The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-06-26
Do Policemen Lack Sentiment :?
Tacoma Captain Modestly Sfnashes Theory

Does a policeman possess vir.
tues?
Is he human, just like you and
i, with the same sense of justice
and love for humanity?
Or is he the horrible bugabOo
that children hide from and
grown persons sneer at--caustic,
cOld-blooded, brutaI2
How often does the ordinary
reader of daily newspaper learn
of the possible virtues of the
men who are sworn to preserve
the peace? How often do You
stop to think that, while all the
graft and corruption is sweeping
the large police departments of
the country, there are men among
these uniformed servants who are
just as kind and thoughtful as
the rest of US?
One reads of the crimes that
men commit, but scarcely ever of
the good that they do.
Here's little story that Oc-
Cured yesterday I'm Tacoma. 1t
is true. 1t is alive with human
sentiment. IL shows that police
officers have the same sense of
justice that you or 1 possess.
A poor, Woodworking laborer in
Southwestern Washington was
forced to the depths of near
starvation two years ago through
illness and bad luck. His wife,
depressed and worried, brooded
over her condition until she be-
came insane. She was taken to
Fort Steilacoom.
For two years the husband la
bored to keep his little home in
tact, hoping that his wife would
be able to join him some day.
Last week he learned that she
was practically recovered and
could leave the institution within
a few days.
The laborer came to Tacoma.
He had borrowed $40 to make the
trip and to take his wife home
again.
Tuesday night he took a room
in cheap lodging house on Pa
cific avenue. His frugal mind
and straitened condition would
permit nothing better.
He woke yesterday morning,
dazed and Supplied. Fumes of
chloroform were in the room. His
trousers pocket had been ripped
with a sharp knife and every cent
OF the borrowed money was gone!
Notwithstanding with the
terrible turn of affairs, he STUN
bled to the central station. Num-
bling incoherently, he told his en-
tire story to Captain John Fitz-
gerald of the detective depart
ment. He had been robbed
drugged-deprived of the only
money that he had in the world
prevented from taking his wife
back to that little cottage that
he had labored for.
Capt. Fitzgerald considered the
case. Then he ordered the pro-
prietress of the lodging house be-
fore him. He had absolutely no
evidence. He was working on a
bare suspicion. But he wanted
to recover the laborer's small
horde.
The woman protested, denied,
and threatened. She knew moth
ing of the theft. She would
cause trouble for the department.
Calmly working his little bluff.
the captain caused a warrant to
be issued, and took the woman be-
fore prison bars. She broke down
in tears. Still denying her guilt,
she offered to make good" the
amount of the theft. She did.
Yesterday afternoon the labor
er removed his wife from the
asylum and started home, after
tearfully thanking Capt. Fitzger-
aid for his services. The woman,
humbly thankful for her escape
from Jail, went back to her lodg-
ing house.
Il was morally certain that she
got the money, but there was no
proof" said Capt. Fitzgerald,
afterwards. Then he added, with
quiet smile: did I do right :?
Maybe l did, and maybe
didn't. l could not have convict
ed the woman. Even if / could, 1t
would not have gotten the man S
money back again. The woman
has had her lesson, and she was
glad to pay for it,