The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-28
Mysterious Bird That Fol-
lowed MI. Pullen.
An Incident That Preceded
Murder of a Watchman.
Guilty Man Escaped and Was~Never
Punished for the Crime.

There have been some murder mysteries
jn Providence which the police have fail
cd to solve one OF those of more re-
cent times being that OF Parmenter on
Elbow street. another that OF the young
man who was killed at Christmas In the
rear of the Hennessey building on Canal
street But in these cases as IN most
Others in which the police failed to bring
the perpetrator TO justice the murderer
was unknown. In the case OF the killing
OF Constable Pullen on the night OF May
Is. 1852. however, the name OF the MUIR
derer was ascertained after the tragedy,
but as he had escaped from Providence,
and later from the country he was never
arrested or punished for his crime. Mr..
Pullen was member OF the old night
watch which Travelled in pairs and had for
his partner Benjamin A. Newhall, who
died only few years ago after an unusu-
ally long and useful service in the police
department.
On the night on which Mr.. Pullen was
killed, he ana his partner had made their
first tour OF duty and We're on their way
TO the watch house on College street when
q peculiar incident occurred, which in
after years MIR. Newhall used to relate
very impressively. The night was dark
and foggy and as they proceeded on their
way to the watch house they were tor
mented by a bird which circled about
their heads i'm the gloom, giving utter
ance TO unusual and peculiar noises,
sounding very much like cries. Mr.. New
hall although he could hear the bird,
could not see IL. MIR. Pullen, on the
other hand, said he saw 1t and il seemed
to bother him particularly. AT one place
he sat down on the steps In front of
md az ont wi m a
VAIN endeavor TO drive the creature away.
1t remained, however, aud followed the
two men TO the very door OF the watch
house. Once inside with the mysterious
bird shut out, Mr.. Pullen breathed sigh
OF relief This incident at the time did
not make O very deep impression on Mr..
Nswhall; but after the later occurrences
OF the night il came back to him with
redoubled force and never afterward
faded from his memory.
After brief rest at the watchouse Mr..
Puilen and Mr.. New hall started out on
their second tour of duty. AT the corner
OF Broad and Chestnut streets they met
Mr.. William B. Cranston, then member
of the watch and later superintendent OF
hacks. Mr.. Cranston had been aroused
from sleep by citizen who wished him
to suppress disturbance on Elbow street.
but the troublesome parties were just
leaving the house and as there were four
OF them Mr.. Cranston decided TO follow
them until he met some others OF the
watch who would assist him.in taking all
into custody. The party proceeded along
Chestnut street and continued the dis
turbance the whole way, Mr.. Cranston
following.
After Mr.. Cranston had briefly told his
story.to Messrs. Pulleu and Newhall a
descent was made upon the lawbreakers,
each of the three officers arresting a man.
The fourth in the party escaped. The
watchmen then started for the watch
house with their prisoners. Mr.. Grams
ton led the procession and Mr. Newball
brought up the rear, Mr.. Pullen and his
prisoner, being between them. They had
not proceeded far when 1t was discovered
that the fourth in the party OF disturbers