The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-06

MERCER STREET STATION PET
LOCKED UP AND DOOMED.
DIdn' Mean 70 Bite the boy who Was Tired
Of Playing with Him and Insisted On
Going H0me-Board Of Health sits on
the C~ase-TheS. 2. e. A. Now Gets Him.

VIC NUht-NUc r. ts ~ NVW SttS httts
There is mourning In the Mercer street
police station because the big white dog
described conservatively by Capt. Miles
O'Reilly as part fox terrier with a dash OF
bull and c-ontemptuously by Lieut.. Michael
Breen as a mutt not worth looking at.
will report no more for duty. No more
will he help disperse crowds at tenement
house fires or lead the chase after a pick
pocket or shoe the children of the grass
in Washington Square. Never again will
he bring Patrolman McInerny to work
in the morning or escort him nome at night.
Nor will he repair at dinner time to a certain
Sixth avenue restaurant. where the pro-
prietor made a special point OF catering to
Buns appetite.
Bum is not lost. strayed or stolen. 1t
would be better for the former popular
mascot Of the Sixteenth precinct II he
were any Of these. The truth 10 that Bum
has been arrested charged with crime.
indicted, tried. found guilty and 10 now
awaiting sentence. This. according to the
unanimous prediction Of his closest friends.
will be death.
Shortly before sunset on July 3 Bum was
| lounging on the southeast corner OF Thomp-
son and West Fourth streets. where he ex-
peoted to meet one OF his bluecoat pals. The
policeman didn't appear. but Giuseppe
Catapance. Jr., aged 8 years. OF 2is Houston
street. arrived at an ~inopportune moment.
and suggested to Bum a game OF fetch and
carry. This game, being one Of Buns ia
vorte pastimes. was soon on. and for a few
moments there was a lively and amiable
mix up Of boy and dog. and a variety Of
missiles. Then, while the enthusiasm of
the 1aD had mot han1n tn nhQfA tho how
decided that the claims OF appetite we're
paramount to those Of sport and started
Tor home without asking TO be excused.
Finding that no dog Establishments would
induce the boy to remain. Bum was driven
to strenuous action and seized his play
fellow firmly by one leg OF his trousers.
He had, as one OF his defenders at the station
house explained carefully yesterday, fire.
Quently lone this sort OF thing before, and
there really was no reason for him TO sup
pose hat this particular boy was going to
pull his leg in u a way as to make those
sharp teeth. in the effort TO lose their grip,
go right through the fimsy cloth and make
a. few scarcely p~eroeptible dents in the
flesh.
There wasn't the slightest doubt. con-
tinued the defender, that Bum was over
whelmed with horror and remorse when
the boy jerked himself free and ran away
screaming. Bum had never before given
any one even a scratch and was the chum
of all the children in the neighborhood.
The dog turned up ut his usual hour on
the Fourth and joined the force detailed
for the supervision Of the Garibaldi cele-
bration. hen the trouble began. Joseph
Catapana. Sr., had been anything but die.
He had been to see various of1clals con-
corning the tragedy Of the previous after
moor and the result Of his visits was a
peremptory order from the Board OF Health
TO Capt. O'Reilly to arrest Bum.
Patrolman Mclnerny. to whom the UNI
welcome task was assigned. said II was a
shame. but did his duty. and after a two
hours search led Bum up to the captains
desk and saluted.
Cell number three. said the captain
CURLY. McInerny did not venture any
comment upon the order. but there was
a suspicion Of moisture 10 hs eyes as he
closed the door upon the prisoner.
Bun was brought ont to see visitors
yesterday afternoon but the interview
was painful. He made not the slightest
response to requests to sit az, e
and the droop of his tail and that OF his
eyelids were equally detected.
Too bad" said the captain. patting
him on the back. that a nice dog like that
examined by a health officer and pronounced
perfectly sound"
But why will he nave 10 be killed."
asked one OF the visitors.
We'll, you see. the parents Of that child
are determined to know just what becomes
Of that dog, and we can't take the RESPONSE
billy Of turning him loose in the streets
again. so we have sent for the 8. p. G. A.
to come after him.
And what will they do?"
-Dop Why. keep him three days. and
then" The captain shrugged his Shout
ders INC waved his hand.
Bum dejectedly followed his keeper out
of the room.
well, he isn't much to look at remarked
Lieut.. Breen philosODhically.