The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-20
BOBBY BURNS IS
SLATED TO GO
Shoulders StOOp Under 30
Years Service.
TALK OF RETIRING VETERAN
Conspicuous Figure at Police Headquar-
ters-Old Man Doesn't Want
TO Stop Work

After spending the best years Of his
life In the Police Department and fill
Ing various positions, from getting up
before the peep Of dawn to catch bakers
with short weight bread loaves to
watching Police Headquarters from sun
set TO gunrise. Bobby Burns is now
up for retirement. He Is strong. vigor-
Gus. and alert. and his shoulders are
only slightly benz under the weight OF
almost seventy years.
For nearly fifteen years Bobby
Burns. bright, cheerful, and joviaI, has
been a conspicuous figure around Police
Headquarters. AS he puts It. he has
been through the mill"
When he was first detailed TO Police
Headquarters the personnel OF the staff
there was much different from now
Out Of the entire staff OF those days
there remain but two, Bob Board
man, now captain OF detectives. and
Dad Horne.
Civil War Veteran.
After serving in the civil war with the
Union forces and spending much time
enduring hardships IN Anderson and
Libby prisons. Burns left the army and
came 10 Washington At the age Of
thirty-four he was a tall. stalwart Irish
man
n IOSlLlOn the
force. having all the qualifications Of a
policeman, chief Of which was service
I'm the army.
Major Moore, at that time head Of
the Police Department, detailed the
promising young man to the Fourth
precinct. located in Southwest Washing
ton-the Island" as that section Of the
city was known in those days. Burns
made many cases. paid strict attention
10 his duty, and kept down complaints
Appointed in che seventies. he trOd the
hard bricks Of Southwest Washington
Until 1891, when he got the headquar-
seTs detail.
His Hint Taken.
One cold winter night Major Moore
dropped into the Fourth precinct sta
ton for reasons best known 70 him
self. and was leaning against the railing
as Burns came IN to go on duty. The
two left the station together and the
policeman said 10 his superior:
Major. 1 have always made It a prac-
tice TO watch suspicious people when
they come en- my beat, and I intend TO
watch you. because II is most suspicious
TO see you around this part of the city
al this hour of the night"
Major Moore laughed and shook the
pOliceman's hand. The two walked up
the street. and Major Moore came upon
piles of brick and sand which were being
used by Men who were repairing the
street
Hello, What are they doing here?''
he inquired Of the policeman.
Wore Out the Bricks.
They're fixing the street. major. I
wore those bricks out patrolling this
beat And as the bricks were wearing
so am l."
Major Moore took the hint. Four days
later Burns was ordered to report at
Police Headquarters.
Before that he had acted as license
inspector. bread inspector and had also
taken the places Of the headquarters
telegraph operators who receive the re-
ports OF arrests and accidents from the
various precincts throughout the city.
The telegraph system was used eXclu-
sively in the police department. and
there were but few men who knew IL.
Burns was bright and capable and
gave satisfaction. At headquarters he
Immediately sprang into favor because
Of intelligence and genialty.
II was his habit to assemble the young
sters on cold nights when they were on
duty in the detective Office and tell
them his wartime experiences and how
he lived on Irish potatoes alone IN Ire
land He related interesting and anus
ing stories and held newspaper men and
young detectives IN wrapt attention for
hours. Although all had work TO do,
they could not resist his stories nor his
manner Of telling.