that there is not as
much in them as some of the would-be sharp
ones make out. Most of 'em are as stale as
they well can be. and through for anything
| know they may have been to the point
some time, they aims nowadays. not by
long way. There's saying about life not
being all beer and skittles, and you may take
my word for it, that lie amt all cupboard
courtship for policeman Even if be had
the inclination for it, his superiors would
| take precious good care that be didn't spend
his time on duty making love to cooks and
feeding in gentleman's kitchens. That may
be very we'll in pantomfme, but it's about
as much the real thing as pantomime fish
and carrots are; and, whatever people may
think, policeman don't always come up just
when fight is over, and it isn't only women
| and little boys that they collar-1 should
| like TO see some Of them shat talk that way
have to tackle some of the customers that We
have to do they'd mighty soon alter their
| tone l expect. Why, taking it all through,
| there's few businesses as are more risky than
a poceman's. In plenty of neigh borhoods be
goes on duty with his life in his hand Peo-
| pie read and talk about the dangerous classes,
but it is the policeman that has to deal with
em, and it's him as known hOW dangerous
they are. They know whether its only
women or boys that we collar; they know
who lays them by the heels, and they re-
member it with a vengeance. :" Revenge is
sweet is motto with good many Of
them, and when they are loose they will often
go long way to have it on the man that has
been the means of caging them-shat was
how came by the cash you see on the side
of my face here.
| | bad got customer two years for stealing
lead, and was one of those that escorted
him to the van after he was sentenced, and
as we passed along be growls out to me un-
der his breath, " You've scored this chalk
but you may lay any odds that I'll score the
next, if | have to die for it,
could tell that he meant what he said =,
and bore it in mind. When he was out
again, kept well on my guard whenever
saw him lurking about; but at length he was
too sharp for me.
One rather foggy night was passing the
top of dark side-street, when, hearing a
rush, | wheeled round as quickly as | could
but it was too late. just caught sight
of the scoundrel making swinging hit at me
with bottle tied in a handkerchief, and the
next instant | was stretched senseless.
shall carry the mark of the blow to the
| grave with me, as you may see, and 1t was
pretty nigh carrying me to the grave; was
within an half an inch af death, as you may
say, for if it had been half an inch more on
the temple it would have been an end OF me.
As it was, it laid me up for about three
months, but beyond marking me, it did me
no permanent hsrm.
When got on my duty again said moth
ing, but made up my mind that there should
be third chalk to the game between me and
the fellow that struck the blow. lie had
bolted as soon as be had done it. and hadn's
been heard of since; but for all that felt
quite sure he would turn up IN bis old lurk
again, sooner or later, for his wife and all
his companions were there 81 watched
and watched, and sure enough at the end of a
couple of years spotted him again. found
out that he had only been back a week when
l caught sight of him, aud so didn't try to
hutter the nest too soon | let three months
90 by, SO that he might think be was all
right, and then | went in to score my next
chalk.
Ireporsed him and half dozen of US were
after him, two kept watch in the front. and
| took my stand at the back, the way he was
likeliess to come il he managed to make a
run of it. As it turned out, he did make a
run, or at any rate he got a start.
1t was a low built house, and before those
who went in could get upstairs he dropped
out of the bedroom window. coming down
safely on his leet but before he could take
to his heels was facing him, my right hand
holding NY staff ready-drawn behind my
back, my left hand ready to collar him.
"Oh, it's you, Is 30 he grnds GU be-
tween his teeth, and before | could say a
word or move an inch, he had whipped our d
large clasp-knfe. | could see murder ID
bis eye, and so | dashed in at once to seize
him; but before could lay hold OF him he
had gashed my hand to the bone-and then
: it was my turn. He was drawing back TO
make running stab at me, when, quick as
lightning, and with all the streagth 1 could
put into it, swung round my right arm and
caught him with the staff full in the face
telling him like bullock. He was quite
senseless, and by the time the Others got
round had him quietly handcufed. When
we got him to the station we sent for doc
to dress his wound, but he wouldn't have il
touched, and insisted upon being taken into
court next morning with his face all marked
but though he certainly looked horrible
enough, he didn't take anything by his move,
He was well known, and besides, though |
struck with a will, L struck in self defence,
, and for life. He had penal servitude, and
| he didn' t live to do his time out.
That is the sort of customer policeman
has sometimes to tackle, and he never
knows the day or hour he may have to tao
r kle Men rs are wanted will generally
come q lite enough. when they fnd
they are fairly dropped upon; but still you
| can mover be quiet certain of them; if the
: drink or the evil is in them at the time, they
: may take it into their heads to show fight
and whom they do they're not particular tc
/ trifes tho first thing that comes handy
: they'll use. But, as said before, IT'S when
they g in for being revenged on you that
they are most dangerous Il isn't a case OF
fighting then: they don't give you the
chance to fight; they creep upon you-in
} the dark for choice-and are mp to all sort.
, of cruel. cowardly ways of laming man
, Many fine man has been made a cripple
for life, in doing or for having done his duty
{ as policeman, and some have been killed
/ outright
Then see how policeman has to go into
:, a row, and take his chance of what may
happen from interfering with wild or drunk
en- men with their blood up; again, see how
, he has to 60 into house where s. Murder -
is being shouted, and where perhaps the
first thing that meets bis sight is man more
than half-mad, and slashing right and left
with poker. Then there is being at
, fires, and being out in all sorts of weather,
l SO that, what with one thing aud what with
anosher, policeman's is both hard job and
, risky one. If there's any one as thinks as
it ain't risky, just let EN- ask any police.
mans wife as cares for her hasband how
often she has lain awake, fearing something
: might happen to him. when he's been one
, night duty in bad quarter
g What class of criminals are the most dan