Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-14
TRICKS OF OFFICERS.
The Result of Devices to Catch Suspected
Individuals.

Individuals.
In the Police Court yesterday morning
James Wilson, who attempted to rob officer
Mccormack of his gold watch and chain
while that officer and another were feign-
ing drunken sleep to give him chance,
had nothing to say in his own defense, but
ntimated his desire to have the case hurried
through the Courts. Judge Henry held
him to answer in $500 bail.
The incident brings to mind several
other of similar character. Many years
ago Captain Joe Taylor, then a watehman
for the California Steam Navigation Com
pany, fell asleep in front of the Pony FIX
change Saloon, on Front street, early one
morning while awaiting the arrival of the
boat. A thief discovered his somnolency,
and adroitly stealing his watch, made off
with it. Just then Cap" woke up, took
in the circumstances at once, pursued the
thief, brought him down with bullet hole
in his leg, and later he was sent to San
Quentin.
Officer Fred D. Chamberlain, in his de-
sire to arrest some FOUNDERS who had been
rolling" DRINKS, stretched himself late
one night on the sidewalk, and was soon
discovered by one of the class he was oper-
ating against. The fellow may not have
been of the character suspected, or he may
have recognized the officer; at all events,
he astonished Fred by calculating, "Get
up, you drunken y" and at the
same time applying his boot to the officer
so briskly and positively that Chamberlain
couldn't sit down comfortably for q week,
and afterwards declared that he didn't in
| tend to do his detective work in that
fashion hereafter.
Fifteen or more years ago, when Matt.
| Karcher was an officer, before his election
as Chief he and Captain Stevens. also an
officer, one night observed n man samplng
sleeping inebriaies along Front street, and
determined to try and put up a job to
| secure his arrest on good case. Stevens
went on to the Grand Hotel, leaving
Karcher to play drunk, which he did sue
cessfully, occasionally, as he went stagger-
ing along, caroming against the party sus-
pected, who Immediately followed him.
Karcher concluded to bring up in a door
way of the Grand Hotel, and did so with q
heavy lurch. The door happened to be
unfastened, and to his establishment it
swung open, causing him to tumble down
in heap just inside. He couldn't have
done better if he had tried a week. The
:" tough soon went up to him, pretending
sympathy, inquiring if he felt hurt or sick,
etc. Karcher mumbled something about
being sleepy and wanting to be let alone
In due time the rascal got the officers watch
out, and was christening the chain, when
Karcher, fearing he might succeed in get
| ting away with the property, Unexpectedly
seized him by the collar of the shirt, as
tonishing him SO that he Strengthened no,
raising his victim" to his feet also. They
had q tussle, Stevens responded to call, and
| the prisoner was conveyed TO the station
house, but during his struggle with
Karcher he threw the latteTs watch into
the street, smashing it. Subsequently
Judge Clark gave the robber three years in
San Quentin.
On a later occasion another officer, P. F.
Dolan, if We remember correctly, put up
similar job and caught thief. who was
| held TO answer before the County Court,
but he got clear on the point being raised
that an officer had no right to thus tempt
man to the commission of crime.
Probably the most amusing of incidents
of this character happened to Captain Tay-
lor He pretended to be dead drunk on
( the sidewalk at the Railroad Exchange
corner of Third and X streets, but the man
] he suspected and wanted was slow in get
| ting around to him. Joe persisted in wait
ing, and presently a bill-poster came along
with his bucket and bundle of bills for
posting. Seeing the portly officer lying
there on his face. he dipped his brush in
the paste applied it lavishly to Captain
Joeis person, and then in first-class style
posted upon him bill, Try Smiths gin.
Take no other"
SPECIAL GRAND ARMY NuNBERs.-The
San Jose Mercury in its recent special Is
page Grand Army edition published fine
review of the resources and general matters
of interest in the Santa Clara valley. a
special edition of the California SPIRIT Of
| The Times aud Uaderlrriters Journal has just
now been issued by its editor and pro
prietor, NJ D. Borucll, which is big ly
creditable piece of journalism. 1t consists
of 126 pages of highly valuable matter and
illustrations concerning the resources and
points of interest of the State, and Is en-
| bellished with a magnificently executed
| photographic cover, given, like Joseph's
coat, Sin many colors," and presenting
views of Del Monte, Lake Tahoe, the Gey-
sers, Mount Shasa and other leading points
| of grandeur and interest. The number, in
addition 10 giving sketch of each county,
also contains fine colored map of Califor-
MIA, and the Pacific and Western States and
Territories, and another of the entire
| United States 1t abounds in excellent
illustrations of public buildings, parks,
resorts. ETC.. and gives much information OF
| interest about the Grand Army of the Re
public and the forthcoming National En-
l n,nu,euf