The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-29
"olD popD EDDRiDeE COVE
Death OF the Father OF tb. Polite. Force =. .
RIpe Oh AGE

"Old ron" Tldridge. who was perhaps ons
OF the most remarkable mon OF his age in this
city died early yesterday mornng at his home
] .32n Amsterdam avenue. lie was commonly
called the father OF tho police force and was
born In the old Fifth ward on oct -. 1Ti'S
lie came OF good American stock. both VI his
erandfathers having fought in tho Reyolu.
tionary war. Rows" father was n master
mason and during his younger days Richard
f. Ildriigc. as Pop" was then called. fol-
,owcd the trade Of n stone mason,
1t was during those days. the old man was
fond Of saying that the Peacock and Hornet
fought their great battle of the Hook. ro-
member that when the hattie was over we boys
celebrated tho victory in great shape can
In 1917 FIdrtiGc married Miss Charlotte
Ucden. and in their ilfty-six years OF married
life the couple had eleven children. In lSt2
watch. on which he remained fortwenty years
Tho watch house was in the 6asement OF tue
somma nam by CAPT. Walton Turing tie
last yearr OF his LIE Pop was, never SO
about him listening TO his experiences Of New
York IN the old days lie knew thectty when
II was rr S ~ Whom S bs wss ann
the habit OF stenking as pooI; nnrT' = Neay
partic9iq,r gentIeman on,I i1p nsen 70 4b say
heating the details OF the event discussed at
"' F 'op'''I would dell at length on the many
executions that he had witnessed away. back
ncsscd, !" he used to relate was whom John
son and Sinclair were hanged on G!oyers Iiili
remember was nearly frightened to death.
Later though. when Rosy Butler Negroes
slave Vas executed on the Mashin ir parSn9
the scanold. singing:
uii Rosy butler. sitting on bench; -.,
Down came the trap door. and hung Niger weneh"
During tho first fiye years Of HIS service %
being killed. by some Of the rough characters
TO the lark Theatre. between Ann aud Beck:
man, streets. When the steeple OF the old
Tones building now stands. caught FIRE Pop"
assisted stove McCormick to climb the light
nos 9d Sh 4 ms sG
WAS the eSparS o. FieRSsd Who
vas accused Pf tn, murder rE Of Helen JeTot Or
woman was found with her head hacked open.
l2p was the fret policeman on the scene.
cellar near by. Robinson was afterward ac~
quilted.
rop acted as assistant Captain. and was at
tho desk when John I. Colt tho murderer 9,
became n member q tho newly or=anlzed pe-
lice force. upop WHICH he remained until 1870.
an c GsH % peaes s 'f DaTn GUY s last
on the force the old man was assigned to tru-
ant dut: In Manhattanviile;. In JsSo the Com
80 years old on patrol duty. The veteran won't
to polic' Headquarters and. after making
vigorous protest against the action OF the COM
missioLer asked to be put on tho retired list
This was done. and when " Pop" paid his
quarterly visits to Headquarters to collect his
pay there was generally reception in his
honor.
When Pop" was as years old ne was mar
rled for the second time to Mary McCabe. who
died few years ago. or all his children.
only one, Charles. who Is "a years old. SUR
yiyng Tho lnttar urawa n DanRiOn having
served during tho war in the l3l at New York
Volunteers. In 1890. when Abraham Lincoln
stopped Mt the Astor House. Pop" guarded
him for four days. 1t was one OF the old mans
proudest achievements.