The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-03
A Police Dog.

Late On a warm August afternoon
some five years ago, while the Captain
of the Church Street Police Station was
leaning negligently back in his chair
behind the desk, a chunky built brindle
dog of solemn mein walked gravely in
to the room, and sat down in the mid.
die of the floor with the air of dog
whose right to such liberty was en-
tirely beyond question.
'Whist! Get out!''
The Captain yelled these syllables al
the dog, but the animal never moved.
Then the official SHE'D small paper
weight at the dog. who looked up with
an expression Of grave disapproval and
settled himself in his former position,
and paid no more attention to the man
behind the desk. After one or two
Captain fell into reverie and left the
dog in peace. Later the dog aroused
himself. and trotted into the rear room
where the policemen congregate. He
walked about quietly until he found a
position to his liking under the table,
in the centre of the room. He lay down
here and went to sleep.
At midnight the fourth section of the
second platoon was rung up. The men
marched into the main room and ranged
themselves in line. The dog followed
and took up his position at the foot.
When the roll was called the Sergeant
named the dog Pete, and bade him go
with the men. He followed them out.
went around from one post to another,
returned with the platoon in the morn
ing, and went to sleep under the table.
Relays of men were called during the
day. but the dog did not move. At six
o. clock the fourth section of the second
platoon was again called out. The dog
marched in with the men and took up
his position at the foot of the line.
'.By Georgep' said the Captain,
''there's that pup again. Well, don't
feed him, doorman, and he'll soon go
away"
But he didn't go away. He has never
been fed in the station and he has
always acted thoroughly at home.
"There's one peculiar thing about
Pete" said the Sergeant at the desk,
yesterday. He moves and acts exactly
like policeman. He never runs,-or
jumps, or plays, but simply strolls
along. He's fond of janitors' daugh-
tiers, and will stand stock still in shad-
owy doorway for hours at stretch.
Not a man in the precinct has ever seen
him eat, and I'm pretty sure that the
general public never saw him drink.
And, then, what clever dog he is! In
the winter of 10, on the 10th of Janu-
ary, if my memory serves, Pete was
walking along Greenwich Street on his
way from post to post, when he saw
three men at the basement door of the
bonded warehouses. A moment later,
| and the men had forced the door, en-
tered the building, and closed up their
work so that passing glance could not
detect that nything had been tampered
with. Pete lay down by the door and
growled After while Officer Dough-
erty came along, and, patting the dog
on the head, walked on, expecting the
dog to follow him. Pete never moved.
but growled louder than before, with
Dougherty tried to get him to move,
but It wouldn't do. At last the officer
saw that something was up. He exam
ined the door, then raped for assist
ance, and the building was searched
Two of the burglars were captured
The other one escaped. About three
was trotting along Broadway, when he
discovered broken pane of glass in 6
clothing store near Cedar Street. He
stopped at once and barked like mad
Every man in the precinct knows Pete'i
voice. Officer Donnelly ran to him anG
found that there had been light rob
berry. Whether the dog frightened the
thieves away or not, we never knew
Another time the dog discovered fire
at 24O Fulton Street. Peter has nevel
missed his turn on the second platoon
and has never gone out with any othel
than the fourth section in five years. >
--NeeD York San.