New-York tribune., 1905-01-08

AN~"A%~
the station houses in Manhattan are prae'ieanS
alike save for a few variations in Dimensions one
enters this room directly after passing uhoer uho
sign of the twin green lamps. 1t is clean put ea
petless. and the kalsomned walls are entireiS i0A
ing in decoration.
,rrvo tbt,ds Of the room, Is empty Of furniture
There the police platoons line up for rohceH ano
instructions when their respective tours OF ouV
begin.
The other third is set apart by raiing' anu "a
the middle of this exclusive part is hish ueS' .,
severely plain as it's surroundings and grimiy JuuA
ciaI in outline The desk holds huge olank0ooH'
or blotter a copy of the city ordinances ""u
volume OF State statutes. Behind IL are Ssseia. =
high chairs hard and comfortless hke the reSs %
the ROOM Even the blinds on the tall cnurcniiN'
windows are blue and add TO the general severity
These are the surroundings OF the most peseeleu l
men in New-York. the desk sergeants or tne Fohee
Department for from eight 70 ten hours every Gay
an unfeeIing foolish public pour the most lhahe
and inconsequential questions into their long sueF
ing ears and make demands and claim rights 70
most absurd degree
That popular saying OF the street. which has
been current for years-"Ten your troubles 70
policeman; I have troubles OF my own.-shoud
read desk sergeant" for he is the man New
Workers go to first of all. II has been said tnat
the most sunny temperament would wear cloud
after presiding for week over the station mouse
desk, and certainly all OF the philosophy or the
tribe from Socrates to Mrs. Wigs would not serve
to answer all the cases that Woulo coine uP IL
that time.
Some one asked Police Commissioner Murphy
what he considered the essential quality in desk
sergeant.
Patience" he answered without a moments
hesitation "He can't have too much and then nell
probably be reported to the Commissioner coupe
OF times a month";
Desk sergeants have the reputation of being
civil snappy. grouchy czarllke individuals from
whom rarely gets consideration and who don't
know how TO make civil answer. There IS some
foundation for the impression. but any one who
has spent few hours in the station house and
listened TO the flood troubles that come his way
will be inclined to be charitable and give him the
benefit OF the doubt. They feel that way about II
at Police Headquarters and charges have TO be
very definite and serious before desk sergeant
Is called into the trial
No one place in New-York has more right 10 be
called the trouble centre OF the city than the Ten
derloin police station. the north side Of West
Thirtieth-st between Sixth and Seventh aves. So
many troubles crop out there that the newspapers
OF the city have established Office across the
street and keep a constantly duty there
during the busy hours. which are generally from
D. m. 10 a. m.
few weeks ago. when the captain Of the Ten
derlon precinct was using every energy to close
np gambling places and disreputable houses, three
well dressed men, evidently strangers in the city,
walked into the station house
Good evening, Cap" began the tall man Of the
party who wore a wide brimmed slouch hat and
a flowing frock coat Have smoker?
The desk sergeant looked uD with a scoTl Tne
sight of nfty-cent Havana modified II and he
accepted the cigar. The growl was still IN his
voice when he asked: What is 1t?
.It's inst this way, Cap" continued the big man.
1--WE are up from North Carolina on bit OF a whiri
and we want 10 do the town Now. this old YORK
town is proving Just bit of puzzle to us There's
a trouble feel in the air. but we can't Just put
our fingers on IT, Can't you loan US copper Tor
half an hour or until he gets US planted IN some
cosey place where we can hit I'D the faro bank!
Hardened to all sorts OF surprises. as the desk
sar9eent soon becomes this request was too rnucn
for his callousness Half of the precinct torce
was doing extra duty trying to run down. locate
and get evidence against just such places. and mere
comes the "spsrty' southerner with request l0r
q personalIy conducted party.
.,Of course we'll paw all expenses" the South
er,.er added when he noticed the surprised look
on the sergeant's face.
..You will will your" the latter managed 70 gasp.
gym YOU have your guide in uniform? Perhaps
,5 iil,e me to call out the reserves for body
s,,ard or send YOU around in fine new patrol
wagon?" .
wanted 10 gamble,
..E4oU soon will your man be ready?" he asked.
.Dd YOU really think you'd get guide TO
Gambling houses at a police staton?' the sergeant
asked with growing amazement why man. II ;
against every rule OF the department
well, then, couldn't you give Us a N
would mass us In somewhere" he continued. un-
abashed.
"Novr. YOU get out Of here ordered the sergeant
rrufrv He had found himself again If hear
Of YOU gum shoeing around this precinct LOOKING
for trouble I'll have you run in. Gilt.
The southerners went their way wouhaeu IN IN
feelings and convinced that they hau H"" 'siS
crooked deal"
Our money must not look good to them was
the way they figured II out
Actors looking for press notices and actresses
who wouldn't be in the papers for anything often
try 10 use the Tenderloin station as go-oetween
with the reporters. Nearly all of the fake jewel
robberes and stories of the lost strayed or stolen
80 COO doggies are reported there. Only the other
day minstrel drove up to the station IN cao'
still wearing his stage clothes and makeup
The cabman who could. not keep from smiling
mildly protested TO the sergeant that the funny
man wouldn't pay his fare
Some one slipped into my dressing ROOM the
minstrel began, ''and made of with my street
clothes 7 called a cab and asked TO be driven
home On the way the cabnian demanded his fare
1 had no money-not even stage money-in my
stage clothes 1 went 10 restaurant. where
found number of friends. They liked the joke.
and while they bought US many drinks they would
not advance any money
At this point the desk sergeant got 10 the end
OF his line of patience.
get outer here"' he roared. and the minstrel and
the cabman got.
PEOPLE seem to think that the police able and
ready to out-sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes at
any hour of the day night. No loss is too
trifiing to send the victim the run to the po-
lice station and the sergeant is called some hard
names because he won't order out the reserves.
A man who said he lived in Hoboken. N. j. went
to the station house not long ago.
'T want you policemens to find my dog which is
stolen from already"
He said the dog was worth $780, but the sergeant
decided that this was decidedly a sentimental value