The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-30
AN EXPERT ON SKULLS.
A New York Policeman Talks of Offender.
Beads.
a.. r.n...


Heads.
From the New York Tribune.
"Do you know that a mans skull Is a
great convenience to us policemen ?" and
the blue-coated officer twirled his short
club with that rapidity and dexterity which
causes such wonderment to visitors from
the country. at seems as II II was made
especially TO be dubbed. When @ want
to lock n man up and he is In n fighting
humor and has an idea that n night In a
cell would not agree with him I don't
know what we would do IL the prisoner
didn't have n skull. A gentle tap TO call
him To his senses and II that doesn't do a
few more, gradually increasing the vio-
encc of the dose, M Inc is dazed and
willing tn come along.
1T isn't always such n simple matter AZ
that, however, as many a policeman has
learned. The prisoner may strike out
with his fist and bring "A spell of drowsi-
ness on the officer, or he may be armed.
Your regular tough would rather do up
"a policeman and get six months on the
island than submit 10 arrest quietly and
get n fine Of 50. We keep n pretty sharp
eye on the prisoner, though, and especi-
ally il he looks like a dangerous GUS
toner, and generally manage TO strike
our blow first.
There's where "a policeman appreciates
the many fine qualities of his prisoners
skull. In the first place, it's In a conven-
lent party Of his body m is big enough
10 make n good target. In the next place,
a good blow on IL Is "A wonderful thing 10
quiet a mans angry passions. One of the
best points about "a mans skull is that il
Is so hard. Ii takes an awfully fierce lick
to fracture IL, and "A slight wound healsip
in no time. There's no other place you
can hit a maj To stun him easily unless
you strike so hard that you are likely 10
injurc him seriously. A policeman would
get a bad reputation il he had to laya
a up in a hospital for three months in
order to arrest hin.
"Most people don't understand how
tough "A mans skull really is. They think
that a blow which draws blood is sure 10
result fatally, and every time a policeman
is compelled To use force on n prisoner
everybody who sees the affair calls il an
outrage 'unprovoked brutality and 20
on. Why. 1 rccollect once how "A big fd-
low who had been drinking pretty heavily
came near getting me into trouble. He
was disorderly in the street u | started
TO take him To the station house. He was
sullen.
"'You'vc got 10 haul me il you want
me- he said, and braced his $50 pounds II
flesh for "A struggle. / gave him a pull
and he let me Ia one in the eye with
his fist. flooring me-. i was up in a mir
ute and playing "A tattoo on his head with
stick. lie had the thickest skull |
ever had the pleasure of rapping, aid
il took half "A dozen sound blows To over
come him. When ] did get through with
him he was bleeding like "A slaughtered
hog, and the crowd that had gathered BE-
gan to abuse me in the heartiest way.
"'You'vc killed him. said one, and half
"A dozen swore they would report me Ia
the commissioners. The excitement rose
so high that | thought | was going to De
mobbed. and | was really afraid tina |
had given my man "A fatal wound. ! men
aged to get him 10 the station hotpe,
where his head was dressed, aud the mkt
morning he was all right except for n fsw
bruises. He was in good humor in tbe
police court, took his fine like a man AID
said ! gave him no more han he le-
served"