Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-10
POLICEMAN PIERCE
WINS AGAINST ODDS
OF ELEVEN TO ONE
Held Detachment of Noisy Sol
diers Until Reiniorcements
Arrived.
PREVENTED LIQUOR SALE

you've Just got to take of your hat
to Policeman Harry Pierce, who does
constabulary duty for the good birghers
of Wilmington who inhabit the locahty
around Fourth and Walnut streets
Why? Well, last night he tackled, single
handed. bunch Of husky, vociicrouS
United States soldiers newly up from their
port of duty nj Pigeon Point and making
Pierces beat the stagc-scttlng Tor "A
whisky hunt and other things too
numerous to mention but all NOISE and
I'm disturbance of the peace. SINCE the
police department doesn't give war
crosses or distinguished service medals
the reporters in City Court must needs
hand Pierce down 10 fame Here goes.
Pierce was on his Job las, night, lew
minutes before the wItchIng hour at mid
night, when saloons close and thlrstS go
unuuenchcd until the next q a m hen
he heard a noise he dldn Ike "
cmanatcd from the intersection ct Fourth
and Walnut street. ThIthcr Pierce hot
footed It, to find eleven khakI-clad warriors
gathered therabouts and one Of them
handing over com Of the republic to 3
man in plain clothes That he might 20 TO
a saloon and stock up with turntables
for them
irctcd himself and his authority INTO the
bunch and then things began 70 happen.
according to Pierce. tho crowd dIsgorged
a civilian who objected to I'icrces inter-
ference and ordered him to release the
man he had grabbed Naturally. and
with emphasis. Pierce demanded TO know
the reason why tins individual was but
ting in The man swung a coat lapel
which let display a badge announcing the
wearcr to hc \ bethlehem Steel 90.
guard. Then. goes on Pierce, there was
a rnix-,lp. started by the guard making
a pass ~ him and falling rs Pierce duckcd.
Then some Of the soldiers took hand
and Pierce got a bump or 50 from them.
But lie hung on Meantime Policeman
Met iranary, who WAS in citizen 5 clothes,
ct far from him. and Policeman biey,
who also was nearby, got wind OF tho
rumpus and made all sail To get into 1t
and help their fellow policeman.
Nor were they any too soon, appar-
entity But when they arrived there was
nothing further doing 50 the soldiers
eleven OF them and the Bethlehem
Steel guard, were gwen ride to the
police station.
Tins morning there was q sort Of dress
parade Of the bunch In City Court before
deputy City Judge HeIlings. Pierce.
who's not big man by any means, acted
as sort Of field marshal, marching into
Court at the head Of his captives. The
man directly behind him was big enough
ialmost) to make two Plerces. The
civilian clad guard stood in the middle
Of the line ana all "rght-faced before
the court They answered to their names:
Walter Wilcoxson. James WhItlock, Clar-
cnce Brooks. Henry Humphrey Ice
Noble. Herman Hamthorn, Maurice
Taylor THE guard John Maddls, Ray
Kile. Harry Owens and Boyd ~attler
A rumbling OF Heres and Presents
went down the line as Clerk Coleman
read the names and all pleaded mot
guilty TO the charge Of disorderly con-
duct
Then the court was told that thesoldier's
commanding officer had asked that the
men be turned over TO him TO deal with,
and they right-faced again and marched
out Of court 10 await removal by Z guard
detachment from Pigeon Point
Not SO Taylor. however He the arm
Of the civil law death with Pierce told
his story. McGranary and Zeblcy theirs
And the job started by Pierce. Deputy
Judge Hellings finished up by imposing
$40 fine on Taylor