The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-02-17
POLICE BOARD
ENLISTS WITH
MIDNIGHT SONS
Commissioners Take A Peep In
to The Gay Life of The
City They're
Satisfied
Judson Lodges Complaint
Against Arnold, Whose Lips
Are Officially Sealed--New
Policeman

AS a sequel of a meeting of the
police commissioners on Saturday
night when superintendent of Police
Eugene Birmingham explained in de-
tail his orders to captains and SER
geants respecting reports Of and
raids upon disorderly places in their
district, the honorable BOARD said,
Let us see the town. and according
to reports they did. 1t is recorded
that led by President George S. Hin
they first entered the Hotel Atlas. the
scene of a. recent disturbance, where
after being seated for a period OF
twenty minutes, partafzing of the hos
pitelity and listening to the music.
they quietly withdrew and without
warning passed through the lower
corridors Of the Hotel Royal, where
spected those who came and went.
Later they visited ali tina more i'm
portant hotels, cafes and grill rooms
So quietly was their pilgrimage
made that in one event the proprietor
of the place WAS unaware OF their
presence for five minutes after en-
Questioned as to the result OF the
inspection tour, Commissioner Lou P.
Bristol Tntimated to a reporter of The
to be taken as going over the heads
of the police but was merely done to
with conditions as they existed in the
city at present. He said that while
only the better places had been v6siI-
ed, he personally had not seen any,
young men or women being served
who appeared to be under the legal
age, and expressed himself as salts
fed that the letter OF the law is be
ing lived I'D to.
That the commissioners will here
after take a more active interest in
police matters became apparent last
Der was noted as quite frequent at
headquarters. On Sunday night Supt
Birmingham and the commissioner
appeared before an outgoing squad
and after inspection the superintend-
emit ordered each man to produce his
revolver. This was done with much
difficulty in some instances the revolt
veTe sticking to the hip pockets
Commissioner Bristol remarked that
the hip pocket was an unhandy place
to keep a weapon. and Supt- Birming-
ham asked for an expression OF opin-
ion from the men as to whether in
their judgment it would not be better
to have their guns in a. more con-
venient place. Some said it would,
and Commissioners Bristol remarked
that a minute more or less In defend
ing themselves might result in their
death when graphing with a deperate
character. He advocated a change Of
position and at the suggestion of Supt.
Birmingham orders wilr likely result
in specially lined pockets being made
in the left side of the coat.
1t is expected around headquarters
that the stand taken by the police
A1Oe1u Will result III written reports De-
ing made upon every place in Bridge
port where vice is even suspected, and
that the activities of the police botard
will not end in Saturday nights tour,
but will be continued until they have
complete knowledge of conditions as
they exist in the haurts OF the mid
night sons in the brightly lighted dis
trict.
It was announced at Saturdays
meeting that States Attorney Stiles
Judson had preferred charges against
Capt. George Arnold, resulting from
an alleged conflict between the detec-
tive bureau and the state police de-
partment. A letter. from Attorney
Judson critioising the captain was
given out for publication by the Po-
lice Commissioners preliminary to an
indefinitely postponed hearing. Cap
tain was barred from refuting the
charges by an order issued by the
Board to Supt. Birmingham prohibit
ing any officer of the department dis
cussing through the press department
tai controversies or discipline This
action Of the board in twice allowing
publication of advance charges
against officer without permitting
him an opportunity of reputation is
and discussion among the personnel of
the department.
Joseph p Collins, 81 CORTLAND st.
was appointed a new policeman bv
nomination Of Commissioner Bristol.
The new member, "a years old mar
rfed, has for some time been a rail-
road policeman He is a fine specf-
men Of manhood. His endorsers are:
Charles Dennis, John F. Keane, F. M
Turkey. NJ. D., E. o. Tu11, l. B. Nick
erson. He will go duty March l.