Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-06

Moved 10 Mercy by n sad story.
Even a policeman has a heart. All the
hardening influences of his life leave their
indelible mark upon his nature. and in
enforcing the orders that come daily TO
him from his superiors he earns in the
course OF time a reputation that Is any
, thing but enviable. I'm spite Of these
things however, there Is just once IN a
great while that light breaks upon him
and he Is moved to compassion.
In one Of the far-out stations OF The
West Side there Is a policeman who has
made a reputation for himself by his OBJ
servance Of the commands issued by his
lieutenant and IT is a common saying
among his colleagues that he would ar
rest his brother If occasion should pre-
sent Not 50 very many nights ago this
man was travelling his post on quiet
residence thoroughfare II was long past
midnight. and there was only the ecno
OF his own footballs 10 keep him COM
pany. Suddenly there was a sharp crash,
and the tnkllng sound that tod OF broken
glass falling on the sidewalk. The man
with the reputation for doing his whole
duty put his pistol where it would be
handy and started 10 find the source Of
the noise. He turned into a dark alley,
and there. by the haif-light Of a street
lamp. he saw the crouching form Of
man. and close by the mar3uder vas
broken window. that in a moment more
would have given him access to the
kitchen OF a wealthy mans home.
The policeman's duty was clear ana ne
did not hesitate. lie sprang toward the
man and called on him TO surrender The
thief rose from his knees and hurled HIM
self upon the officer. And there in he
stiffness Of the night these two struggled
fercely and silently-struggled for the
mastery, that meant freedom Tor one q
"A task well done for the other II was
the policeman whose muscles triumphed,
and he bore his man back 10 the ground
and pressed his fingers TO the others
throat until there was a stiied cry CT
submission.
Then they rose 10 their feet, conqueror
and conquered. The prisoner was badly
used mp and the policeman was but little
better. They walked In silence toward
neghboring patrol-box. but as the officer
was about 10 summon the wagon he
caught a strange look I'm the eyes Of his
captive. II was look that he seldom
had seen. and IL prompted him to ask:
why did you DO that?"
All the strength of the thief seemed 70
fade away at the query, and he sank to
the sidewalk and sobbed ike a child. And
his lips framed a tale that moved the
policeman's heart as it had never been
moved before 1t was a story Of n wife
sick almost 10 death and a housefu Of
small children that cried for bread, which
was not TO be had for them. The cries Of
the young ones had driven him TO DO that
which the silent suffering of his wife had
already suggested. and he had gone On
his mission Of a midnight search for food
The policeman turned his prisoner away
from the patrOl-boN lie walked with hlm
through two dark side streets, from tie
surroundings of wealth TO the homes OF
the poor. and he saw with his own eyes
the truths TO which he had listened And
from his scant money he selected a few
silver coins and silently laid them IN the
palm or the man with whom me- had
fought SO desperately for the mastery so
short time before. Then as silently he
left the house.
Next morning his lieutenant found a
brief report announcing that small boy
and a slungshot had combined TO wreck
d kitchen window on his post
Romance i'm a Policemnn's Life.
IN the life Of George ". Hubbard. for
mer Chief of Police there a sad ro-
mance-a story OF love and devotion TO
dead sweetheart. Hubbard was born I'm
Maryland hfty-Odd years ago, and when
able TO shift for himself he came West
and settled in Kalamazoo, Mich. He
was clerk I'm hotel there when he met
and WOOed a farmers daughter They
were engaged TO be married when Hub
bard came TO Chicago IN 1873 and Joined
the police force. once q week letters
passed between the lovers and their mar
riage was 10 take place soon after HUB
bard was promoted to station-house keep
er at the Deering-Street Station.
rrha p
Deering street twenty-five years ago re-
member the visits of a pretty young wO-
man 20 the station who came 90 see
George Hubbard. She was the Michigan
girl who was 10 be- his wife. and when
Hubbard was chaffed about IL by his
brother officers he confessed his inten-
tons. ono day a wreath, such as police
men wear on their helmets, fashioned
out OF sheayes Of wheat came 90 the
station from Michigan. The wreath was
incased I'm a glass-covered frame about
three feet square. Hubbard was the hap
piest man in town the day IL arrived. He
hung IL up I'm his office. and with lovers
bushes told the other men il was from
his sweetheart
The wreath was made I'm harvest time.
and before autumn had waned Hubbard
was called 10 Michigan by a telegram.
When he returned he wore band OF |
Grape on his hat. He had laid his sweet |
heart 10 rest in the little cemetery not
FAR from her fathers home with her
was buried his heart and fondest hopes
OF the future.
on his return 20 Chicago he had only
one ambition I'm life. and that was 10
rise I'm the Police Department TO the top
most rung Of the ladder. How wen he
succeeded is - part OF the citys history.
When he left the Deerng Street Station
70 take a higher rank he turned the
wreath OF wheat over 20 his successor. |
Many comma nding officers have come |
and gone 10 Deering street since then. |
but the wreath still hangs on the wall |
where George Hubbard put IL. telling Us /
own little story OF q lovers faithfulness. |
This IS why George Hubbard never (
married.