The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-07

Tho only unhappy man in Bayonne, N.
Yesterday was Petey Marvin, the town
souse, Petey, by unheard Of self-denial,
kent sober four days, hoping that his special
talents would be recognized by the great
PLAYWRIGHT of Bayonne, the commander
in-chier Of the detective bureau, f. Macbeth
Griffin, author of Forty Minutes at Police
Headquarters.
Ever since Z. Macbeth Griffin began to
take time of from his job as the boss sleuth
NJ the tank city to dramatize Bayonne's
,o1ice force Petey Marvin has dogged his
stems. pleading pathetically for the part
~ the Rurolnr, arguing that out OF common
human kindness he ought to be allowed q
nance TO lead q better life. He said 1t was
,,,e that he hadn't much of a record and
that the best notices he ever got was when
Judpe Lazarus gave him sixty days for
souseness and another time when he alb
Quoted Undertaken Guys doormat with
tho word Welcome" on it and went up for
ninety DAYS: but he felt confident he was
meant for better things, and anyway, said
Petey, he was getting tired Of posing as the
horrible example every time the W. G. 7. U.
gave a cold water party.
AunOI u. NluCDObl w u WV ANo
tered, said he was sorry. but Petey
wouldn't do. Go and get a record,
petey." said the Author, and I'll
consider you for my next production. |
can't intrust such a fat part as blowing up
a safe to you because you're not a high class
man. 1t takes special ability and expert
epcc. | think I'll give that part to one OF
nv plain clothes men,
While the gifted author OF Forty Minutes
at Bolice Headquarters" was in DickF1ood's
cak next door to the Bayonne Theatre,
hiring supes for the great moi scene, half
the oil town-the refined part, anyway
WAS heading for the theatre. tramping
through the red clay behind brass bands
and carrying banners, everybody cheering
for Griffin. Some of the banners bore in
scriptions which explained how strong
Bayonne is for the greatest playsmith in
New Jersey. Griffin, the Clyde Fitch OF
Bayonne" vas in big white letters on one
red banner. On another were these proud
words, Griffin, Frohman shall not take
YOU from us!" On another: For Mayor:
+. Macbeth Griffin. the Peoples Choice"
II was the greatest day in Bayonne since
Standard Oil came TO town. or since the
Five Villages made up their spats and be-
came a city. The people came to town
from such faraway centres as Pamra-
paugh. Centerville. Constable Hook, Little
Bayonne and Bergen Point. bringing the
babies and even the hired girls for a days
pleasure. A family rig was hitched at
every oil tank and Charley. who is the
chief bar clerk in Dick Floods place, got
a slight attack of brainstorm trying to pour
out four fingers OF rye with one hand for the
country trade and mixing cocktails with
the other for them city fellers.' h
part of the Bayonne police force wasn't
making up and getting into costume for
the show was hurting itself against the ex-
cited crowd that banked up against the
theatre doors and pleaded 10 get in. Here
is a chance, said all Bayonne. to get ac-
quainted with our cops. We may never
have another and were not going to let
il slip.
But let us into the playhouse wher the
drama of real police life in Bayonne is about
to be produced. Some of our most promi-
nent citizens are present, not to speak
OF our best known society leaders. There
is Judge Lazarus in a box chatting socially
with Undertaken Guy, who let his second
man run two funerals in order not TO miss
the show. We note with pleasure the
presence of Nicky and Mrs. Rips, and
not far from them the Anthony Rouchs.
In front seats are Plumber BILLY Higgins
ana MTe. higgins. Inc ldtleI 10 SldhluB |
hands with Mrs. Lojewsky. There is Jakey
Heraty, our popular gents furnisher, and
there is Jerry Lisk, the fish dealer. Sh!
The curtain is going up.
lii a dark night in the streets of Bayonne
and not a sound is to be heard except the
explosion Of oil anksh here and there in the
quiet city. Officer Mike ~Cavanagh, as
Bicycle Policeman Cdudnd0h, rides along
the stage-the street we mean--snooplng
for speed law violators. There is nothing
doing and he pedals into the wings at left.
Who is this turning the corner at the Dutch
man's2 Bill Keegan, as Pdtrolmdn Keegdn.
foufeel right away that something is going
10 happen when Bill unlocks the patrol box
and calls up the sergeant at headquarters.
That murder has been done somewhere
and the murderer is beating il for Bayonne
you are dead certain before Bill keegan
gets the sergeant on the wire. Listens?
Hello, hello! What's that. Sarge? Look
out for who? A Dago? Yes. yes. Wanted
for stabbing n man in New York? Five
feet four. Ell? Stout, small black mus
ttche, dark hair, dark plaid shirt, no vest,
ozark brown coat n pants, old and dirty
black cloth cap? All right, Sarge. You
can depend on Keegan doing his duty as an
officer Of the law. If | see him | will bring
him in
1t might as well be said right here that
heegan doesn't get his man.. Nothing
more is heard Of the murderer throughout
me play, but as pointed out by the author
MS a show Of real life in the police depart
ment Of Bayonne and there wasn't any
use running in things the audience wouldn't
believe, So down comes the curtain to
applause and calls for the author.
L, Macbeth Griffin stands up modeetly
n a box and hops nimbly onto the stage.
When the cheering subsidies he says:
Ladies and gents, this Ia the proudest
moment in my life since the Elks gave me
my gold watch. This reception puts me
wise to one thing, that the pen Ii pightier
Than the nightstick. Great applause.J
Nobody ever thought OF putting our police
force on the stage and ! thought II was up
70 me. Cheers and cries Of Good boy,
Eddie You're the goods. Macbeth and
more applause"
1 saw my old friend John L. Sullivan
me other day. continues the playwright,
and told him | was writing a play about
me police, to be acted by the police, and he
shook me 10y this hand. ladies and gents,
and he said: Griffin. IL you say the word
~ come over and take a part In the play
amt that something TO remember with q
glow OF pride? I-Cheers-some for John L..
Others for Grfinl We police tries to do
our duty. hut we don't always get bouquets
"' II ana people don't pay much attention
90 US IhiS show is to put yo next TO the
,eal work your cops do every day in the
ear, Thanking you, one and all, in behalf
VI myself and the entire Police Department,
: VIII now step DOWN. Long continued
The interior OF Police Headquarters il