The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-24
PRISONER ESCAPED! ALARUM!
HE DIDN'T WANT TO, But
HAD TO, AND .APOLOGIZED.

~ .pEv O ~
HAD TO, AND .APOLOGIZED.
Tale OF q Magnanimous Man VINO Lost III
Hat. hut Held No Grudse Agains
the Police Department for an In
Nceremonious Refusal TO Find IL
Patrolman Terence McGovern Of tn
East Sixty-seventh street station hat
finished a hard days work at trampinl
his beat and stood at 10 O'Clock on Satur
day night at Sixty-ffth street and Madison
avenue waiting for a northbound ca
that would drop him heal the front doc
OF his house in Harlem. On the opposite
corner. under the full glare Of an electro
light, a middle aged man, bareheaded
searching the heavens and the cart
with uncertain gaze. His glance finall,
lighted on Terence and he tackled TOWARD
him.
Hey. Mr.. Policeman, said he, bowling
i've lost my hat
We'll. that's none Of my business; g
and buy another said the patrolman
pointing toward Third 9
mo, 1 bog your pardon said the Hat
less One, bowling again. but you find 1t
you find the hat. I can't. It's 'roun
here somewhere, the surest thing you
know
Find your own hat O 90 get another.
said the cop, who already had lost n cal
through the interruption OF the polite
stranger. The policeman's manner ap-
parently irritated the man, for he dropped
his suavity, drew back and said:
"Not much. No, sir. ! will not find It
Tho policeman will find 1t. You will
find It. What are we paying cops for II
they can't find a gentleman's hhtI'
This rolled Terence. who. although
he had seen a good many years OF SER
vice In tho department, had o before
been taxed with being a hat chaser. 30
he plucked the stranger by the coat
and guided him swiftly to the
East S~ixty-seventh street station. There
a charge Of disorderly conduct was en-
tered against him and he was locked
up. He have the name Of William Halpin
and said he lived at ia East l22nd street.
About midnight McGovern started
Tor night court with his prisoner, who
was still bewailing the loas Of his hat
and the futility Of the Police DEPART
ment in such an emergency. The two
a Third Q elevated train.
Halpin seemed to forget his lost hat in
the heated car and was soon ozln
The patrolman himself wouldn't have
objected to q wink or two OF sleep, but,
Is he declared later, he had the prisoner
to watch.
When the train reached the Ninth street
the policeman nudged the
One in the ribs and said Come on at
he same time getting to his feet and
the way toward the door. Nc
Govern thought he felt Halpln following
behind him. In fact he looked
around and was sure he saw him. Az
,ny rate as they stepped out on the sta
ion platform he grasped the prisoners
arm. -,
Hurry along; it's getting late said
he patrolmanr giving the arm a tender
title jerk. The next moment he found
face to face with an angrystranger
Who wanted to know what the devil the
policeman was trying to do with the afore-
aid arm.
Terence didn't wait to explain. He
capped for the gate, but 1t was closed,
md the train was under way. Through
he mist covered windows he saw his
prisoner gliding past, still sleep
fhe policeman went down the station
tairs three at a jump and darted to the
telephone. Full details OF the
the conversation at the polioeman's
md sounded like this:
Sure, | saw him get up. He was follow
ng right along after me. He must have
rome to sleep again standing up and
when / wasn't looking. Couldn't
have had him ahead Of me coming out?
u course not. on such a dark night
A few minutes later this general alarm
going over the police wires to ell
he stations in the city:
treet, 80 years ldswhite, S feet 8 inches,
10 pounds. black stubby. mustache,
ight suit, no hat, escaped from Ofioer
Third avenue and Ninth
treet.r
AS for the Hatless One himself he awoke
g the train was pulling into Houston
treet. He had overelept only n station.
ie turned to speak to his companion,
alone. 1t was bad enough to lose
hat, but to be deserted when under
.rrest was Undesirable. Furthermore
lie friend the policeman might get into
roub,e on account Of it. Revolving these
other things in his mind, he left
he train at Houston street and de-
osnded into the Bowery. He started
Ninth street. but as he wished to
make a thorough search for the COP his
,rogress was necessarily slow.
In the meantime Police Headquarters
the nearby police stations had men out
n the Bowery looking for the escaped
prisoner One of these searchers was
Detective Sergeant Murphy Of the Cen
raj ONCE. To Halpin's intense relief
10 bumped up against the detective ser
about ! O'Clock In the morning. He
lad known the sergeant personally, and
for his lost hat proceeded to
ell him that he was under arrest and was
.earching for his guard.
Ca MT you do something to Az 1t up
or the polioeman'' pleaded the prisoner.
I'm sure he will get into trouble. Take
ne to court"
Murphy took the prisoner over TO the
curt and McGovern came down from the
last Si%xty-seventh street station. Tho
vas discharged by Magiitrate
ROBBERS IN 4 CEMETERY.
hey Steal Several Hundred Brass Name