Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-01-24
Handouts are

never carried by policemen unless the,
are engaged on some case In which
they expect to use them. In the sum
mer time, when the short coat is worn
the small club is carried in the hand
In the winter season the long club i.
worn on the left hip in a socket at
tached to a belt The billy is also car
ried at this time in little pocket in
the seam of the right trousers leg. The
change is made because the weather il
too cold to carry the billy in the hand,
and because the long skirts of the win.
ter coat and the heavy overcoat make
it difficult matter to get it out of its
pocket. Another advantage of carry.
ing two clubs is. that if one is broken.
the other is left for defense. The short
billy is much the most effective
weapon. 1t is heavy enough to &C
complish the desired results, and much
more convenient to handle. A police
man can use it wherever he can get
his hand. and it is impossible to get
close enough to him to avoid a blow
from it. The long club will, perhaps,
do more execution whore there is room
enough to swing it, but it is more liza
BILE to be broken.
Mounted officers are ar ned like
those on foot, but they carry the long
club in socket on the front of the
saddle, instead of in belt
The twisters form most important
part of a policeman's outfit. With
them he can infiict the most excruci-
ating pain, and can easily 60 so far Is
to dislocate a mans wrist. The most
refractory prisoner will quickly yield
when the twisters are applied. The
revolver is intended as a last resort,
to be used W hen all other means of de-
tense have failed.
The police of the other cities in this
country are armed in substantially the
same manner as those in Boston. In
several cities, however, the cane. long
since discarded here, is still in vogue
The New York night policemen carry
a very long, heavy locust club, but the
day men carry billies like those used
here. In Chicago, since the riots, the
police have been provided with Cat
ling guns for use in suppressing SINH
lar disturbances.
Many attempts have been made to
improve on the plain wooden billy,
but they have not been received with
much favor by the police. One inven-
ton consisted of steel spring COW
cred with heavy sole leather. which it
was supposed would be unbreakable,
but this has been used in but very few
cities.
The Canadian police are armed
much like our own, but they are re-
quired to wear frock coats all the
time, and to keep them buttoned up
like soldier on parade. Not so much
regard is paid to the comfort of the
men as here.
In the City of Mexico the officers
carry very large revolver and a
club like the small one with which
we are familiar here in Boston. They
also carry lanterns when on night
duty. These they set down in the
middle of the street and then they
stand on the sidewalk and watch them.
The streets after nightfall present a
most peculiar appearance. with the
dots of light extending their entire
length. In spite of this strange Gus
tom, the police of the City of Mexico
form very efficient body of men.
The London ''bobby" looks very
much like an American ''cop." He
wears helmet and a blue uniform
very much like those of a Boston
policeman, and he carries a billy, but
he calls it truncheon. This is the
only weapon he is allowed to use.
Until recently the truncheon was a
very heavy. clumsy affair, and it was
kept in a socket made of sole leather
A little more than a year ago the case
was done away with and the truncheon
is now carried in side pocket The
size of the weapon, which is of hard
cocas wood, was also reduced. The
idea of the change was probably bor-
rowed from America, and the fact that
the policemen are very much pleased
with the present form may be taken as
evidence that the officers of this coun-
try know what is needed in dealing
with criminals.
1t may not be generally known that
London is divided into two police juris-
dictions. In the city proper there is a
force Of $50 men. under the authority
of the mayor and aldermen. This
force was organized in 1889. The
police superseded the
night watch in 1880. 1t covers all the
parishes within fifteen miles of Char
ing Cross except the old city. Its
officers are responsible to the Home
Secretary. The authorized strength
of this force is l4.OS1. and it contains
about 1000 men. The equipment of
the two forces is almost the same. A