The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-08
OVER THE POLICE PHONES.
Questions Singular. Hum nor and Pathetic
Asked 10y wire.

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Questions singular. Humorous and Pathetic
Asked by wire.
-No, said the desk man of a police station
between Union Square and long Acre
Square-that's near e~nough-"an the COM
plants that bio W in here are not sent to
the pu blicity bureau. We are an inquiry
department as we'll as a station for the
regulation and suppression Of misdemeanors
and crimes.
Just TO mention a few: A man tele-
phoned in asking what was the best way
to get on a jury.
Another asked The nearest tOothache
doctor from his home. Said he vas a
stranger, and il he didn't get some relief
he would blow up the house wbere he was
staying.
Then there are the PEOPLE who call
us up to know the proper pronunciation
Of words. A few nights ago my telephone
rang as If II was in the kinks Of a seismo-
graph. The inquirer wanted to know how
we spelled psjamas.
Il looked up an advertisement and told
him. How do you pronounce it?' he asked.
telling me after the inquiry that they were
having a card party where he was and
that there was a bet on the word. / told
AAAiAA W. ndNA u att Tie TeDlletAs
Thanks. old man, | win. The LADY,
up here called il payami. Said that de-
noted plural. and that paiama meant a
garment with one leg OF one arm
Strangers in the city over Sunday in
quire about the best places TO go for amuse-
ment. l asked one Of these inquirers why
he didn't ask his hotel. He replied that
he was here from Chicago and didn't want
the hotel people TO give him the ha ha.
"One night last week a young man in
dapper getup came here in a motor car
and said he wanted 10 find some one 10
marry him and his girl. gave him the
name Of the nearest clergyman. He wanted
10 know if there wasn't some one con-
nected with the Police Department who
could do the job. l told him no, and asked
why he inquired. He said he thought
il would be a novelty. and that was what
they wanted.
Then there are some funny reports OF
accidents. l had one last night which was
unique.
"The man at the other end Of the wire
said he was taking a bath and he guessed
he had filed the tub beyond its capacity.
At any rate, the weight Of the tub smashed
through the floor of his bathroom, through
b ceiling Of the fiat below, and that he
and the water tumbled into the dining
room Of his n~eighbors, who were giving a
party.
The man who was in the dilemma tele-
phoned that his neighbors threatened him
with arrest and he wanted to know il il
could be done. That was a new situation
to me. But 1 guess the trouble was arbi-
trated, as nothing more came to us.
There are pitiful phases az well. re-
member an instance that I wish I might
forget.
"A man about Is, high bred, with a face
you would notice wherever you saw n.
came in here one night last winter in the
Widest storm OF the season. He said he
couldn't sleep. He wanted to know il an
officer could be detailed 10 walk with him.
and when necessary TO 20 with him to his
room. He was afraid to he alone.
Il do not think he contemplated suicide,
but he was not sure Of himself. He ex-
planned that he did not care to acouaint
any OF his friends with his condition and
he did not want a physician. He said ne
knew what that meant.
He wanted TO be let alone, and vet ne
wanted some one near who would watch
him. He had money and was willing 10
pay any reasonable sum. or course. there
IL no provision in the department for the
care OF such a case.
But he Interested me and l made ar
engagements to go with him for the night.
We walked until daylight. When we
stopped, which we did occasionally TO
rest. nc talked most interestingly on topics
foreign to mis- own case. He had visited
many countries.
when l went with him TO his quarters 1
found them to De the abode OF a gentleman
Of means and culture.
Il Think he was a student Of criminolORv.
l went with him several times to visit Black
wells Island and other prisons. I think
his interest in such matters and the ~reaIiza-
ton that he could not accomplish what he
desired brought about his condition.
VI disappeared after no had disposed
OF his belongings and after he had come TO
say good-by 20 me. Early in the summer
l heard from him in st. Petersburg. He
wrote that he was about to 90 on a mission
that would most likely be his finish.
His was the most interesting case In INV
police history. And do you know I some
times wonder whether there was not some
sort of contagion in his insomnia? There
are times when ! have 20 walk as he Aid.
and find myself going over the same
route