The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-14
Brutal Theft Of Fairylike
Blooms From City Hall Bed
Still Unsolved.
GUARDIAN COPS CHIDED
81 Don't Believe Old Flowers
Amounted to Much" One
Mutters Rebelliously.

"knt ot April ~ with the tulips OF
Mtchaelo Rufus, those radiant dariings
OF his Honor's heart that nodded 90
friendly to him Of mornings when the
sun cAressed his curls at the open win
dow Of the City Hall once, failed utterly
and absolutely yesterday. Even though
the inquiry was most ruthlessly pur-
sued By q noted tulipist. Deputy Police
Commissioner John A Leach, a skilled
ana cunning cultivator OF Tulipa Ges-
neriara. the outcome was futile and dis
courasing~-a mere blah.
1t 10 true that when the stern cues
toniny OF the Tulip Guards. Mulhall and
weintraub, . police pair especially So
lected by Michaelo Rufus to guard with
their very lives the lovely blooms that
so inspired his Honor to sweat and pant
In the interests OF the Plain People, was
ended. q suspicion remained which was
as palpable az an odor. For the theft
OF tho tulips could have been perpetrated
by none other than the Interests, doubt
less the Moneybund working through the
Citizen's Union and goaded to scoundrel-
Ism by the Interbofoush. Who else. In
deed. as they were asking at the City
Hall last night knew 30 shrewdly how to
strike his Honor's ventricles2 Even 20.
the conclusion was reached at an admin
istration conference which lasted until
the late afternoon yesterday that per-
haps nothing can be done to punish the
damnable rascals. for the Moneybund
knows how TO cover its hoof tracks even
IN a tulip bed.
Vain Search for Clues.
with some hope, however, of getting
at least a lead. a something perhaps
intangible, which the whole band of
sleuths at Police Headquarters long
straining at their leash could follow,
the Tulip Guards. unfortunate men op-
pressed by fate. were hailed before Com
missioner Leach in Il police trial at
headquarters yesterday morning They
were to have been tried O week ago,
but Weintraub sent word that he had n
headache and 50 the case had to be put
OF. Yesterday. though. they were ar
raigned on charges preferred by their
captain. Maurice Harmon, that they
failed TO discover, prevent or report the
theft OF 1eo red. variegated and yellow
tulips. all dear to his Honor, every
single darling tulipa of the lot.
Harmon. their Elizabeth street station
boss, gave testimony with becoming in
dignation that at A. NJ. on the morn
Ing OF April 30. while making round
OF his precinct, he strolled through City
Hall Park and paused under Michaelo
Rufuss office window Gas has been his
won't for weeks) to note II the darling
tulips had closed their little eyes in
restful slumber.
And. by heavensr exclaimed Maui
rice. they were gone They had been
snatched right out OF their bed :"
Judge Leach shuddered visibly, for
the picture called UP was horrid for the
mind Of a great tulipist to entertain.
He turned grimly to the two policemen,
What had they to say?
BLAMED little," confessed Guard Mul.
hall. They were asleep and snoring
when I lamped 'em about midnight.
didn't make a roll call because 1 didn't
want to wake UP the little dears and
then went on about my business trying
to be q cop"
Mr.. Mulhall mumbled slightly toward
the end OF his speech and the trial Judge
asked him sharply what he was saying.
Well, I don't believe the old tulips
amounted to much anyway. II you ask
me-" he replied. "One of the City Hall
gardeners, who IL a bear when II comes
IN raising tulips. told me the darned
things were frozen and that most OF
them would have to be thrown into the
ash can"
Here. obviously. was heresy. lese
majestic at the least. and the trial Judge
REDEEMED with proper feeling.
Don't try to tell me anything about
tulips, my man. he rebuked. II know
all there Is TO know about tulips
have grown 100000 OF them a year"
That's about all there was to the
trial. Weintraub agreeing with Mulhall
that Charley Ross abduction had
nothing on Michaelo RufuSs tulips for
out and out mystery. and neither be.
Ing able to OFFER even a theory Com
missioner Leach reserved decision.
His Life shorn OF Hope,
The administration conference held
! In the afternoon was called, it was un.
derstood. by the City Hall Reporter.
Association to discuss the restoration
OF the denuded tulip bed. Now thai
Rod Tulip Declaration of Love), Varie.
gated Tulip beautiful Eyes) and Vel.
low Tulip (Hopeless Love- have oni,
the Hylan administration, what is his
Honor going to do when he desires "a
| consult the dictates of his Unborn
estheticism In communicating witt
MI Hearst and Mr.. Murphy. or with
Mr. Shonts and Mr.. SchiefteiinP
With his own hands formerly ii,
| could pluck ever so gently a red tulir
for Hearst, perhaps including a varie
gated tulip in the boutonniere: and fol
Mr.. Murphy there was always ayailabl.
| the eloquent yellows: but with these ABB
\ stracted by the Interests what indeed
was to be done?
II the City Hall Reporters Associa.
ton has the facts straight, It was de
cided TO replace the lost tulIps with
| mouse cared chickweed. belladonna. &c,
plants, jasmine and anemone. In hi,
own lapel he will be able to wear IN,
mouse cared chickweed. which stands
as all women and some men know. 10,
| ingenious simplicity. When he desire,
to reprove the press for biatantiy pub
fishing accounts OF crime to the encour
| agement OF hesitating young criminal,
he need write no letters. for the bella
donna ISilence. hush u win serve tn,
| public purpose.
Replacing tho red tulip in floral greet
ings to Mr.. Hearst, he will employ III,
Jasmine flower. which signifies, "I at
tach myself to you." or in days to com,
he could. II need arose. despatch al
anemone or two with the silent plain
"Forsaken-" And for Mr.. Murphy O
! Tammany will remain. instead of yellow
tulips. the ice plant. which would meaI
in that case. Dear Charley. your look
| freeze me-"
wickedly carried through by the Money
bund (and doubtless, as one NAV re-
| peat. with the connivance Of the Cit,
I Union) there remains charming mate
nal not only for the delectation O
Michaelo Rufus OF sunny mornings. bu
for the subtle and renned conyn,,,,ica