New-York tribune., 1912-02-01
POLICE FORCE IN DISGRACE
All MetuChen, N. J., Laughs at
His Discontinue.
CHIEF POWDERS PUNISHMENT
Three Men Who Seek Lodging
and Are Starved and Frozen in
Lookup Take First Freight.

Metuchen y. j., Jan. 81 (SpeciaD.-Half
the population Of this town stood in a wide
circle about the village Jail to-day, dis
cUssing the great jail delivery. "Lynx-Eyed
Enos" Foruatt, former Chief Of Police, was
there; so too, was Smiling Paddy" IIoran,
Metuchens former lone patrolman. And
these two seemed to be hiariously happy
over something. Between the almost con-
slant pattcr Of tobacco juice that they
showered over the surrounding snow they
exchanged knowing winks and smirks.
Wonder If Hutch treats them birds he
fattens up every Christmas that way?
Mighty poor picidn' they'd hc. I'm think
in quoth Paddy the tx-cop, as he
dcftly tossed a Chaw OF cut plug from the
right to the left side of his mouth.
Seems to me, not that l got anything
agin' the lad" said Lynx Eyed Enos,"
that Hutch might better tie a bit O.
string araound his finger next tine he has
a lodgcr in the lockup-p'rhaps thatn kind
o. remind him of his dootes; not ihat
sot any kick comm"
The other villagers, who knew of the ex-
cecding jealousy existing between Enos
Foruatt and Horan, erstwhile police force
Of this village, on the one hand and
Charley" Hutchinson, ratrolman and
Jim Flaherty. chief, present incumbents
OF the Offices on the other, giggled and
gufrawed at this exhibition of side splitting
Wit. Then the whole story had to be told
all over again.
Overcome by Badges Rays.
According TO certain insatiate gossps of
Motuchen. Patrolman Hutchinson was
walking down Main street last Sunday af-
ternoon, cross-cyed from his efforts to catch
the glcam Of his new police badge when he
was approached by three Young men. The
strangers were fairly well dressed. but
Hutchinson looked upon them with the sus-
picion of patrolman who has held office
since the first day Of January 1872
Was he not sworn. by the CLINT from his
bright new badge, TO protect the citizens OF
Metuchcn from all dangerous persons and
10 preserve peace in the township Of
Metuchcn so help me-? lie was There
fore, Hutchinson removed his shiny club
from its holster and CrCled about the
strangers with a hostile look
When they explained that they wanted
nights lodging, nothing more Hutchinson
was fabhorgastcd. Surely fortune was
playing into his hands Here ne had only
been in Office less than a month and he
had three prisoners for the town Jail. No
more would Paddy" Horan. whom he had
succeeded in office, he able 10 smirk and
Grimace when Hutchinson paradcd past the
general store. Paddy" had never been in
charge of three prisoners during his entire
term OF office, Hutchinson sworc
Bows Charges Into Jail.
He looked up and down the length OF
Main street, but none was there 10 see his
triumph. However. the prisoners We're his,
the honors belonged to him. Hutchinson
escorted the three strangers down a back
street TO the town jail. He almost touched
the ground with his forehead rs he bowed
them within. He doffed his cap every time
he spoke to them. and when they told him
their pedisrees he wrote them down with
nourishing hand on the fail botter.
John Arrow and William Belcher. Of
Baltimore, being townsmen. Hutchinson put
in the left wing Of tho Jail. David Car
none. hailing from Chester Penn. was
escorted to the other wing IN the memory
Of the Oldest inhabitant guests OF Me
tuchen's ian have never asked for bedding
in the three cells. This saved much en-
farrassment, because there was none TO be
had Therefore. Hutchinson left his prizes
70 themselves with a light heart
There are so many duties attached to
the office OF the police force Of Mctuchen
that Hutchinson was kept on the run con-
tinuously. On Sunday night he had TO
stand guard at the church door and see
that Metuchen worshpped in proper fash
ion. on Monday he had TO be at the VII
lage pond, Of course. 70 see that tho boys
and girls conformed TO the law when they
skate, and yesterday-well, yesterday
that new badge had to be polished up and
the spots taken out Of the uniform. A
man certainly earned his keep as an officer
of the law in MetuChen.
This afternoon George Bennett. the town
plumber walked past the jail on his way
TO dinner. lie stopped when he heard
f,roans and laments coming from the lock-
up. He was sure "Charley' Hutchinson
was suffering from a stomach ache. and
so he ran TO the door and listened. |
He was startled to hear cries for help and
weak demands that the door be opened |