Evening journal., 1922-02-18
VETERAN COP IS
READY TOQUIT
Sewell D. Scott, Patrolman,
Turnkey, Spends 25 Years
on Force
HE'LL TICKLE
WITH THE PLOW

sewell d. Scott. police turnkey
who has completed twenty-five years
as a policeman. and who will retire
on March /. will move with Mrs.
Scott to a bungalow on the state /
road near Tybouts Corner. where
he recently purchased a tract OF
land, and poposes to tickle the soil
with hoe and live the life OF a !
country gentleman"
Mr.. Scott was born I'm Maryland, |
coming TO this city forty years ago.
Me married a Miss Elizabeth Nc
Collough, daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs.
william Mccullough. OF this city.
They have one son. Walter.
Mr.. Scott has won the esteem OF
his officers fellow policemen and
thousands of residents OF the city
by the faithful and fearless manner
In which he has performed the tasks
allotted to him. II is doubtful II any
other member OF the present police
force has had the many and varied
experiences that have fallen to
Scott's lot.
The most dramatic event OF his
long term OF service was in CON
nection with the police battle with
Homer c. Virgins. notorious con-
vict, who escaped from the East
ern Penitentiary and ended his life
here In the notable Battle OF Bax-
ter's Corner" on the night OF Sep
tember 2s. 1918, during which
Scott was shot down in the street
by a bullet fired by the bandit
Scott patrolled the old coast"
district for nine years II was con-
sidered the most dangerous beat In
the city. and as Scott has often said.
every arrest meant a fight" Other
policemen who shared the terrors OF
the district with him were John +.
Ward. John Winthrup and John
Solomon, the last two named being
deceased.
Among the first important arrests
made by Scott was the capture OF
Pattlson and Young. two highway
men, who waylaid John Chappell.
superintendent OF the Government
dredging work at Fort Delaware.
The man was badly beaten by the
D
streets. Scott found him lying on
the pavement and caught Young on
Maryland avenue after a chase OF
several blocks
Another noted case in which Scott
/ figured was that OF al" Spencer and
Thomas Mullen. alias "Whiskers
Mullen" who were considered two
OF the most sought thugs OF the
day. The pair had beaten a Civil
War veteran. George Mckay, In q
bold daylight holdup. and robbed
him OF his pension money. The
hoidup was committed on a cellar
door OF the Gibney ice-cream fac
, tory at the southeast corner OF Third
and Van Buren streets.
A niece OF Gibney's, who had witt
J messed the hoidup from an upper
window. described the men TO Scott.
she told him Of n collar-button worn
by one OF the men which had pink
back. That evening Scott observed
a number of men in saloon at
Front and Shipley streets. who had
become noisy. One of their number
was setting the house up TO drinks.
Scott watched him and caught
sight Of the pink button Walking
in he told the man he wanted him
for the theft Of woman's pocket
hook. The man proved to be
Spencer. He protested his innocence
and offered to go to the police sta
ton. When Scott got him there he
confronted him with the facts OF the
hold-up OF the old veteran. Mullen
was later captured and both con-
victed and sentenced to 6 years inn
prisonment and 40 lashes.
The officer with Scott on the night
OF the arrest had urged caution and
did not favor going into the saloon.
scott replied II was a case of get
her or spoil her" with him and these
words have been often been repeat
ed by officers OF the force.
when Scott was appointed to the
police force in February. 1897, John
+. Dolan was chief and the following
constituted the police commissioners:
John ". Lawson. Patrick Monaghan
and william NJ. Pyle, Lawson having
been member OF the first commits
sion. Mr.. Lawson was chairman and
Iit was through him that Scott got
his appointment.
He was appointed to MI the va
cancy caused by the change OF Cap
E tain Daniel NJ. Kelleher then street
Z sergeant. to duty as secretary to tho
4 chief. taking the place OF Simeon
B. Dougherty. who had gone to th'
% state Senate to act as ITS secretary
o. The captains at the time were
Thomas A. Kane and Robert w
Chambers.
Mr.. Scott was born in Marylan,
% and came to Wilmington forty year
5 ago. He is married. his wife befor'
y her marriage being Miss Elizabeth
Mccullough, daughter OF Mr.. an,
Mrs William McCollough Of this city
Mr. Scott has one son. Walter. who f.
married.
on March /. Mr. and Mrs. Scot
plan to move to a bungalow on th'
STATE Road. near Tibout's Corner
Here Scott recently purchased trac
, OF land. He smiiingly denied las
night that he was going to go q
farming, saying, he would be u
country gentleman"