Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-05
RAPPING PRISONERS HEADS.
A New York Policeman Who Defends
the Use of the Club.

From the New York Tribune.
do you know that a mans skull is great
convenience to us policemen" and the blue
coated officer twirled his short club with that
rapidity and dexterity which cause ouch won-
derment to visitors from the country. 1T
seems as if it was made especially to be
dubbed. When We want to lock a man up
and he is in fighting bumor and has an idea
that night in a cell would not agree with
him, i don't know what we would do il the
prisoner didn't have a skull A gentle tap to
call him to his senses and if that doesn't do
few more. gradually increasing the violence
of the dose, and he is dazed and willing to come
along.
1T isn't always such a simple matter as that
however. as many a policeman has learned.
The prisoner may strike out with his fist and
bring spell of drowsiness on the officer. or
he may be armed. Your regular tough would
rather do up policeman and get six months
on the Island than submit to arrest quietly and
get a fine Of IS. We keep pretty sharp eye
on a prisoner, though, and especially if he looks
ike dangerous customer, and generally man.
age TO strike our blow first.
There's where policeman appreciates the
many fine qualities of his prisoners skull. In
the first place It's In a convenient part OF his
body and Is big enough to make a good target.
In the next place good blow On it 10 q won
derful thing to quiet mans angry passions.
One OF the best points about . mans skull is
that 1t IL so hard. 1t takes an awfuly fierce
lick to fracture ii and slight wound heals I'D
IN no time. There's no other place you can hit
a man TO stun him easily unless you strike SO
hard that you are likely to injure him seri-
ously. policeman would get a bad reputa-
ton II he had to lay man up in a hospital for
three months in order to arrest him.
Most people don't understand how tough a
mans skull really is. They think that a blow
which draws blood is sure to result fatally. and
every time policeman is compelled to use
force on n prisoner everybody who sees the af-
fair calls it an outrage, unprovOked brutality
and so on. Why, recoilect once how d big
fellow who had been drinking pretty heavily
came near getting me into trouble He was
disorderly Ill the street and l started to take
him to the station house. He was sullen.
You We got to haul me if you want me- he
said and braced his $50 pounds of flesh for a
struggle. / gave him pull and he let me
was up in a minute and playing "a tattoo on
bis head with my stick. He had the thickest
skull ever had the pleasure of rapping and il
took half dozen sound blows to overcome him
When did get through with him he was bleed
ing like a slaughtered hog, and the crowd that
had gathered began to abuse me in the hearth
est way.
You've killed him. said ono, and half a
dozen swore they would report me to the COM
missioners. The excitement rose so high that
L thought was going to be mobbed and
really was afraid that / had given my man a
fatal wound. / managed to get him to the
station house, where his head was dressed and
the next morning he was all right except for q
few bruises. He was in a good humor in the
police court, took his fine like a man and said
gave him no more than he deserved"