The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-28
AN EXPERIMENT IN DETECTION.
The Crossing Policeman Is as Wise
as Solomon when Necessary.
From the Chicago Herald.

as Solomon when Necessary.
From the Chicago Times Herald.
1t Is question how some Of the poliee-
men stationed at down town street inter-
sections manage to keep from getting the
brain fever. The wear and tear on their
physical energies must be enormous. No
potentate of patchwork monarchy ever
had harder time to balance his favors
He is between a dozen fires. Besides all
this he Is in imminent personal danger to
life and limb from people who can't drive
and horses which won't be driven. This
danger Is not imaginary, as many suppose.
Indeed, several policemen have already
been severely hurt In this manner while in
the discharge Of their duty AT the same
time he is absolutely necessary at, nearly
all OF the down town crossings.
1t Is wonderful how the presence of a
policeman at these places facilitates
things. If 1t were not for his prompt ac-
ton and the authority he carries the city
would have TO order ambulances by whole-
sale, and half the population would be go
ing about on crutches II seems to be the
intense desire and ambition of every team
ster to run people down. one would think
there was some sort of a bounty attached
to knocking a woman senseless or break
ing a mans leg 1t seems to be the set
tied opinion of every dray-drlving Action
that people who wish to cross should walt
on the sidewalk until after o'clock, while
the coachmen of proprietors Of carriages
evince a laudabe ambition to give their
employers a taste of how 1t would feel to,
ride on the heads of the people. The po-
liceman who maintains life and order at
the meeting of two down town streets must
be possessed of considerable judgment. He
must know when to make a hole In the
wall so to speak, through the mass OF
vehicles and let a portion Of the surging
humanity surge through. He must know
how to do several things at once. To at
the same time chat pleasantly with a lady
friend of his, tell a woman from the SUI
burbs where the street she's on IL, and pull
couple of old gentlemen from the jaws
of cable cars. And, what Is more sur
prising, most of the down town force can
do this. And what Is truly astonishing.
nearly all do 1t in a gentlemanly manner,
and keep their tempers well.
1t is not infrequently that an officer Is
found who can do all this and more, too.
At state and one of the most prominent
cross streets there Is policeman who Is
a close second to the caliph that decided
the ownership of an infant In his own
highly original way. Among many in
stances where his acumen has played a
particular part Is one that happened a day
or so ago. 1t concerned a bicycle. The
latter was left by its rider against the
curb. A few minutes later a young man
| approached 1t. The policeman in ques-
ton had not seen the owner get off the
machine, but he thought the newcomer
looked a trfie suspicious. The chain and
sprocket wheel of the bicycle had been Sc
cured together by a paddock When the
young man in question began to carry the
wheel off instead of unlocking it he felt il
was about time to act.
do you own that bicycle" he said to
| the young man.
yes" was the reply
eve lost It," That settled 1t.
'4say. now, continued the policeman,
will you give me your name and adj
dress?"
The young man seemingly did rot want
| to make any trouble. He hestitated for
moment and then said: why, yes, IL you
want It,"
'''And, now" continued the policeman.
after he had if, you know the case looks
] strange and you know we have so many
| bikes lost, would you mind waiting fifteen
minutes to see II any one else should come
| after that wheelY'
mo, 1 guess not" said the young man.
| Then he leaned back on a railing and be-
gan to wait. After he had been there
three or four minutes the police said:
"Weu, / guess it's all right. You can
| 60" And then turning to a bystander he
remarked: "You can bet your next month 3
pay he wouldn't have stood there If it
wasn't his"