The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-24
A Desperate COunterfeiter
Who Used a Revolver.
Close Call For a Policeman
With Plenty of Pluck.
Uncle Sans ParSimOny in PrOvid-
ing for His Buildings.


There are a good many men on the police
force who have had personal encounters with
desperate crooks, but none OF them ever
came nearer losing his life than Lieutenant
Scott, now attached To the Seventh station.
The lieutenant doesn't show the effects OF
that hattie very much, but he receives occa
sional reminders of il in the way Of twinges
from the wound then received. Early In
December. 1878. spurious coin was very
largely circulated in this town. and the police
were on the watch for the showers Of the
queer. Finally. on the 18th Of that month,
detectives Swan and waldron corralled the
gang in the Union passenger station on Ex-
change place. There were four crooks, Frank
Raymond, II. G. Raymond, John Quinn and
Robert Clark. When the detectives made
their swoop on the crooks, Clark broke away
and fed across Exchange place. A citizen
who was passing at the time attempted to in
tercept him. but quickly desisted when n big
revolver was leveled at his head, and Clark
escaped.
The three prisoners were taken to police
headq quarters and searched but not a counter
felt coin was found in their possession, and
although the police were positive they had the
men VINO had been putting out the bogus
money, they were very doubtful about being
able to convict them. Lieutenant Scott was
then patrolman, and part Of his beat was
along South Main street. About IL 80 o'clock
on the morning OF the 14th Of December he
saw a man on that thoroughfare who appeared
10 be greatly under the influence OF liquor.
He crossed over to interview him, and as the
fellow could give no satisfactory account Of
himself the patroIman decided TO take him
into custody. The prisoner went along
quietly enough until the corner of South Main
and College streets was reached, when he
stopped and declared with an oath that he he
wouldn't go another step. The officer en-
deavored TO drag him along. and a struggle
ensued which ended in both men falling, and
when they struck the ground the prisoner
was on top.
Patrolman Scott held on to hia man. how.
ever, but was not able 90 prevent him from
drawing a revolver. With this the prisoner
fired deliberately at the man under him, the
bullet passing through his thigh. But the
plucky officer didn't weaken bit, but made
il so lively for the prisoner that the latter
was not able to use his pistol again. He sue
ceeded also in breaking from the prisoners
grasp and getting on his feet again. With an
alacrity that proved that bis drunkenness had
been assumed, the prisoner also Jumped, and
leve.ing his pistol the officer pulled the
trigger. Fortunately for Lieutenant Scott.
the weapon misfred, and before ii could DO
used again his club was playing lively tattoo
on the Uranium of the belligerent prisoner,
who sank to the ground. About this time
policemen from other beats, who had heard
the shot, came up and the prisoner was taken
to the Central station, where more than $50
in counterfeit coin was found in his pockets.
He proved to be Clark who had escaped from
the detectives at the Union station some
hours before. and with him in their grasp
there was no longer any question about con-
victing the whole gang. Each of them re-
oeived two-years' sentence for counterfeit
ing. and Clark was given Is months additional
for his desperate assault on the officer.
Lieutenant Scott was incapacitated for duty
for some time. but eventually recovered and
has since won promotion by Lis efficiency and
good service.
A few days ago THE NSws noted the fact
that nearly a year ago a new carpet for the
United States Court room in the postoace
building had arrived, but had lain on IA settee
ever since. The reason for this IL that there
is no money available for the taking up Of
the old one and the putting down OF the new
one, and an appropriation for this purpose is
still awaited. The manner in which Uncle
Sam manages his public buildings is in some
respects amusing. Take this matter of the
new carpet for instance. The collector Of the
port who is the custodian OF the property,
cannot have it laid until money for that pur-
pose is appropriated. lie Is given nc dis"re-
ton in the matter, nor can he spend a cent
for any purpose, except when specifically
authorized to do so. Again, all work must DO
done by contract, and the insgnifcancc of
some Of the matters on which bids are asked
for IL amusing i'm the extreme Not long ago
orders were received TO got bids for washing
the towels used. The matter was put before
tue proprietors OF tho local steam laundries,
but they would have nothing to do with 1t.
They would wash the towels for Uncle Sam
Just as they would for a moro humble per.
sonage; but they wouldn't compete for the
Job and they wouldn't take 10 except at regu-
lar rates Indeed mono OF them showed any
anxiety 60 take the work under any circum-
stances, because, while Uncle Sam IL good
pay. his circumocutiou office in Washington
Is very trying to the patience Of small cre6i.
tors.
And this recalls another fact in this connec-
,ion. In the United States Court Jury trials
are helu each year, ana one would suppose
that reasonably adequate quarters would be
provided for the jurymen. That supposition
is very wide OF the mark, however. Tho room
TO which jury is escorted TO deliberate on
its verdict Is mp under tEo roof on the side OF
the building toward Dyer street. 10 is lighted
only by small window on the river side. IL
is low studded, stuffy and dingy in the ex.
tremc. Against the wall are unpainted pine
shelves filed with law books and reports
while long table In the center of the room
Il Uttered Ger with similar collection
Around this catcbal are about a dczen chairs,
all OF them Of ancient date, and OF various
degrees of decreptude. In word, this gar