The Washington herald., 1911-03-26
JOHNSTON AS ''COP"
NABS SMALL BOY
Commissioner Uses Right to
Make Arrests.
SHOW BILLS LITTER STREETS
SwoopinE Down on Lad, Official
Carries Him in Automobile to Po-
lice .Headquarters and Allows Ma
chine to Occupy Reserved Space
on Fourteenth Street.

No person will be allowed to litter the
streets of Washington with show bills.
if Commissioner Johnston sees them first
To throw such newsy circulars about is
a violation of the police regulations.
This fact was made apparent yesterday
when. according to police officials. for the
first time in the history of the District.
a Commissioner exercised his power to
make arrests. Commissioner Johnston,
In an automobile, swooped down on little
John Murphy. ragged and dirty, who had
in his possession package OF show bills.
The lad when question said that he was
employed by Joe Dorney.
Rushed to Headquarters.
With the show bills in his possession,
| coupled with the fact that the lad was
employed by Joe Dorney. the Commission
er seemed to be satisfied. Jump in he
said and when the boy was settled in the
seat the car was headed for police head
quarters. Commissioner Johnston drew
his machine up in front of the Fourteenth
street entrance to the District Building.
The car was brought to a halt between
the two glaring white marks placed on
the curbing to warn drivers of vehicles
and owners of other devices for transpor-
tation that the space Is reserved and
must not be used for any purpose other
than a short stop. To leave an automo-
bile in this space is a violation of the
police regulations.
But Commission Johnston had a pris
oner-one who had grossly violated one
of the provisions specifically set out In
the police regulations. His automobile
was left standing between the two white
marks and he hurried the lad into the
office of Inspector Boardman. John de-
MED that he had distributed the circulars
on the streets Commissioner Johnston
said he had The situation stood this
way when Maj. Sylvester arrived on the
scene and took John in hand.
In the meantime. the Commissioner
automobile occupied the space in front
of the District Building. between the two
white marks. Watchmen in the building
and the police who enforce this particular
regulation were busy just at this time.
They failed to see the fragrant violation
OF the police regulations.
PromIses to BE Stir.
Should Johns case be brought up IN
the Police Court tomorrow morning
Commissioner Johnston will have to ap-
pear as witness. There will be an in
teresting scene in the court, according
should come to pass, as the press agent
for the burlesque show intimated that he
would invite all the chorus girls and
principals of the troupe TO attend the
hearing.
Shortly after Commissioner Johnston
left the building and ran his car from
the reserved space a messenger boy rode
his bike to the bing between the
two white lines and walked into the Dis
trict Building. In a moment a watch
man rushed from the building and ran
the the bicycle down the street outside
the glaring white mark
minute later Rev. Cotton Smith, rec
tor of St. Johns Church, drove his car
to the entrance and alighted without
thought of the regulation. Once more
the watchman rushed from the building
and with the aid of two big cops man.
aged to push the machine from the re-
served line. And SO the police regulations
of Washington are enforced.