Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-06-21
New York Police Surprised.

The New York Police Force which had
fallen under the delusion that the new Board
of Police Commissioners were not very diff
erent from the old, got an eye opener last
Thursday night.
1t was administered by Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the Board of Police Commits
sioners. He had been on duty from midnight
| till nearly daylight as roundsman. What
| he saw was astonishing. What he didn't see.
and couldn't find, was policemen. Only
three out of ten of them in the Twenty-frst
precinct, on the East Side could be found on
their beats, where they belonged. Six Of the
missing seven were found to be decidedly
derelict. some of them very impudent, and
all doing as they pleased. AS result, the
half-dozen were rounded,up before the Presi-
dent at headquarters Friday morning, and
each received a sharp reprimand,
OF the victims who President Roosevelt
nabbed for immediate dicipline three were
gathered in a bunch. Roundsman White
and Patrolmen Patrick Mahoney and Magan
were discovered lolling against liquor store,
at Forty-second-street Mr.. Roosevelt ap-
preached the trio.
'Why don't you men patrol your posts %
he said, in a manner that might have been
assumed by any citizen. The coppers sized
up the little man with the yellow mustache
and the big, round gold-rimmed glasses, and
Strengthened up full of fight.
"Whatis it to you whether we patrol OF
not?" said they sneeringly. "YOu had better
go and mind your business"
"The city pays you to do your duty re-
marked Mr.. Roosevelt, with peculiar smile.
"Come, come, 60 on now," blurted out
one of the officers; you'll get run in."
"Who are you ?' asked Roundsman White,
suspiciously.
"Iam MI. Roosevelt, president of the Police
Board" smiled the latter.
The faces of the policemen were an interest
ing study at that instant.
"Roundsman. what are you doing here 90
was the next question. 81 am going the
rounds, Mr. Commissioner, said White 81
was just telling them to 60 about their bust
ness and cover their beats when you came.'
'Maybe he -was,'' said the Commissioner af-
terward, "but his discipline is lax
PatrOlman Robinson was found doing on
a stoop. When awakened by Mr. Roosevelt he
complained he was tired, but the voice Of the
Commissioner acted as a strong tonic and
! invigorator.
Partrolman Corners was Interrupted in a
pleasant chat with woman by Mr.. Roose-
welt asking
"Officer, is this way you attend to your duty,
talking to women %
| The policeman looked around in amaZement
at the audacity of the young man. and said
''What are you looking for-trouble? Now
run along or I'll fan hard
Then turning to the woman he said: "Will
fan him, Name? 90
"Oh, no. officer. I am Commissioner
Roosevelt, and instead of tanning anybody
you'll report at headquarters at $50 o'clock. F"
The woman had darted off at the sound Of
the name, and the patrolman skulked away.
One OF the severest lectures they had ever
listened to was delivered by President Roose-
welt at headquarters Friday morning to these
six delinquents: Patrick White, "a roundsman,
and Patrolmen Mahoney, Clinton, Connors
and Robinson. A sorrer-looking set of men
never came out of headquarters. The Presi-
dent had promised the severest punishment to
any and every man found loafng instead OF
doing his duty