The San Francisco call., 1908-09-07
HIRES A "RINGER"
FOR POLICE TEST
Daniel NJ. TwoOmey, Unable to
Qualify Physically, Sends
Substitute to Board
Plot Is Barred by Apparent
Growth of Four Inches
in Six Months

To hire a ringer who complies
with physical ndards-that is the
way to become policeman in these
days, when San Francisco's civil SER
vice commission puts a ban on fat
feet and demands s feet height to a 43
inch chest, according to the system of
Daniel M. Toomey. And a good plan
it would have proved had not Twoo-
mey's ringer" been afflicted with or
ganic trouble and symptoms of habit
ua1 intemperance. On top of which
Affections Twoomey's bright idea was
discovered by the commission, who are
now seeking him and the man he en-
ployed to personify him.
Members of the civil service COM
mission admitted last night that the
story of Twoomey's bold attempt was
true.
Twoomey passed examinations for
the force six months ago and he be-
came a 'probationer." That is to say,
he walked a beat to the end that in
six months time he might, If approved
by the police commissioners, become a
regular patrolman. The commission
ers liked his work, but they learned
that, when he took his examination, he
had been In America less than five
years, which disqualified him. So they
disrated him and they told him to try
the examinations again, for the five
years was now gone by and Twoomey
was eligible.
HEARS OF RIGID TESTS
Previous experience had taught
Twoomey much, and he wasn't afraid
of the mental tests. But he had heard
1t whispered in the squadroom that
the new physical demands were some
thing terrific. The examiners had a
new lot Of stunts. Among other things
they put an applicant barefooted on a
pane of clear glass to see than his in
steps arched properly. and they insisted
that breadth of chest be proportionate
TO height. Twoomey is not only broad
and short to the point of being squat,
but he is fat footed. He knew he could
not get through these tests. But he
had a friend and the friend knew a
man who could. Twoomey hunted up
the man, according to the members of
as a ringer" In English a ringer"
is one who takes another's place where
that other is supposed to be.
Last week Twoomey went through
his mental examinations with flying
colors. Then when his name was called
at the board of health Offices a man
answered, who stripped a straight
backed Hercules 1t was two or three
days before some of the civil service
OF measurements came on those oppo-
site the name of Daniel Twoomey. And
these measurements they compared
with those Of Twoomey six months
before. The discrepancies made them
gasp. In six months Twoomey had
grown four inches and had gained two
inches chest measurement The COM
mission was notified, and then Twoo-
mey was notified to appear before the
,lr-I,k
meeting in the Grant building. He
appeared and waited In the anteroom.
A stenographer notified Secretary Ma
her that he was there. Maher came
to the door.
DODGES EXAMINATION
"All right, Twoomey," said MaheT.
wait bit; we want to give you a
physical examination"
1t was a half hour later when the
commission sent for Twoomey and
word came back from the anteroom
that Twomey was not there. Nor
could the candidate be located at his
home, 1166 Folsom street. And no one
knew the name Of the ringer"
The thing which the commissioners
regard as the crowning insult is the
fact that Twoomey had carelessly hired
for his ringer a man who had organic
trouble and whose body showed symp-
toms of alcoholism
Twoomey. object of search on the
part of the civil service commission,
was discovered last night tending bar
in his brothers saloon at the corner
of Tenth and Folsom streets He de-
MED categorically that he had en-
ployed any ringer" He said that he
did not choose to be measured again.
II was measured once said Twoo-
mey, "and 1 won't be measured again
for anybody" With which assevera-
ton of his rights as a man and an
American citizen he lapsed into silence,
from which he refused to be drawn.