New Britain herald., 1930-08-21
Policemen Entertain at Dinner;
 Carlson Given $20 for Selling 1000 Tickets for Baseball Game
Officials of Two Cities At- tend Banquet at Elks Club House-Chairman Parker Slaps Slackers- Meriden Men Spend Afternoon Hunting Stolen Auto.

Taken completely by surprise, Po- Gceman John L. Carlson, one of the best known members of the police department and a real "old timer" was called to the head table at the banquet at the Elks club last night following the NeE Britain -Meriden police baseball game at Willow Brook park, and given s20 gold piece by Chairman Edwin A. Parker of the board of police commission CTS. who was toastmaster. The gift was from the police department ID appreciation of Policeman Carlson's s splendid work in selling 1000 tickets for the game, thereby turn ing in $500 to the police pension | fund.
 John L. was enjoying the post prandial exercises from seat well towards the rear of the hall when he heard Chairman Parker request that Traffic Sergeant John J. King escort him to the head table. Max ing his way towards the front, he was mystifed at an outburst of ap- plause and when the toastmaster handed him the gift "as slight token of appreciation of your splendid efforts in disposing of 1000 tickets" he was literally swept off lis feet
 He Made His Speech
 "Now will ask Policeman Carl son to say a few words" the toast mastef concluded and the applause died away. Fingering the gift and striving to recover from his sur prise, John L. faced the gathering and made what was unanimously considered the best speech of the evening. T made my speech when I sold the tickets" he said, and smilingly returned to his place amid greater applause than had greeted him when he was called to accept the gift.
 Policeman Carlson for years has been an indefatigable ticket seller for the baseball game. The day the tickets are distributed Chief Hart appreciates that it is not necessary to urge the veteran to do his best, for he starts in at once making the rounds of business places on his beat along Church street, Railroad Arcade and vicinity, and few are the motorists or pedestrians who pass him without being approached in the interests of the pension fund. He has his own sales talk, which is cal fulated to strike the point in as few words as possible and without giving offense or leaving the impresson that the person solicited must buy a |ticket, Last year he sold 1,125 tickets.
 Parker Criticizes Slackers
 Chairman Parker took occasion to criticize police department members who failed to do their share in dis posing of tickets. observing that it Aos with regret that he found him elf unable to compliment those rho. though financially able to buy ticket or two, returned their bun He just as they received it. It was armed that some policemen an- z; return all their tickets, re- ng to ask anyone to buy and re-
 ing none for their own use.
 mong the speakers called upon Chairman Parker were Mayor sorge A. Quigley, Mayor Francis Maloney of Meriden, Chief An erson of Middletown, Chief Hart New Britain. Senator Roy Wilcox Meriden, ex-Senator Edward r. Iall of New Britain. ex-Mayor An elo NJ Paonessa of New Britain nd others who expressed pleasure being in the gathering and com ,limented the Meriden and New tritain police departments on their portsmanship on the baseball field. he importance of pension systems pr policemen was stressed and the 'ope expressed that both depart rents would benefit appreciably by he games. the second of which will played in Meriden next Wednes- ay afternoon.
 John L. Sullivan's orchestra fur ished music.
 Policeman's Auto Taken
 Robert Helin of 9S Vine street. eriden, a policeman. drove to New ritain yesterday with another Mer- en policeman, to attend the base Ill game at Willow Brook park, 1t spent the afternoon trying to Id his ear. which was stolen on iaiA street.
 Ths policemen went to a restaur- It and when they came out few inutes later they could not inl le car. Searching Main street and 1e streets they spent some time ithout avail, and while the base III game was being played they ere at police headquarters hoping r word of the car and not caring 'out the fortunes of their fellow uecoats on the diamond. The car Is finally recovered on Main street lar the Savings Bank, some dis nee from the .point Helin had irked it.
 Policeman Helin was not the only eriden officer to suffer ill-fortuns re yesterday. A foul ball smash
 a window in Lieutenant Walter lrcons car, which was paraci ar the backstop while it's owner s playing right felf for the
 riden team, and later in the ne a foul ball struck Policeman ancis Higgins new automobile dented the rumble seat consid- lbly. Higgins is manager of the
 riden team.
 RNER HEADS INSURANCE co. Hartford, Aug. 21 (UP)-George Turner of Chicago, an outstand-