The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-11
THE POLICE OF EARLY DAYS.
WE'RE CALLED THE NIGHT WATCH
AND CARRIED MUsKETs.

Savnnnah's First Police In 1730-The
Force Consisted of a Constable and
The Old Guard House at Whitaker
and President Streets-The First
Police Department Organized in
1S53-The First Chief Capt. Joseph
Brynn-HOw the StatiOnhOus
Came to BE Police Barracks.
The policemen Of Savannah do not be-
long to the old regime, although individ-
ual members of the force can claim kin
ship to people Of colonial days.
There is a saying that Irishmen are the
policemen of the world, and It would ap-
pear from the record Of Savannah that
this city is no exception TO the rule. Two
of Savannahs most conspicuous and
ablest police chiefs, Capt. Joseph Bryan
and Gen. Robert Houston Anderson, be-
longed 20 colonial families who traced
their origin to the Green Isle.
Comparatively speaking. however, the
policeman as he is known to-day, Is a
modern institution; he does not go back
quite fifty years in Savannah. Before his
day the guardian of the sleeping city was
the night watch, and that force was sup
plemented by the city marshal and his as
sistants. who patrolled the streets and
administered prompt justice to negroes
and small boys without the fOrmality of
a recorders court. Possibly 1t would not
be a bad idea, in view Of the condition of
affairs, TO have such authority entrusted
TO few discreet men on the present force
The prompt padding OF the little rascal
either white, black or chrome. would
doubtless stop them In their Maynard
ways.
The night watch has disappeared, and
the city marshal is an officer whose duties
are confined 10 looking after delinquent
tax payers.
As far back as 1916 the town had its po-
lice, but Il consisted OF constable and
four tything men for each ward. Proba-
bly, al that date five men were sufficient
to keep the peace ana arrest those who
would not keep u. AT what time these
guardians gave way to the Night Watch
current history does not tell. Suffice to
say when the present police system was
inaugurated the night watch was the
guardian OF the city. IL was made up OF
various kinds OF people. but was prlnci-
paly composed OF clerks in small shops
who did Night Watch duty to help out
their small salaries. Men died An the
discharge OF the lowly duties OF a watch
man. II was not the meager stipend that
made them martyrs. They died IN the dis
charge OF the trust. one morning a menu
Der Of the night watch, propped up with
his musket was found on the stoop OF a
house on Bryan street. lie had been KILL
ed during the night by some roysterers
whom he doubtless tried to arrest. Sus-
picion rested on a crowd OF young men,
but the murderers were never brought TO
human Justice. II was tradition years
aud years ago that mlsfortuncs followed
the suspected murderers, and the crime
was punished for more than their own
generation.
The wild boys OF those days on one oc-
caslon captured and disarmed the Night
Watch and locked them up IN the Guard
House from which they were not releas-
ed until morning, when their situation
was discovered boy a lady who was on her
way TO market and who notified tho may
or Of their condition. 10 would be a brave
crowd who would undertake such lark
these days There would be several fun
erals the next day.
But. the Night Watch was Ia keeping
with the age. on lamps mounted at the