The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-27
POLICE FARLEY
OVER A NEW
LAID EGG
Mrs. Hen Was Rescued
From Her CaptOr and
Was Grateful.

It's only an egg, but the police of the
Fourth Precinct, or at least those con-
cerned, would be willing to forfeit their
months pay If someone in authority
would decide the legal owner of it.
Policeman Patterson is hot under the
collar today because he was not al
lowed to take the fresh egg home to
his wife. Doorman Slowey lays claim
to it, because he was the man who
locked the chicken in a cell. Sergeant
McGovern's opinion is that the egg be-
longs to him, because he ordered
Slowey to lock the chicken up.
The matron, who prefers that her
name be not mentioned, believes that
the egg should go to her. There are at
least a dozen others, including Driver
Burns, who drove the chicken and its
captor to the station early yesterday
morning, but Captain Vogel still has
the egg locked up in his desk. Judge
Herr refused to give his opinion on the
subject. "I am a criminal judge" said
he, land it apepars to be a civil mat
ter, and should be brought to one of
the district courts"
Clerk YuiI, who is credited with
knowing the law, stated that the only
way to solve the case would be to boil
the g and have it sliced into pieces
and Civ each claimant an equal share.
"By gosh, Billy said the captain,
''you are right, and then there would
be no hard feelings. 1 guess that's
what We'll do"
The would-be owners will hold a con-
ference tonight and decide who is
Who in the matter. Patterson went
as far today as to state hat not for
the value of the egg, but just for sat
isfaction he would engage counsel to
represent him. He was warned by his
superior that such steps would prob
ably result in his being brought be-
fore the police board.
The chicken in the case was not a
prisoner but a material witness. Po-
liceman Patterson was patroling his
post in Norfolk street early yesterday
morning when he found Julius Rayner,
% years old, who claims he lives at
2S9 Norfolk street, walking rapidly with
the chicken under his arm.
"Where did you get that piece of
fowl?'' asked Patterson.
"Why, I bought 1t, of course"
"Ah, tell it to Sweeney" said Pat
terson.
mo, but I'll tell it to Charley Herr"
"That's what you will, but telling n
making him believe are two different
things" was the bluecoat's next COM
ment.
Patterson saw that Rayner's clothing
was covered with whitewash, and he
placed him under arrest, and the
chicken was taken along as well.
Rayner, while being led to the patrol
box, said he lived at 101 Norfolk street,
and in order to ascertain if such vas
the case Patterson went to the house
and aroused the members Of several
families, and non knew the prisoner.
When the patrol arrived and the par
ty jumped in Patterson took possess
sion of the chicken in order that it
would not get away. At the station
Sergeant McGovern decided that the
cell would b. a better place for it than
in the stable, and all went well until
this morning when Patterson went to
the cell to get the chicken in order to
produce 1t in court when Rayner was
arraigned, and he found the egg. He
showed 1t to- Captain Vogel, who inn
mediately seized 1t and remarked that
it as a souvenir.
"I guess I'll have something to say
about 1t, captain" said Patterson, and
the war was on.
While it was at it's height the court
imposed a fine of $40 on Rayner on a
disorderly conduct charge, as there was
no evidence to show hat he stole the
chicken.