Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-08
A Traffic Officers Experience With Men Who
 Should Do Better
AN REQUIRING WOMAN
Newsgatherers Perexities-Eveybody Polite, With One Exception, but Reserved-The Enquirer Might Have Been Silent Instead of hsolent-The Facts Were Work ed Out at Last.

Policeman John Hogan, New Londoner by birth. and allifelong resi- dent by choice, is the traffic officer. at the corner of Bank and State Streets which is the busiest and most con- gested section of the city. He is a competent and extremely. courteous officer, and serves the public faithful ly and well, but Jack" Hogan has his troubles during his regular tour of duty, and it is we'll that he possesses such a genial disposition and makes due allowance of the vagaries of man. kind.
 Last Sunday afternoon while auto mobiles were rushing along in almost continuous lines In both directions and trolley cars were arriving and depart ing from the State street terminal a woman walked to the middle of the street where the officer was stationed and asked which car to take to the cemetery.
 Jack" informed the woman that there were three cemeteries-the Jor- dan, St. Mary's, and Cedar Grove
 She was directed to the proper car when she designated Cedar Grove, but made no move in that direction. The vehicular traffic seemed to increase but the woman did not move, although the officer touched her arm gently and pressed in the direction of the side walk. but she did not move Finally Jack" realizing he was neglecting his duty by giving so much attention to the woman, firmly but politely said:
 My good woman. unless you get out of here and on to the sidewalk you are liable to take a trip to Cedar Grove in a hearse instead of a trolley car"
 The woman hurried to the sidewalk, stood on the curbing and laughed. So did "Jack" laugh.
 With a Thank you. Mir Officer" the woman said: That joke is not so bad" and hurried away just in time to catch the car that runs to the cem- etery.
 Jack had hardly assumed his GUS tomary composure when along came group of four automobiles, two foreign and two locally owned The two for eigners took the long sweep and pro- ceeded up along on the right side of State street while the two local ma chimes cut the corner short and went up on the left side of the street. in di- rect violation of the traffic law, which led Jack" to remark:
 What do you know about that? Say. wouldn't there be a howl if haled that pair of gentlemen into the police court? Did you notice that one of them was doctor and the other a furniture dealer. but with no under taking business attached? Both are familiar with the traffic rules. but they seem to imagine,as do many oth- CT New Londoners. that they are priv ileged characters, but some day they Il find they are mistaken. The drivers of locally owned automobiles give me more trouble than all the others com bined.
 Jack" said it was nice to be the kr.f ,ffr sK, ka k..@ e., ss teaches one alertness and gives no time to consider one trials and tribu- lations outside of the business life in which one Is engaged.
 Yes, I like the job. because it was the best I could get" said he, but just as soon as the Plant building is erected no more police business for me"
 Not long ago Leonard Saunders of fered me the position. not the job of superintendent of the building, and with more pay than is given for po- lice work. Say. l accepted so quickly that Mir Saunders couldn't reply for ' a minute or two, and then all he could say was the place is mine and that no others need apply"
 The traffic officer has his troubles, ! and so does the news-gatherer once or twice in a lifetime, at least. Here is little instance that happened the present week. Last Tuesday afternoon Engineer Charles Vars of the shore Line express bound to New York was injured fatally while riding in the cab. and died before reaching the hospital as told in the Westerly news in The Bulletin on Thursday morning. When the train arrived at Westerly. the first stop from the scene of the fatal ity, passenger gave the information that the engineer of the train had I aw-G. news -gatherer boarded the train and asked the rear-end trainman for in- formation regaring the matter The trainman gave the name of the engi- neer, but he said he knew of no de- tails as he went to the rear when the as required Dv regulations. but sug- gested inquiry of the middle traln- man.
 That gentleman knew nothing of how the fatal injuries were received but told of the nature of the wounds, adding that the engineer was proba bly, leaning out of the cab window and was struck by the obstruction. Then along came the conductor. He. too said he knew nothing of the details, but presumed that MT. Vars was struck by the arm of one of those mail catchers. as the wounds indicate ed something of that kind. He gave the information that an engineer who had been a passenger on the train was in the cab and would take the train to New London. but that he did not know his name.
 At New London the station agent was questioned. He gave the name of the substitute engineer and also the name of the engineer that was to re- lieve him and take the train to New York. He also gave the information that Engineer Vars had died before he reached the hospital. but he had re- ceived no details. The station masGer did not know the name of the fireman. but said he was on the engine. and suggested that the news -gatheger see him and get the retails. as he was the only man in the cab with the engineer when the injury was received. Of hurried the news grtherer to the head of the long train. anticipating a com prehensive interview with the fire man. As soon as the attention of the fireman could be had he was first asked for his name. and with this re- suit.
 Whats my name? What's that to you? What do you went to know for? :? Who are you? I'm not giving away my name-it's a bad name and you don't want 1t.
 The humble newsgstherer in expla nation said he was reporter and