Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-27
oIrY ooURr FORTY YEARS AGO.



The Police, tho Night waschnien
and the OIsy Jaif.
A peep in at city court 40 or so years
ago, or what stood for its counterpart ct
that long bygons time, would doubtless
cause an amused smile to creep quietly
over the face of the looker-on at the way
things were done then. There was full
fedged municipal hsnoh 10 those good
old days. It counted three solons. The
mayor was the presiding, or chief Justice,
and his associate judges wore the presi.
dent of Council, who occupied seat on
the bench as the second in rank, aud the
third, the "alderman" species OF fifth
wheel to The coach, whom Official eti-
quette ranked as the third judge. Deci-
sions were nude by species Of vote at
such times as his honor, the mayor, who
was chief mogul, condescended to con-
slider the opinions Of his associates whose
ideas commonly we're beneath the notice
Of the big man. The alderman was
elected to the third rank dignity by City
Council. In those good old times also we
had only ave policemen But they we're
by no means the magnificent braas-but-
toned and star and helmeted creatures of
our more modern civilization. The
police quintet Of that time wore no
uniforms. Their sole badge of ofhou was
key OF the great iron paddock of the
jail cellar. Each OF the police possessed
one OF these keyg and it was powerful
and respected motor for good or evil. It
WIS star, police club, and blue-buttontd
uniform combined. The Jail at that time
was the city hall cellar. For the 10 900
or 20, coo of Wilmington'a population of
those days five policemen were sufficient.
The FIRST departure from the ancient
style Of policing this city was the inaa,
gursiion OF Ave night wAtehmen but theas
were not strictly police. Tbs regular
police never did night duty. They re-
tired with all other good citizens at twi-
light. Everyone in Wilmington was In
bed ct 0 O'Clock. II Sas only the most
dissolute who dared to stay up to Inter
hour. Those bad young men who over.
stepped that hour were under the ban CT
society. Good people looked askance as
they passed them on the street for it was
verify believed that such extreme disg;pa-
tion as 10 o'clock carousal could, lead
only to the gallows, and that "suGh car
rsings ON wae flying in the face OF Ptovi-
denoe.n
But these watohmon were an institution.
They lit aud tended the lamps. Their
Ioain duty was to parade the streets and
as old fashioned watchmen ,tell Of the
night" They were a sturdy and stsiwart
set OF men of whom our ancisnt burghars
Dragged Of as proudly as modern New
York does of it's 'finest."
Safely eusoonaai between his thick
wasm blankets OF winter nights the wake,
full burgher of long ago would listen with
oosy qualification 40 the deep basso notes
from tho pavement below stole up to his
ears, 'll OF the clockl clear starlit
night sil's well !" aud the stout cudgel
in the warden's sturdy grip ratified in re-
assuring rhythm to the heavy gathering
ring of his steps on the frosty pavement
AS the tramp, tramp died out gradually in
the distance.
One veil remembered old character
named Hugby Lsiferty used TO ring tho
changes sometimes upon the nocturnal
rubric, aud GcaldAligs wal,-bred danes
with the blasphemous cry s'All's we'll
past IL o. the clock aud raining like
~ ~ ShSt NJt pNSAl GtCI1Uhl nj
wiser could persuade the redaubtable
Hughy that his ohanting YVES unparlia.
mentary. He steadily refused to reform
his intonations. He had pardcnabls
superstition that emphatic language dur.
ing the ''wee sma' hours" brRoed him up
and drove away fear. Watchman IIatfeyty
was giant. he was OF immonse girth
agss. ss.z &c. bib Gld Lis Sts1S5iisn
NJics IesounSod at night tine ike \ fog
horn OF Ship John Light. EEl bslated
citizens did mot always give the best re-
port of the watchmen. IL Is stated that
at any time Of the night the Ave guard
isns Of the CITY might be found ouddjing
tcgsther for comfort and mutual protec.
tion at tho cornsrs of Fourth and Market
street instead OF watching around and
protecting the sleeping eitizens. Yet the
latter were thoroughly satisfied and slept
as soundly In the full belief OF the
doughty protection by their stalwart de.
tenders ~ II locked up and snoring away
behind the battlements of q Fashioned
fortress.
In those times too, the police would
never arouse from the.+ beds even at tho
most urgent call. It was none of their
business to do night prowliug for they
thought all decent people should be abed
and any that stayed oat of doors de,
served all the fills that befsll them.
The ISL, az stated, was in the cellar OF
the city hall where prisoners were
hscusht and ignominiously rolled down
the steps into the dark lookup. This
provision for robbers and murderers WINS
unique. at the extreme corner of the
detk cellar waa what was known no the
dungeon" This was special receptacle
strongly built with heavy bare and pad.
lock. There were no windows to the
horrible place. Its inmates must have
experienced extreme torture both aum
mer and winter. Here capital offenders
were kept in durance vile until the regu
Ter monthly coutt was opened by his
honor, the mayor.
About 40 years ago the office OF the
mayor was at Third ami Shipiey street.
and as that exalted dignitRry WAS pos
master at the same time daily offender,
were taken down to the post office" TO
get Justice instead of at the city hall.
The monthly ssssiou OF city court wal
Q most Important and digniaed occasion
The Dsputy-AttoTney General was tht
prosecuting officer. The city solicito
did not act in that conrt. Bad citizen
convicted OF any heinous offence wer,
publicly whipped in the yard at the rec
Of the oity haii. About i've feet up aiont
the trunks Of large maple trea Their
vera pair of iron clasps. The victim
wrists were claspad in them when til,
High Constable trounced the villain Will
coed stout old fashioned lashings whioi
re-echoed all arcund the yard. the crie
Of the unfortunate criminal striking ter
rcr into the hearts of ali evil dosrs.
The interior architecture OF the ball Ii
bygone days was somewhat difreren
from what il 10 GOV. The present rail
ings did not exist Right across the al
cove, where the ci'y judge new prosides
3 fact waiusoutting ranged dividing OF
the dignity of tho wearers of the ermin
from the vulgar crowd. The clerk o