New-York tribune., 1902-09-14
SULLIVAN SAVED HIMSELF
CLOSE CALL, But HE FORESTALLED
IMPENDING CHARGES.

1t requires considerable courage to tell Deputy
Police Commissioner Thurston police story, his
own fund is so varied and so wide None the less.
visitor of his succeeded in opening the coloners
eyes the other night and although the genial OFF,
cial instantly replied in kind he still remember.
the little story of police ingenuity Here is the
story as 1t told:
Some years before the first reform administration
in the palmy days of graft which antedated the
Lexow investigation. a patrolman who enioyed the
royal name of Sullivan, was attached 10 the Ten
deroin precinct. Sullivan was known to unany can
tains as a powerful and dangerous man. His
brother was a district leader another brother kept
the strategic saloon in a close district and the
force of the of Sullivan was then as il is still
potent fact in Tammany. Sullvan's official record
was something at once fearful and wonderful His
appearance on time an unheard of occurrence
few unwise captains who had dared to reprimand
Sullivan had been treated to a frank and brutal
chat with the higher up" As a result Sullivan
generally avoided and his misconduct over
looked by his superiors
When the reform government finally came into
power Sullivan had become accustomed to his
license that he took no notice of the changed con-
dtions- At rollcall he was late as usual His ex-
cursions while on post continued as frequent as
But one day there Il surprise. A reform
captain. who had been spending life of strenu-
morality up in Goatville, came down to the
TenderlOin with eager desire to pay off some Of
his old enemies. The first he marked for the
slaughter was Sullivan. Every one expected there
was trouble coming that is. every one except Sui
lvan. He calmly ignored the danger.
His awakening was rude. and sufficiently definite
to warn any sensible man.
Sullivan, said the captain at rollcaH
day. you were late every day last week. 1 amt
agoin' yer. 1 amt agoin' ter send yer up
fer fine. but the mex time yer go wrong I'll hay'
yer broke Yer record is enuf kill angel"
Sullivan took it calmly; he so sure OF his pull
that he didn't deign to notice the warning beyond
a bravado afterward about -four flushing" But
his friends took him out and gave him a talking
to that sobered him off for at least days.
during which time he walked the path of duty with
never detour.
The third day however. Sullivan forgot He had
dropped into a saloon Just before rollcaIl. and
stayed there until he quite forgot the time Sud
denly he looked at the clock and that he was
already fifteen minutes late. Then he started out
into the street. He had dim sense of the situation
being up TO him.. but not the slightest notion OF
what do
As he out into the street. he glanced fur
lively up and down. The only thing in sight was
a. dump cart driven by negro, who was peacefully
sleeping the seat. Sullivan took another eau
tious glance up the street. The coast was quite
clear. Then with a sudden bound he leaped into
the street. Another spring and he was on the
Before the could wake the pair had rolled
into the street locked IN a fierce embrace. The
negro a powerful man and as he walked ne
put UP a good. stiff battle. over the street ana
into the gutter the couple rolled Slowly but surely
the policemans advantage in the first grip told
and at last he put strange hold on the negro
rang in a call for assistance and soon had MS
senseess prisoner in patrol wagon
At the station house the captain had nOJced
with grim satisfaction that Sullivan was late