The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-21
HUNTING BURGLARS
BY ELLIS c. HoLLUMs.

Since the recent edict of the city fathers
placing the patrolmen on 12-hour shifts
there has been some complaint on the
part of officers that they could not find
time to sleep. The policeman gets to his
home by II 80 at night, and if he has made
an arrest is compelled to attend police
court the next morning at $3.50 o'clock. For
this reason patrolmen object seriously to
being called out of bed unless 1t is a mat
ter of urgent necessity. A tired, sleepy
patrolman was routed from his bed at
u 80 o'clock Wednesday night and there
by hangs-a tale.
1t seems that this policeman lives in
the eastern section of the city. He
reached his home about IL 20 and hurried
to bed, for he had to attend recorders s
court Thursday morning and wanted to
sleep as much as possible. He fell asleep
quickly but gradually it seemed that he
heard u ringing in his ears. He was in
a half-aseep condition when he arose to
answer the telephone. and the excited
voice of near neighbor greeted him.
This gentleman told him that burglars
were in his chicken house and asked that
Ht NOiiit ONti
Muttering imprecations, the officer slow
ly and painfully drew on his shoes, threw
his overcoat about his shoulders, took
his revolver and left. He was met at the
front door by two grown sons of the
neighbor, either of whom was larger than
the officer. They were both heavily armed
and escorted the policeman to the back of
the house. 1t was dark as the ace of
spades and the policeman had neglected
to bring his fiashight along. He lighted
a match, however, and found that the
men had taken him to the kitchen, and
that they were standing at an open win
dow overlooking the chicken house. He
asked them why they had brought him to
the window, saying that he did not want
to look at the burglars-Awantedt to catch
them.
The two men appeared surprised that he
wanted to invade the chicken yard while
'it was full of robbers but they timidly
opened the back door, handed the officer
match and covered behind the door
while he departed to do battle with the
thieves. He approached the chicken house
with eatlke tread, jerl<ed the door open
and lighted match at the same. time.
He flashed the light inside the building
but could see nothing. He called out to
the brave fellows awaiting his return from
the field of battle and told them that the
burglars had fled Upon hearing this
the officers neighbors became bold as
lions and came out to the chicken yard.
One of the ladies of the house came out
also and began to look over the scene.
One of the men said he was sure he had
seen man and was also perfectly sure
the thief had not left the premises. The
officer then proceeded to look around, and
finally discovered hen with the marks of
a nanimal's teeth on its throat. He an
nounced this discovery and the brothers
hurried to him and examined the hen.
Suddenly upon the still night air a
woman's scream rang out. The three
men were startled and ran full tilt toward
the chicken house, where they had left the,
lady She screamed again and pointed to
the rafters match was lighted and in
the fitful glare the men saw hanging
above them the form of a particularly
juicy specimen of that animal made FAM
Gus by ex-President Taft-the opossum