The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-07
CAPTAIN GEORGE
H. ARNOLD DIES;
FAMOUS OFFICER
He Was for 30 Years a Mem
Der of the Bridgeport
Police Force.
HIS STRENGTH MADE
HIM TERROR TO THUGS
Caught Jimmie Dobbs, No
torious Bank Thief and
Noted Criminals.

Captain George H. Arnold, for
nearly SO years a policeman for the
city of Bridgeport, and for more than
20 years head of its detective depart
ment died last night at his home, 976
Iranistan avenue, at the advanced, age
of 70 years. He retained his position
upon the pi1fice force until April,
1916, when he was retired upon half
pay.
Captain Arnold was one of the best
known policemen in the United
States. His record of service was
one of the longest, and cleanest of
any man in the country. His physical
strength, fearlessness, and acuteness
made him terror of evil doors.
Many of them who came to Bridge
port were CAPTURED by him and pun
ished for their transgressions.
Appointed to the police force in
Bridgeport December 5, 1859, one of
the IL men who constituted the first
real police force of the city, succeed
ing the might Watch" which pre-
vious to that time patrolled the
streets at night. He was made a ser
geant, and head of the detective
force in 1895, with the title of cap
tain, and made captain of detectives
March is, 1905. He retained that
office until his retirement in April,
1916.
During 20 years of his service as a
policeman, Arnold was detailed at the
railroad station and made many i'm
portant captures while on that duty.
T., IT, g.
all parts of the country.
Captain Arnold was born in Derby
Neck, now known as Derby, Septem-
Der Z, 1888. He was raised upon a
farm owned by his parents, and re-
ceived his education in the common
schools, leaving school when about
IA years old to work in an Ansenia
brass shop. Two years later he came
to Bridgeport with his uncle, Burger
Thompson, and worked at several
different occupations for time and
then went to New York where he
was a. driver on the Erie canal. He
returned to Bridgeport after about a
year.
On his return to Bridgeport Arnold
went to work for the City Bakery and
| Iearnd the bakers trade, He had
then attained his stature of feet 8
inches, was physically perfect and was
! considered one of the strongest men
in the city.
Arnold remained in the baking
business for a number of years When
the city had outgrown the might
| Watch as its police force was called,
it was decided to appoint a permanent
police force. This was done in De-
cember, 1859, and Arnold was one of
| the IL appointed at that time. His
| service was continuous until his re-
tirement in 1915. He was on night
duty at first, and part of the time
was mounted. His giant physique
made him respected by the turbulent
elements, and he seldom had any
| trouble in making an arrest.
Arnold was appointed Il detective
| sergeant with the title of captain in
| 1895, and it is in this connection that
| the present generation of Bridge
porters will remember him best. One
| of his first important captures was
that of Jimmie Dobbs, a bank burglar
| with an international reputation.
Another important case in which he
was concerned with Supt. Eugene
Birmingham and Capt. E. o. Cronan,
was the solving of the Nichols muir
der in which Bofnay and Weeks
were convicted and punished. The
Emma Gill case, in which Nancy
| Guilford was punishe'. Both of these
ceses, which took months in the solv-
ing, were famous throughout the
country.
In character Capt Arnold was one
of the kindest of men. He was gen
ia1, and sympathetic, treating even
the most hardened criminal with con-
sideration although not abating one
jot in the performance of his duty.
He was personal friend of every
| man in the department., and no pub
lie official of Bridgeport ever stood
higher in the confidence of the peo-
| pie.
Funeral services viii be held at
| o'clock Wednesday at his home in
Iraniston avenue. and interment will
be in Mountain Grove cemetery.