New-York tribune., 1901-08-30
ANOTHER INNOCENT.

Certainly we have at last hit upon the ex-
PLANTATION. The trouble with the police is that
they are too childlike and unsophisticatad for
this world of wickedness. Captain Hardy, Of
Maspeth, as we have SEEN does not know what
a betting card is, and when he walks among
the crowd Of eager gamblers in a wide open
poolroom and finds men making marks on the
blackboard he thinks they are playing the harm
less game of tit-tat-to. Captain Cannon. It
seems, has a similar innocent and unsuspicious
nature Up in his precinct exists house which
has frequently been complained of by the re-
spectacle people of the neighborhood for its i'm
moral character. The District Attorney made a
raid on it. The unmistakable signs of its char
acter were displayed by the women found sit
ting on the steps, well as by those found in
the house-signs which we shall not describe
here lest some policeman reading these lines
should lose the bloom of innocence. Suffice il to
say that 10 the eyes of those initiated into the
ways OF the wicked world the place was un-
Questionably disorderly. Yet in 1t the raiders
found the good Captain Cannon, and he assured
them that he knew the house we'll and that It
was entirely respectable.
The cynical are filled with amusement at the
idea Of Captain Cannon having been found in n
disorderly house and are asking him about his
friend Minnie" as he familiarly called her, for
whose exchange OF house dress for street cos
tune before going out with the raiders he was
so conventionally solicitous. But they doubtless
do the pure minded captain wrong. He thought
the place was respectable hotel, and might
nave gone there with perfect propriety for a
call on one of the guests. Perhaps he had gone
10 Visit the Sick; for when the raiders first ap-
peared he protested against their shameful in
vaslon or peaceful house, the pIOprietress OF
winch ne said was "a very sick woman" Per
haps, too he was seeking for a "wayward sister,"
just as Holahan so patheticaly sought for his
"wayward SON" II is easy for hardened sin
ners TO attribute evil actions to good men. but
truly innocent people often do unconventional
things without thought of harm
Captain Gannons somewhat confused stories
Of his presence in the raided house NAV seem
to tel against him. but doubtless that is TO be
attributed to the nerves of shocked modesty
Pure souls, made the victims Of suspicious cir
cumstances. naturally get a little ratified" and
1t is not fair 10 inquire too curiousy of Captain
Cannon how II he entered the house after the
raiders, he could get around into the back
parlor ahead Of them. learn about the place and
be able to tell them Of the sick housekeeper
whom they were so shamefully disturbing As
he says, he was let in on the ground floor
which we can well belieye-whe the raiders
were above and Minnie" may have told him
about the sick woman on his way up to the
Dack parlor, where he was sitting waiting in
conscious innocence for the raiders when they
reached that remote part Of the house, having
OF course, had ample time TO get settled down
while they were going through the front parlor
II he had not thought everything was all right
he certainly would not have entered house
which, as he says he knew the raiders had
entered before him and sat down comfortably
to be found there Surely he thnketh no evil