The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-08
ON THE Night INSPECTOR
Policemen Tell Stories of Some
Hairbrcadth Escapes.
pcrciict BIuecoats often Caught
Mapping on the Post OF Duty-Onc
Gets Away Under Lead of Brcnd
Legend of the Captive Balloon.


Tales on the NIGHT inspector Of police
are as varied rs they are numerous. On
the local force is a man grown old in the
service. both feared and respected. who
has followed the bluecoated guardians Of
the peace for years on their weary rounds.
Under him is a man somewhat younger in
years, hut nothing lacking I'm experience,
grit, or perseverance. third man there
is, also an inspector of police, and they
form a powerful trio, watchful, earnest,
and always alert.
1t is of the veteran inspector first al
luded to, however, that stories almost in
Vulnerable are told. Detectives at head
quarters, policemen in the various pre-
cincts or on their beats. even sergeants
and lieutenants several of whom have
sprung into official favor during the dec
ade past tell weird yarns of early days
on the "spotter' Of police. Alone and I'M
daunted by opposition of every kind the
veteran inspector performed his work
brought truant policemen to justice. in
vaded every section of the District at
all times of the day and night, carried
fear to the very heart of the evil-doer on
the force, and earned for himself a repu-
tation. however stern, of justice and con-
seientious effort
Is one formerly a Southeast Washington
policeman. He did duty for years along
the wharfs. later in "Bloodfeld." where
he made an enviable record. He has had
several narrow escapes from the night in
spector but he related one in particular
the other night to brother officers. 1T
was a cold night" he said: the wind
was blowing a gale, and snow was flying
and whirling about from time to time
in most uncomfortable fashion 1 went
on for trick at midnight. and soon got
way down in 'Bloodfelf. a labyrinth of
alleys, dirty streets and dens, where at
one time it was dangerous for a man to
go alone. Ny partner was i'll, so | ran the
beat alone that night. and little expected
company of any kind
Toward o'clock / saw the sergeant. /
who went in toward the station, and then /
j slipped into the shanty of a friendly !
negro, somewhere in Union Court, a mis- /
cradle excuse for thoroughfare. 1 stay !
ed there fifteen minutes or more because !
suspected that something was wrong A !
sort of uncomfortable feeling came over |
me, and l determined to quit the place |
as soon as possible. So l gave old Joe,
the negro kick: he awoke, and went to
the door to reconnoiter.
He's outside, sho' nuff,' said old Joe
as he came back, 'a-sitting on the do
step he is, and wide awake Then 1 did
not know the negro had put me wrong,
and l was ready for almost anything to
slide out of that place. Already the in
spector had blown several times, but l
could not answer Out of back window
/ went as fast as I could, over a fence,
through an alley. and into the street be-
hind the shanty. AS ! ran a cur dog
heard me, started for me from the mouth
of an alley opening opposite TO the one
l had just left, and into which 1 had
planned to pursue my flight / saw the
dog barely in time to turn aside. and this !
fact saved me from running right into ;
the clutches of the night inspector.
Up the street I dashed with the dog
at my see!s, barking and swapping at my
trousers. Twice l heard the inspector
blow his whistle. maybe because of the I
racket made by the canine, but / did not
stop TIL ] reached the far end of my beat. ;
Then I began blowing my whistle for all i
! was worth, but not until had driven
off the dog with my club. Five minutes {
later the inspector came along, and it !
took all the explanation l could muster +
about dogs to convince him what mar
row escape 1 had had from personal in s
jury.
There is policeman in the Sixth pre- :
oinct who once rode out of a local bakery I
beneath a load of bread. AS he told the Z
story afterward il was d narrow escape !
for the night inspector was lying in wait {
ready to pounce on him when he appear
ed. II seems that the patrolman in ques- l
ton had frequently obtained a supply Of I
buns, bread, or rolls, according to his ,
fancy, from the bakery during the early I
morning hours. For several months he I
escaped detection, but one morning about l I
daybreak, he was nearly caught
The inspector was there in front of 3
the bakery; there was no rear exit, as he
well knew, and l was within the place, !
as he also knew said the policeman the !
other night. SO II was no fault of his \
that / was not caught ! had been in the q
bakery half-an-hOur or more, warming I'd
and eating fresh bread, when a negro ,
told me the night DOCTOR he called
the inspector. was without. ! saw ] was
trapped and saw no way to avoid being {
caught. In fact, i was about to walk
boldly out and face the inspector, when
a lucky thought struck me A closed
wagon was being loaded with bread ready a
10 this / jumped; il took little time for ( 4
them to cover me with hundreds of loaves =
Of bread, and we then sailed forth | !
heard Sam, the driver, speak to the in Q
spector as he drove by but did not move / d
until was several blocks away, when l /,
LEFT the wagon
One policeman in the eighth precinct a
did not know the night inspector by d
sight. He had been on the force but a 4 c
few weeks, but had heard many stories of d
the cunning OF the "spotter.' This par
ticular policeman was outspoken, and had
a hatred of being spied upon.
He was on duty late one night about |
two years ago and was wide awake as
usual 1t was his custom toward morn =
ing to visit a shanty I'm the outskirts of
his beat, where a friendly drink always ! ,
awaited him, night or day. on the morn !
ing in question It was very dark. cheer !
less, and cold. He slipped around his '
beat a couple of times turned in at the I
patrol box, and then made straight for !
the shanty. y trusted friend met him u
on the ''three-knock' signal and handed y
him the morning nip. Have you seen y
this morning. the policeman I
was asked. NO, not even that-inspec- y
tor; he can't catch me. though" said the 4
policeman Il am too wise for him.. =
Eth! Good morning. Mr. officer. En- {
1oying your morning drink said a {
squeaky voice almost By his side The ?
policeman turned to see the inspector a
a few feet away IN the shadow ! 81
Of an adjoining building So laughable 0
did the whole incident appear that police v
man, inspector, and bartender Joined in il
hearty mirth. although the patrolman y
knew full well that he should have to n
face trial for his nl-advised conduct He "
Is stu on the foroe however Il
According TO legend. there is a detec- al
tive on the force who ESCAPED from the il
Inspector in balloon. The episode took n
place about ufteen years ago. The tale
as told around HEADQUARTERS. which is
wei authenticated, is coupled with the
name Of one Of the veterans OF The local |
Detective Bureau II is said that can
i've balloon was among the novelties at II
Il
Sluggish Blood 8.
'auscs nnine-tenths Of all sickness. Indiges- Il
III 4