Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-15
A SUSPICIOUS PERSON
DON'T CARRY BUNDLES ON A NEW
YORK STREET AT NIGHT.

The Actual Expsrience of Man Whu
Was Branded in the Police Records OF
the City as a Suspicious Characterize
Appeal for Victim.
IN down town restaurant the other day
1met friend not unknown in the literary
world. He was taking luncheon. His air,
however, was so perturbed and his mien
10 gloomy that in pausing at his table /
said banteringly: "What's the matter?
Lost your Last friendT'
"Don't suppose I've got any more
friends,n he said laconically; ''Tm sus-
picious person"
"a suspicious person." l echoed. "Of
what are you suspected~
"Sit down and I'll tell you all about it,"
he replied.
Then when I had nominated my bever-
age listened to a remarkable tale of woe
from my friend, and I can assure the
reader that it is true in every essential
feature.
"Last night" began my friend, Il was
down town very late. l had spent the
evening in Brooklyn, and on arriving at
the end of the bridge 1 stopped in at an
open all night drug store, where during
the day had left a package containing
pair of trousers which my tailor had just
pressed and renovated.
''With this bundle under my arm took
a train on the Sixth avenue elevated and
got off at Eighth street. The cars were 30
warm had thrown my overcoat over my
arm, and in leaving the station did not
stop to put it on, as l live very near Uni
versity place. When within half block
of my home it began to rain, but I did not
stop to put up my umbrella, having my
coat and umbrella under my left arm.
just made run for it.
II had run perhaps thirty yards when
felt heavy hand on my shoulder, and a
gruff voice said in my ear, Hold on there;
what are you runnin fer"
II looked up and saw big policeman
standing over me. Twas so surprised that
all could say was: 4 am running to get
out of the rain. Didn't think 1 was run
ming to catch a train at this time of the
night, did you?'
"'Don't get fresh, young feller,' per-
sisted the policeman, but just tell me
where you got them clothes.
"'Well,' replied, still SO astonished
could hardly collect my wits, the overcoat
is mine and the pair of trousers in the
bundle were just sent from the tailor's
this afternoon, and l am bringing them
home
"'Oh, say, now, that won't do was the
bluecoat's reply. 'Im on to you and your
game. You'll have to come to the station
with me. SeeP'
"But listen, I'm so and So and haven't
done anything vainly expostulated, Civ
ing my name and occupation.
"'Where do you live" said the fellow
insultipgly. we are right opposite the
house now,' I replied meekly.
"tOh, we are, are WEI? said the police
man with O sneer We'll, let's see you open
the door,
"'But I don't go in this door, / e1-
planned; I go in the oneun the side. have
NO key to this door,
"tJust what thought said the police
man. Well have no more monkeyings, 90
you just come along with me-
"With that he dragged me off to the
Mercer street police station and intro
duced me to the sergeant at the desk, who
proceeded to question me in much the same
Chesterfeldian manner as had character
lied the policeman's conduct toward me
since he first appeared on the scene.
II explained to the sergeant that l was
only harmless citizen and tried to be
worthy one; that / had been kept down
town late, and was returning with my
overcoat on my arm and a bundle contain
ing pair of trousers under my arm. I
added that had told the policeman where
/ lived.
"'You lie! You're liarp shouted the
policeman, who was standing at my side.
"At this I ventured to get jrritated, and
took the policeman's number AS he
grew more and more excited the sergeant
sent him into the back room.
Having done this the sergeant took my
name and address, and told me the police
man was perfectly right in having arrested
me. and that l had no right to be out at
night with a bundle under my arm; that
had no business to have been running, and
ought to have known enough to have been
particularly polite to the policeman when
he stopped me, and to have at once told him
all about myself without any reservation,
without having been in the least offended
at being taken for thief
"Having read me this lecture the SER
geant told me that might go home, and
left the police station with feeling that
perhaps ought to thank the sergeant for
allowing me to live.
"The next morning at II o'clock was ct
police headquarters. met a newspaper
friend on the step and he greeted me with
We'll, how did you manage to get locked
up last night?'
"'How did you know it?' gasped. oh,
a slip came in here from the Fifteenth
with your full name and address saying
you were arrested as suspicious person
and not held for lack of evidence
ssr,hen learned that it was possjble in
this city for the police to arrest a respecta-
BILE citizen accuse him OF being a 'sus-
picious character and then when he has
proven his responsibility brand him on the
records at police headquarters for all time
to come as suspicious person. still, but
not held for lack of evidence.
"a little later I was closeted with Super
1ntondent Byrnes, who, after he had
listened to my story, said calmly: The
policeman had right to arrest you. His
instructions are to question people at night
whom he meets with bundles, particularly
if they are running. If their replies are
not satisfactory he must take them to the
police station. There the sergeant can use
bis discretion in the matter.
Gas to the men having been rude toyou,
/ have your statement, and ] will look into
that. Come here tomorrow at II o'clock,
and I'll have both the sergeant and police
man here
Tomorrow 1 am going up to confront
the sergeant and policeman before the SUI
perintendent, but from what he says | am
afraid there will be but little done in the
matter unless | take the case into the
courts and sue the city for branding me as
suspicious person discharged for lack OF