The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-04-25
A Veteran Policeman.

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George W. Frisbee was for a Years ,
Guardian of the Peace in Belfast. Hi.
Brother Officer, elm" Nickerson. did
Good Service for S Ia Years.
The Belfast correspondent of the
Bangor Daily News recently had the
following interesting write-up of the
two police officers retired by the pres.
ent Democratic administration:
The two policemen, George w. FRS.
bee and James A. Nickerson, who, until
after the late election, guarded the per
sons and property of our citizens, were
men particularly well qualified for this
arduOus task and gave very general
satisfaction, especially to the business
men, in whose protection they were vigi-
liant and effective, both as regard rob
berries and the greater danger of fire.
A short sketch of these men may be of
interest both to people in Belfast and
in other sections Of the State.
George W. Frisbee had been men,
Der of the local police force for % years,
being appointed special in the spring
of 'S5. He was at that time employed
in Howes' grocery store, which was in
the building now occupied by B. G.
Dinsmore & Son. He was also a mem
Der of old Washington 5, the crack fire
company. The store caught fire and
FriSbee saved the building, being the
only man who dared take the hose on
the roof. The next year George was
made regular patrolman and there
was a vast difference in the condition
of the town, which was then one OF the
hottest villages in Maine. During the
first of his service the telephone and
water works were installed and great
granite industry was in full swing.
There was something doing all the time
and all prisoners had to be taken to the
Jail as there was no lookup. For one
year FriSbee was on alone and never
then, or in his whole career, had man
get away when once he got his hand on
him. The arrests averaged 500 to 600 a
year and the town was full of tough
characters. There used to be man
around in those days who was "wooly
horse;" when he got on a tear the stores
used to close up. He made talk that if
Frisbee ever tackled him he would get
shot. George tackled the proposition,
who, after a fight, ran through the
Windsor Hotel, across a yard, into a
house and up stairs, with George in
close pursuit. In bed room he got
the handouts on his man and started
for the jail. The prisoner was a union
man and his friends made rush, about
opposite to the school houses. Still
clinging to his man Frisbee pulled his
revolver and levelling it at the crowd,
declared he would shoot the first man
who interfered. The gang believed him
and George landed his man in Jail. His
friends had George arrested for alleged
cruelty and put under $4,000 bonds. II
developed that he had no club at the
time and merely used his fist. The at
fair cost George just 50.
One night at - o'clock Frisbee en-!
tered the garnet of a house on Cross
} street and cleaned out five men. One
big fellow who was in bed jumped out
and tackled the officer. The fight was
long and tough, but he finally got the
twisters on him and, with little boy tc
drive the team, landed his man at the
Jail entirely naked. The turnkey was
somewhat surprised and on inquiry
!; was Informed by George that he skin
ned 'em at that time of year.
Many people remember the Thanks
giving day when about 125 prisoners at
the Jail got some liquor and mutinied
assaulting Sheriff LlttIefield and near.
ly managing to escape in a body. In
fact eight did get away. After being
quite roughly handled the sheriff sue.
ceeded in locking the outside door, but
the trampS were in complete possession
of the jail. Frisbee was sent for and
with the help of the Jail force drove
every man into his cell after hand
to hand fight, in which clubs, knives,
revolvers and other weapons figured.
1t was hard old time. especially for
the tramps. To relate all of Mr.. FRS
bees adventures would require large
volume; therefore only few more
will be given. He saved man from
drowning, who fell off the wharf near
the Belfast Fuel & Hay Co.'s build
ings. Among other buildings which he
saved from fire by timely alarms and
personal work were Baker & Shales'
hay barn. several stores on Main street
and many other buildings of various
kinds.
For some years he was game warden
and in this capacity caught the only
man ever jailed for netting trout on
the spawning beds at Swan Lake.
George laid in the brush all night on
the night before Thanksgiving, but he
got his man. George has been special
ly engaged as police officer at fairs and
horse trots in Monroe, Unity, Camden
and many other towns. He is also the
man who got the Packard brothers to
impersonate tramps, get arrested by
country deputies and consta bles and 60
to Jail for 80 and some tobacco, thus
exposing the tramp graft which used to
cost the county SO much money every
year.
His companion officer, "Jim'' Nicker-
son, was one of the most popular men
ever on the force, always jolly and with.
al a mighty good officer. He had been
on ~ years, but was too late to par
ticipate in the old time riots. When
the Democrats won in 1906 petition
signed by most of the merchants and
professional men was presented to the
city government asking that the night
watch be retained. This was done, an6
so George and Jim continued until this
year, when the pressure was too great
and they were removed. Jim is work
ing at the carpenters trade and George
is taking little rest after his strenu
GUS career.
Waldo County Clerk of Courts.
Tileston v adlin, clerk of courts OF
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