New-York tribune., 1912-01-03
MRS. CROSBY GETS BADGE
Sheriff Pins It on Lawyers Wife,
Making Her His Deputy.
MRS. MACKAY DECLINES
Widow of Justice Truax Seeks
and Will Get Appointment
Hamburger Has Busy Day.

The business year OF 1912 opened most
auspiciously yesterday for Sheriff Harbur-
ger, who took Office on Monday. Being
the beginning of a leap year. there was
no end OF proposals from women-that IS
to say, the doughty new county official re-
ceived word from many believers In the
equality of sexes in answer to his an
ncuncement published in The Tribune on
Monday last that he was going to appoint
o number of women special deputy sher-
IFS.
Most Of the communica tons that Sherln
Hamburger received yesterday in regard to
his suggestion-and no one had time 10
keep track Of their pumber-were from
women who have In some way been iden-
titled with the movement for woman SUI
frage.
II one would overlook the stature or the
Sheriff he might he referred TO as Verila-
BILE Spartacus, for he met in the puphc
arena yesterday the keenest minds that the
womanhood of New York could produce
and never once lowered his arms. AS ne
said when the clock struck four, marking
tie end Of the official day land some sllght
liberty IS taken with the words OF the MOD
cJn gladiator. but their purport is herel:
You call me busy, and well do you 70 can
him busy who for seven long hours mas
sat here and met the onslaught. Ana
when II was all over Mr. Harburger looked
for all the world like a man who wouId
like TO gain the mountain passes-and II
Ire got there the chances are that he would
fcbt some more for the promotion Of the
cause OF woman.
Ior
caught like wildhre. and the result was
keen race among several women to be the
first TO be designated. First II looked as
II a woman reporter on an evening news
paper would have the honor; then the
glory looked to be safe in the hands OF
Sfrs. Caroline Truax, widow OF JUS
tice Charles II. Truax, Of the Supreme
Court, who by mail signiied her willing
ness to take the job. Later there doomed
up for first honor one Miss Cornella
Swinnerton. a nurse and member OF the
Woman Suffrage party.
The First Woman Deputy.
Tho first woman to have the cute lit
tie gold badge pinned on her was Mrs
John S. Crosby president OF the Woman
Democratic club and wife Of q we'll known
lawyer and single taxer. VINO once was a
rand. late for Justice OF the Supreme Court
on the Independent Labor ticket However,
Mrs Crosby Is not such radical adVo-
cate for the equal rights Of women. FOR she
said that while her own name was Berue
NJ. Crosby, she still thought her husband
name was good enough, and preferred TO
be known By H. SO there is still hope for
man.
Mrs. Crosby was not quite sure about the
duties she would be called on to perform,
but she meant to study the situation and
she felt sure there was plenty Of work In
this town for woman special deputy
sheriff (read tho remarks of Magistrate
Corrigan about the wide open town.
OF all the women mentioned for the Jobs
which Sheriff Hamburger is going to fill
only one sent her declination TO serve.
Mrs. Katherine Mackay. wife OF Clarence
II. Mackay. sent the following dispatch to
The Tribune yesterday:
Phase convey my thanks to Sheriff Har-
burger for the courtesy OF hts suggestion
and my regrets that | am unable TO accept
his appointment
The humorists and comic picture men
have been supplied with a brand new and
valuable material for their work by Sheriff
Hamburger, but he does not want this thing
| treated as a Joke. He is in dead earnest.
You can go to the Waldorf or TO the
East Side, or any other side OF the city,
where you think you can do some good, "
he told Miss swinnerton. II think that
women can much better take care OF the
morals OF New York than men. You can
go into dance places where all is not just
as II ought to be. and | am sure tho city
will benefit by your observations. lou
can make arrests yourself. or call a police
man 10 do It. In some sections OF the
city there Is a field for such work"
Miss Swinnerton, greatly interested, asked
this hypothetical question: Suppose was
going through Ludlow street. and saw
a lot OF boys makins r tire-could l arrest
those boys, or would have TO call po-
Iceman; and IL I called a policeman would
have 10 go 10 tho station house to make
complaint, just like an ordinary citizenF
''You could call the attention of the po-
liceman and let him make the complaint
or make the arrest yourself" answered
the Sheriff Then Mr.. Harburger continued
10 tell about the moral effect of that "dar-
ling little badge that can be cleaned so
easily with the same polish Used on the
Kitchen tinware.
Hamburger on Badges.
"When ! was Coroner I was called out
one morning at o'clock. y crime had
been committed in Cherry street, which 1T
that time was a rather tough place. Nheh
got there my way was blocked by gang
OF rufflans; I was alone; ! drew back my
coat, showed my badge. and said: 1 am
tho Coroner The crowd dispersed, and
the men showed me 10 the place | wanted
70. go to- The telephone bell here IN
terrupted the Sheriff Hello! Yes. on
how arc Won. Mr.. Comstock? Yes you can
come right over
Mics Swinnerton wanted 20 know whether
he would be under the control OF the Po-
I,ce Commissioner or of the Sheriff. He
soon straightened her out on that point,
opd continued Now, for instance, II there
should be a riot, it might be necessary for
YOU 70 90 armed with club or a revolver.
No am not speaking jocosely now; such
are the contingencies OF the Joo that you
are willing to undertake
The applicant asked sor copy or the la"
that defined the duties OF the special dep
uty sheriffs, which was not on hand. she
then left the office to think the matter
over, Also she will think over the SlOc"
bond that the Sheriff demands from each
special deputy, so, as he explained II any
one of them commits an overt act ne VIII
no indemnIded. because he will be respons-
bic for the official acts of every one OF them'
Anthony Comstock, OF the Society for
the Suppression OF Vice, dropped in about