The Portland daily press., 1873-05-17
SELECTED STORY.
From Cassell's Magazine.
Men who Face Death.
THE POLICEMAN.

SOlue Vi LUe WOulu-UC ohA
Most eff ,em are as stale as they well can be,
and though for anything know they may have
bean to The point sometime, they amt now
a-davs not by long way. There's saying
about life not being all beer and sklttles, and
Won NAV take my word for it that life amt all
cupboard courtship for a policeman. Even if
he had the inclination for it, his superiors
would take precious good good care that he
didn't spend his time on duty making love to
cooks and feeding in gentlemen's kitchens.
That may be very well in a pantomime, but
It's about as much the real thing as panto.
mime fish and carrots are and, whatever peo-
pie may think, policemen don't always come
ND lust when fight is over, and it isn't only
women and little boys that they collar-T
should like to see some of them that talk that
way have to tackle some of the customers
that we have to do; they'd mighty soon alter
their tone, 1 expect. Why, taking it all
through, there's few businesses as are more
risky than polceman's. In plenty of neigh
borhoods he goes on duty with his life in his
hand. People read and talk about the danger
Gus classes, but it is the policeman that has
to deal with em, and it's him as knows hOao
dangerous they are. They know whether it's
only women or boys that we collar; they
know who lays them by the heels, and they
remember it, with vengeance. Revenge Is
swee. is a motto with good many Of them,
and when they are loose they will often go a
long way to have it ON the man that has been
the means of cagng them-that was how l
came by the cash you see on the side Of my
face here.
had got customer two years for stealing
lead, and was one of those that escorted
him to the van after he was sentenced, and as
wepassed along he growls out to me under
his breath, you've scored this chalk, but
you may lay any odds that I'll score the next
if have to die for ito
could tell that he meant what he said,
and bore it in mind. When he was out
again I kept well on my guard whenever L
saw him lurking about. but at length he was
too sharp for me.
One rather foggy night was passing the
top of a dark side-street. when hearing rush
I wheeled round as quickly as could-but it
was too late.I just caughtsight of thescoundrel
making a swinging hit at me with bottle tied
in handkerchief, and the next instant was
stretched senseless. I 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 half an inch Of death, as
you may say, for if it had been
half an inch more on the tenn
pie it would have have an end of me. As
it was it laid me up for about three months,
but beyond marking me, it did me no perma-
nent harm.
When got on duty again said nothing,
but made up my mind that there ST ould be a
third chalk to the game between me and the
fellow that struck the blow. He had solted
as soon as he had done it, and hadn't been
heard of since; but for all that 1 felt quite
sure he would turn up in his old Turk again
sooner or later, for his wife and all his COM
panions were there. Sol watched and watch
ed, and sure enough at the end of couple of
years spotted him again. found out that
he had only been back a week when caught
sight of him, and so didn't try to futter the
nest too soon. 1 let three months go by, so
that he might think he was all right, and
thar l went in to score my next chalk.
reported him, and half dozen Of us were
told-off to take him. Three went into the
house after him, two kept watch in the front,
and 1 took my stand at the back, the way he
was likelest to come if he managed to make
run of it. As it turned out, he did make a
run, or at any rate he got start.
1t was a low built house, and before those
who went in could get up stairs he dropped
out of the bedroom window, coming down
safely on his feet but before he could take to
his heels was facing him, my right hand
holding my staff ready-drawn behind my back
my left hand ready to collar him.
sob, it's you, is it?" he grimes out be-
tween his teeth, and before L could say a
word or move an inch, he had whipped out a
large clasp-knife. could see murder in his
eye, and so dashed in at once to seize him !;
but before l 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 tighten
ing, and with all the strength could put in
to 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 1 had him
quietly handcuffed. When we got him to the
station we sent for a doctor to dress his
wound, but he wouldn't have it 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 make anything by his move. He was
well known, and besides, though l struck
with will, / 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 tackle.
Men as are wanted will generally come quiet
enough, when they find they are fairly drop
ped upon; but still you can never be quite
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 when they do they're
not particular to trifles-the first thing that
comes handy they'll use. But, as 1 said be-
fore, It's when they 60 in for being revenged
on you that they are most dangerous. 1t
isn't case of fighting then; they don't give
you the chance to fight; they creep upon
you-in the dark for choice-and are up to
all sorts of cruel, cowardly ways of tanning
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 a policeman has to go into
a row, and take his chance of what may hap
pen from interfering with wild or drunken
men with their blood up; again, see how he
has to 90 into house where "murderp' j.,
being shouted, and where perhaps the f rst
thing that meets his sight is man more than
haifmad. and slashing right and left with a
poker. Then there is being at fires, and be-
ing cut in all sorts of weather, so that what
with one thing and what with another, a
policeman's is both a hard job and risky
one. If there's any one as thinks as it amt
risky, just let 'em ask any policeman's wife
as cares for her husband how often she has
lain awake, fearing something might happen
to him, when he's been on night duty in a
bad quarter!
What class of criminals are the most dan
gerous for policeman to have to deal with?
Well, l hardly know; the regulars,
the ''habitual criminals as they are called,
are much of a mnchness. A sneaxing thief
may turn Turk upon you, while a burglar or
garotter, as you might think likely to show
fight, will often let himself be took as quietly
as lamb. The chance cases are often
rough once. A mad-drunk sailor amt a
nice customer to handle, and mad
drunk soldier-especially when he takes
to the BELTS a decidedly nasty one; and
sometimes your swindling clerk, or absconds
ing bankrupt, will show his teeth-pull out a
pistol, or pick up decanter or chair, and
talk of knocking your brains out if you lay
hand on him; though of course We do lay
hands on 'em for all that. If you dash in
boldly at them they generally knock under.
Coiners used to be about the worst, but
theres not many about now. There is one
customer, however, as is more likely than not
to make fight of it before he'll be taken, and
as is generally tough one to fight, and that
is the escaped convict. It's generally des-
perate hand that does manage to escape, and
one that's dreadfully fond of his liberty, and
that knows that if he is took again he NAV
bid long goodbye to it. gentleman Of
that stamp gave me the stiffest tussle ever
had, and the one Pm proudest Of, for fought
him fair, and took him single-handed. When
he made his escape he got clear away, and he
had sense enough not to bark back to
his old London haunts, while the search was
hot h,,t aho,,f war; afterwards bp did