Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-30

: One of the patrelmen telephoned at
once to police headquarters, and re-
quested that Police Surgeon j Hem
ry Clark be summoned at once. as the
chief had tainted.
Chiefs Son. on Duty. Gets News.
Plainclothesman Harry Corbitt. .
son of Chief Corbitt, was on duty at
headquarters when the call was re-
ceived. With Lieutenant Patrick
Ryan the son jumped into the chiefs
automobile and sped to the home Of
Dr. Clark, at II Walnut street. A rec
ord run was made TO the postofiice.
but when DR.. Clark arrived the chief
had expired Death had been caused
by a cerebral hemorrhage
A few minutes before Chief Corbift
was stricken he saw a large brew
cry truck in Academy street which
was held up by the thre1g which
gathered to witness the Decoration
Day parade.
Let that wagon tfro1sn fha.
+, crowd y yelled the chief to Sergeant
James D. Fitch, who was standing
nearby. 1T VIII be some minutes be-
fore the parade starts and he has
time to get out of the way. There's
no use in holding him up there all
during the parade.
When he saw his order carried out
the chief swung his horse directly in
front of the Postoffice. on Broad
street. and the officials near him
waited for him to give the word
which would start the pageant on It's
way II was then that the police
chief swooned on his horse.
Before the police had started 70
clear Broad street for the parade,
Chief Corbitt mounted his horse and
took charge of the situation. Mounted
Patrolman Thomas McEvoy, Of the
First precinct. who has always acted
as aide TO the chief on similar occa-
slons, rode up to his superior and
inquired how he felt.
Il Feel Pretty Good" He said.
"Oh. 7 feel pretty good" answered
the chief in a CHEEKY tone Only l
have had just a little attack Of indi-
gestion this morning"
The chief then expressed some con-
Germ as 10 getting the large crowd
IN order before the parade started.
Mounted Patrolman McEvoy told the
chief that there was no occasion 70
worry about the crowd. as the police
would soon have them back from the
line of march. The aide admonished
his chief to take things easy. as u
/ be on hand 10 run any errands Won
want done"
| The fatal attack which came upon
Chief Corbitt occurred SO suddenly
that the hundreds of officers and po-
lieemen. who had seen him but
few moments before apparently n
/ the best Of health. were durnfounoed.
The tragic event cast a gloom over
the entire police brigade which took
part in the parade, anu the men dld
not respond with their charaeteris-
! tic alertness when the order Tor
ward. march," was given.
Last Rites of Church Administers
When Chief Corbitt was carried
into the poetoffice building the Rev.
rather Fidelis, assistant pastor Of st.
Johns r. c. Church. was summoned
and administered the last rites OF the
! church to the dying man.
As the chief was a Civil War
veteran, he will be buried with all
military and police honors. Before
an announcement of the funeral ar
rangements is made the police COM
nissioners will consult the members
of the family as 10 their wishes. The
| funeral will probably be held Mon
1 day, with services at ST. Johns
| Church.
Before leaving police headuartsrs
to enter the automobile Chief Corbift
announced that he would not use the
| machine for this parade. Hisherto
he had always used the Department.
i automobile while supervising public
parades.
I want TO ride a horse in this
parade he told his colleagues, be-
| cause 1t may be the last Memorial
Day parade I'll ride in as chief q
police
The officers present ridicuied this
remark, but his words were recalled
with startling vividness by his death.
which occurred about half ar hour
| later
i Chief Corbitt's horse. swinging the
empty saddle. tragically vacated =
few minutes before. was led by an
| other mounted patrolman at the head
OF the parade.
II was the first time since the Me-
mortal Day parade Of 1912 that Chief
Corbitt had ridden on horseback.
when Harry corbitt. the chiefs
son. was notified BY the dootor that
! his father was beyond medical aid,
! <.s..... =. n. - = es.s....... .