Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-04-10

All cognizaut of the facts know that Bel
ows Falls is one of the best governed
places in Vermont; its admirable system
If police regulation is not only matter OF
pride at home, but gives us good reputa-
ion in other places.
The police department is entirely under
the regulation and control OF the balllfts
who appoint the officers and removed them
at will. The officers serving under the
present board of bailiffs are: A. IL.
Thompson, chief, with the following assist
ants designated especial police: l.. ).
Royce, w. w. Provost, R. J. Armstrong,
Edward Lawlor, J. A. Wiley, F. ii.
Streeter, and D. L. Snow, all good men
and tried.
Arthur H. Thompson was first commits
stoned chief of police April ID, 1891, by
H. D. Ryder, David Savage and D. Z.
Day. the then board of bailiffs, and has
served in that capacity ever since with dis
tinguished success. He was born in Swan
zey, N. H., the home of Josh Whitcomb
and the sOld Homestead" 80 years ago :;
he came to Bellows Falls In June, 1881,
from Keene and entered the employ OF
Osgood & Barker where he followed his
trade of iron moulder until he was aP-
pointed on the board of police in 1891. In
March, 1898, he was appointed deputy by
Sheriff Shumway of Jamaica and last
December he was Responded tor two
wears under Sheriff Gordon.
In the capacity of both deputy and CHIEF
of police, Mr.. Thompson has shown marked
aptitude for police and detective work. anc
is recognized generally as the peer OF any
officer in this section of Vermont and New
Hampshire and because Of his ability ane
fitness for the position some OF his friends
are urging him to stand for the office o
sheriff of Windham county at the explra
ton of Sheriff Gordon's term Of office.
1t was not until 1898 that the annual re
port of the chief of police was printed II
the annual village corporation report he
garding the matter of arrests the report Q
1898 says: "Whole number of arrests ha
been 81. Offenses for which arrests hav
been made comprise: Assault, 1; disturb
ance, 1; larceny, A; selling Intoxicating
liquors, 8; drunkenness, 55; pocket pick
ing, l."
Report of 1894: Whole number {
arrests has been 60 assault, Z; larceny, 3
disturbing the public peace, 3; vagrancy
8; riding bicycle upon sidewalk, l; ful
nishing Intoxicating liquor, l; drunken
ness, A."
Report of 1895: Whole number {
arrests, 81; assault, 10; resisting an of
Ger, l; impeding an officer, assault O
an officer, 1; larceny, 2; breaking an
entering freight cars. 2; vagrancy, l flu
nishing Intoxicating liquor, l !; cruelty
animals, 1 drunkenness, H."
Report of 1896: "Whole number
arrests, II; drunkenness, 10; larceny,
vagrancy, 2; adultery, 2; selling intoxica
, ing liquor, Q; lettering around railros
station, p wrecking train, L; intent
defraud, 1; disturbing the public peac
40"
, Report of 1897: "Whole number
arrests, g. selling Intoxicating liquor,
7 assault, 2; defrauding hotel, larceny,
!, obstructing an officer, l; intoxication, i
!. disturbance of peace, SO; malicious m
q chief, L."
e 1t was in 1896 that drunkenness beg
|, Z to be called disturbing the public peace
5 Number Of persons applying for lodgin
v at the station house, 1894 the first year
:, which there is any report, 243; 1895, 43
IL 1896, 155; 1897, 1888. The whole nu
% Der of arrests for the past five years is 81
d The whole number of tramps entertain
If as village guests during the past io
y years is 1913.
t. The cost of the department anl ,
er receipts for the past five years are as (
y lows: 1898, cost Sl06S az, recei
n; m 1926 46; 1894, cost Sl027 81. recei
re $685.. 63; 1895, cost S112l Ga, recei
FL S56O.61; 1896, cost S1O72 Is, reeei
ne 1857 Sc; 1897, cost s10S7.99, recei
~ SAIL so.
70 Chief Thompson says that the first arr
m made after being sworn in as "Cop" ,
In an italian woman for the larceny Of
"a watch from Hiram Dawes who lived
Centre street, but inasmuch as the resp
dent could not talk English and no int