Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-06


 in what Is now going on in municipal affairs, especially in the movements of the department of public safety. To use an old saw, all eyes are turned to- wards the tower, and once public official has been ordered to appear there he changes color and the public holds it's breath and makes anxious inquiry regarding the nature of the sentence meted out against him. Verify this Is reign of terror. Mems heads are falling by the wayside almost daily and while citizens of all political creeds are praying that the gods may soon announce that they have avenged every wrong and punished all offend CTS, still the business of destruction goes on, and he would be wise indeed at this stage of the proceedings who could tell us what there will be left when peace once more spreads her mantle over town which for nearly three centuries never knew what t was to be at war with itself.
 There is no man in whom the pub- lie has keener interest than the blye- coated guardian of the peace. Young and old look to him for protection. and inasmuch as he parades the public
 
 most every soul in the community. Naturally all know his good and his bad points. so that what is now being said of the retired as we'll as the dis charged officers is of more than pass ing Interest
 A Bank street merchant asked rep resentative of this paper yesterday if he knew why M. T. Sullivan had been dropped from the police force, adding that he had known that man for years before he was put on the force and considered him a model citizen and an ideal officer. He was one of his custom CTS and knew he was honest, and had a notion that men of that class de- served to be encouraged. because they are the Tnainstays of all communities This Is about the way everybody looks at NIT Sulltvan's case. Nobody looked for 1t, and 1t is said that he never dreamed of such a thing himself, thinking, no doubt that so long as he minded his work his position was se- cure. So far as the public knows, MT Sullivan was one Of the best men on the force but as one man said, he was a hopeless failure as a shammer and was an utter stranger to what is known as 'bluff," something which cuts a whole lot of ice in the depart ment as we'll as elsewhere. To those who have been in the habit of meeting him and noticing his efforts to per form his duty creditably, it sounds like a joke to say that his eyesight was handicap to him; but it has been so decided in the tower and that ought to be sufficient.
 Nelson T. Smith was charged with not being able to strike military gait, convicted and dropped outside the fence, although his brother officers con- side1ed him hard worker and clever policeman. Talking about Smiths ability as walker. one of the men who still has his head said that when the late Offcer John Lynehan was being buried, 'sNels was mem Der of le police escort and tramped all the way from St Patrick's church like colt. Major Bannon was in command and struck pretty lively gait along Dublin street, so much 50 that expected to hear a double time order any moment. It is also admit ted that he was able to hold his own Tn a tfssle with all corners. The liveliest scramble he ever figured in was with the late Father Duggan, when both gTappled Tn the basement of the church and went down among q heap of rough stone. This was when the church was being built and some of the material was being stolen. Smith was doing duty over 1t and Father Duggan re- quested him to keep an eye out for whoever was removing the stock and if he caught anybody to hold him fast. Father Duggan was so much taken up with the work he used to spend good deal of time viewing 1t and often dropped in there nights. On one of his night visits Smith noticed a dark shadow moving about and believing it to be that of some intruder, he hid be- hind pillar until the man came with in reach of him. and then took n vice like grip of him by the coat collar. Tn those days Father Duggan was almost giant and had the courage of a lion, and taken by surprise as he was, the first thought that came to his mind was that of self-protection, and for few moments the nveIiest kind Of scramble was on in the celInr When they found out their mistake they laughed and concluded to say nothing