The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-11-17
KNOWN AS FIGHTING JUDGE.
Was Known aa the
Pooh-Bah.

"The fighting Judge" is the title by
which his associates in the Eighth
United States infantry regiment know
Maj. W. L. Pitcher. He is known to
others as "the great American Pooh
Bah" for he has held about as many
offices as usually fall to the lot OF the
American citizen. The major is q
jolly bachelor, and in telling his ex-
periences the other day he seemed 10
enjoy the novelties with which his ca
reer has been dotted.
SWELL" the major began, ~ suppose
l will have to tell you first, now I'm
started, about my administration as
chief Of the Havana police. When the
Eighth and Tenth regiments took pos
session Of Havana they found that the
Spanish police system was even worse
than that Of Tammany in lis most
evil days. The Spanish patrolman sat
on q soap box at the corner. II a MUIR
der or burglary occurred the only
means Of attracting his attention was
TO run out on the sidewalk and beat
q ra~t-te-tat.too ON the A~agstone. When
the patrolman arrived he would size
up the situation and rap on the side
walk for another officer. By the time
the force Of policemen was sufficient
ly large the criminal had generally
made his escape,
THE first reform was to detail 300
soldiers from the Eighth for patrol
duty, The men were made to walk
their beats, and they used their clubs
when necessary-rot on the pavement,
but over the heads Of the Offenders.
Later, l was made police magis-
trate, as well as chief OF police" Here
the major INDUCED in a good laugh,
you ought to have seen me up there
holding the scales OF Justice. | tell
/ yop ] made some of those fellows
step lively. too. | always took a spe-
eial whAck at lnsolent cab drivers who
would try TO extort money from a for
eigper and II not successful take Ia
assault and battery. Perhaps I was
too easy with the 'drunks,' but | don't
believe punishment will ever cure a
man Of drink. II anything, II makes
him drink all the more. Then | tried
70 act a. a sort Of general censor OF
morals. Often a couple would be
brought to the bar, and i'd ask; Are
you married7 No. was tho answer
The rest don't. and so we don't Al
this ! would admonish them to live a
straight and honest life an, IL there
was no objection would order in a min.
lister and have them married at once.
THAT looks like blowing my W
horn, doesn't it?" remarked the major,
with q sly wink and a chuckle. "but
II isn't. It's all history.
THE wheels of justice were badly
clogged in the Spanish times" he con.
tinped, "a man was often thrown in,
TO prison for some petty offense and
kept there three or-four months with.
out a trial, The dispatch with which
justice Ia now administered has won
the good esteem of the people more
lpan any other reform enacted by the
American government.
VI was also made Commissioner n,
charities and correction" continued
the major an this office | becam,
the great npgul in the eyes Of thu
poor, but not with the beVRars. Wa
made II hot for the latter and cleaned
out a small legion Of impostors from
the town.
IN Porto Rico I was detailed with
. company Of troops to hoist The
american flag over different towns
This was real sport, | tell you" Here
the major slapped his leg a couple Of
times. "That was downright bully
fun. Why, we would come riding into
q place and In the twinkling Of an ey,
down would come the yellow and red
and up 10 the red, white and blue.
"Now we're back again and on IN,
road for China. l only hope / will
have such a bully good time hRhtino
the Aongols as the Dagos,"