Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-14
SERGEANT ]. Il. KERsE
STRICKEN IN station
Suffers Stroke Of Paralysis Few
Minutes After Morning Relief
Takes Its Departure.
NEWS INTERRUPTS MASS
Stricken Man Has Been Popular
Member of Force for Many. Years,
and Has Taken Part I'm Many
Noted Arrests.

Police-Sergeant J. H. Kerse. desk
sergeant at the Second Precinct Sta
ton, was early yesterday morning
stricken with an attack OF paralysis
while at his desk Mt the station house.
Policemen Brennan. Clarke and Thur
man were In the room at the time, and
caught Sergeant Kerse before he fell
to the floor. He was carried into Cap
tain Epps's office and placed on n couch
while physicians were summoned. 1t
was said at Sergeant Kerse's residence,
2612 East Grace Street, last night,
that his left side, from the waist up,
had been paralyzed. but that his ply
sicians thought he was doing as well
as could be expected.
Sergeant Kerse had been unwell for
several days, according to policemen
at the station house last night. He
had several times found difficulty In
using his left hand within tho last
few days, and his heart had been CIV
ing him trouble. His son. Thomas p.
! kerse, chauffeur of the Second Pre-
cinct patrol, had noticed 1t and had
remarked on the fact, but Sergeant
Kerse made no complaint and contin-
ued his work.
! COLLAPSED JUST AFTER
RELIEF HAD LEFT STATION
Yesterday morning 1t was evident to
members of the early relief that the
| sergeant was Ill, and several of them
| advised that he return to his home.
However, he refused and succeeded in
going through the formalities of send
Ing out the relief at O'CLOCK. The
men had hardly left the station house
when Policeman Brennan noticed that
! Sergeant Kerse was very pale. and ad-
vised him at least to lie down for a
| time. 1t Is evident that the sergeant
| inf dot f0r =, p Iy
chair. He was unable to take a step.
though, and would have collapsed to
| the floor but for the fact that the po-
licemen nearby caught him.
DR.. M. l.. Anderson, his family ply
| sician, and DR.. w. T. Oppenhimer. sur
geon to the police force. were at once
notified and arrived at the station in
| n few minutes. Sergeant Kerse was
taken to his home In DR.. Anderson's
| automobile and given every possible
assistance.
Father o'Brennan. Of ST. Patrick's
Catholic Church, was notified of Ser
| geant Kerse's illness while preaching
! at mass yesterday morning. He i'm
| mediately Informed his congregation
that he had received a sick call and
departed for the sergeant's home. It
was said last night, however, that at
would not permit of any one seeing
| him, and Father OBrennan delayed his
visit to the sickroom until later.
EFFICIENT OFFICER AND
| 'sss POPULAR THROUGHOCT CITY
Sergeant Kerse is one of the best
known and most popular men on the
police force. He Is ffty-six years old,
| having been born In this city on March
20, 1858 He was educated attSt Mary's
School, under Professor Tegethall, the
well-known educator. and later was In
terested in his fathers Wholesale and
retail mercantile business. He became
member of the police force in July,
1882. and was promoted to a sergcantcy
In 1898. He has been at the Second
Station for eleven years.
The sergeant has been most active
in fostering plans for the Improvement
of the various police organizations, and
has also taken part in many OF the
moro important arrests made here in
recent years. He Is regarded as n
thoroughly efficient officer. and is pop
ular throughout the city.