Evening star., 1926-10-21
DETECTIVES HONOR
7. HOWARD BROOKS
Present Loving Cup to Star
Reporter After Joke
ARREST"

Howard Brooks. police reporter
for The Evening Star, was summar-
lily arrested and taken before the
prisoners lineup at the Detective
Bureau this MOI ming charged with
'loiterinG' for 40 years around police
headuarters.
While he foughqt energetically to
free himself from the grip of Detec-
tives Patrick O'Rlien and Charles
Wise, who were holding him on the
prisoners stand, while the eagle eyes
of the police force were looking him
over Detective Z. l.. Phillips read
off the formal charge.
This is T. Howard Brooks" he in
toned, in the same manner which
he had just used for a light-fingered
pickpocket. "He has been arrested
by Detective Patrick O'Brien on the
charge of lettering"
stop this darn foOlishneSs," de-
manded MIR. Brooks. whose dignity
of delneanor long since became
byword at headquarters. Detectives
frowned as he tried to break away.
Reveals Silver Loving Cup.
Inspector Henry G. Pratt stepped
In. at this juncture and uncovered
huge silver loving cup which had
been hidden from view.
This is a very grave charge In
spector Pratt declared. looking fero-
ciously at the prisoner, with the result
that he quieted down a bit.
This Is a very serious charge" In
spector Pratt repeated. You have
not been lettering around here for a
day, for a week or for a year. No.
Co.. A
this month. We can't let a thing like
this pass without some attention. We
can't be derelict in our duty.
: ITO show you how we feel about
such lettering we have procured this
object which l hold in my hand. In
presenting it to you. I want to tell
you that no man except yourself could
have implanted in us the sentiments
which animate this preseptation.'
First Time at Loss.
And Howard Brooks stood there
dumfounded He's been in tight
corners and never Quavered He's
mastered situations which seemed
perilous. Detectives gloated over the
situation. 1t was the first time in 40
years Howard Brooks was ever found
taken off his guard He gulped He
COuS Ileu d Dll. RE Spultoreu, ana 1leu
from the room.
After roll call, smiling detectives
grouped around to congratulate the
still blushing prisoner" He sensed
something further and tried to escape
before a photographer arrived. But
he was foiled again. After repea ted
entreaties, he submitted and had his
picture taken.
The whole thing started a short
time ago when Detective E. j. Kelly
and Frank Baur, retired detective
were talking over old times and con.
ceived the idea of presenting Howard
Brooks with a symbol of the esteem
and appreciation in which he is held
around headquarters. Kelly broached
it to fellow detectives and found an
immediate and hearty response
"Biff" Phillips was commissioned to
make arrangements. The loving cup
he procured stood about 18 inches in
height and was engraved with an ap-
propriate inscription.
1t was difficult to keep Howard
Brooks, whose reputation is high for
ferreting out things which are sought
to be kept secret.
But after he quieted down he con-
fessed: This is the first time in nv
life that | was really surprised. |
hope Mrs. Brooks doesn't hear about
1t until she reads. it, since you're so
intent upon writing it." he said.