Evening star., 1909-05-02

Hughes. ]. H. Haines, W. NJ. Hollis and
L. G. Glenn.
Seventh precinct-D. L. OBrien and ].
B. Nicholas.
Eighth precinct-J p Barrett. c. c.
koontz. A. r. Brady. g. W. Osbourn and
+. &. Smith.
Narrow escapes fill the lives OF every
policeman. but the crossing squad enjoys
Few of the emOluments which the depart
ment holds out to it's patrolmen. True,
his line of duty does not take the traf-
fic man into parallel paths to those ira
Nersed by his regular brother. but never
call for help. even though it meant his
leaving his post for the moment and
plunging into the thick of fight or to
face gun in the hands of a desperate
man.
And most of the hairbreadth escapes
which enter the lives of these men come
when they respond to a call which is be-
yond the pale of their definite duties, and
when they are summoned simply because
they are 1.-The men on the job
Their position in the police department
is a peculiar one. They are directly be-
meath the charge of the chief of police.
The men are paid a salary of SO a month.
The railroads pay into the police depart
ment pro rata share of the total amount
necessary to provide for the salaries of
the crossing policemen. The District of
Columbia pays them nothing.
Il
Their lives are full of incidents where
they are called upon to do duty for the
city. In some cases they have been. hurt
and disabled, yet they are recognized as
corollary only i'll the department.
James L. Patchen who has been on the
crossing at 18th and G streets for three
years. demonstrated his ability as a po-
liceman shortly after he was given the
uniform. When leaving his trick one day
he picked up an evening paper and saw
story from police headquarters concern
ing pickpocket who had robbed mail
clerk of s3i. 1t was accompanied by
picture. The face was indelibly imprinted
on the officers brain
The next day he thought he recognized
the man on one of the 11th street cars
and arrested him on the charge of pick
ing pockets. After a trial the man was
given a Jail sentence on the evidence
brought out by central office detectives
Before this time. however. Patchell says
that he had spent a rather strenuous
career in Charleston. W. Va. where he
was also a policeman. On one occasion.
when trying to place man under arrest
during a saloon brawl. the prisoners
brother cut Patchell with large bowie
knife. The scar is visible today just
along the lower jaw bone on the right
side. and gives evidence Of the terrible
struggle. He never lost day duty. how
ever. as he was sent to police headquar-
'The worst case however. that | was
sent out to round up said Patchell.
was one in which | arrested two
men for murder. 1t was particu-
larly hard job, and one which required
a good deal of skill to bring about
successfully. The murderers had taken
refuge in an old barn on the outskirts or
the city, and had let it be known that
any one coming within certain distance
would be shot on sight They were equip
ped with plenty of ammunition ana ra-
tions. and as the barn was rather en-
posed, there didn't seem to be chance
10 accomplish their arrest.
After trying in a number or ways TO
effect their capture the police finally de-
cided to starye them out. 1t happened,
after they had kept up twO-day vigil,
that very rainy, black night came. and
then we thought our time had come to
make an assault on the barn. For this
purpose we started. but were discovered
at the outset We tried new tactics and
made an assault on the barn from the
four sides. gradually creeping nearer,
every moment expecting to hear shot
from the old frame building, and the fear
of leaving a corpse behind made every
man Of us wild with dread. To make
long story short we stOrmed the barn,
only to find that our birds had also taken
advantage Of the dark night. Afterward
we arrested them just outside of the city
limits"
accidents and minor escapades Angus