Year: 1873

Men VINO race Death.


THE POLICEMAN.


Don't you 60 and make any mistake
The pictures in the comic papers, and all
the rest of the jokes about policemen,
may all be very we'll in their way, and |
can laugh myself at a good joke at the
expense of the force, but for all that there
is not as much in them as some of the
would-be sharp ones make out. Most of
'em are as stale as they well can be, and
though tor anything | know they may
have been to the point sometime, they
amt now by a long way. There's say
ing about life not being all beer and skt.
ties, and you may take my word for it
that life amt all cupboard courtship for
policeman. Even if he had the inclination
for it, his superiors would take precious
good care that he didn't spend his time on
DUTY making love to cooks and feeding in
genhemen's kitchens. That may be very
well in pantomime, but it's about as
much the real thing as pantomime fish
and carrots are; and, whatever people
may think, policemen don't always come
up Just when fight is over, and it isn't
only women and little boys chat they col
lar-l should like to see some of them
that talk that way have to tackle some of
the customers that we have to do they'd
mighty soon alter their tone, | expect
Why, taking it all through, there's few
businesses as are more risky than a
policenan's. In plenty Of neighborhoods
he goes on duty with his life in his hand
Peopleread and talk about the dangerous
classes, but it is the policeman that has to
-, l., L
dangerous they are. They know whether
it's only women or boys that we collar
| they know who lays them by the heels,
and they remember it with vengeance
Revenge S sweet is a motto with good
many of them, and when they are loose
they will often go long way to have it
on the man that has been the means of
caging then-that was how | came by
the cash you see on the side of my face
here.


L had got customer two years for
stealing lead, and was one of those thai
escorted him to the van after he was SEN
fenced, and as we passed along he growls
! out to me under his breath, you've
scored this chalk, but you may lay down
any odds that I'll score the next if l have
to die for it,"


could tell that he meant what he said
| and | bore it in mind. When he was out
again kept we'll on my guard whenever
l saw him lurking about, but at length he
was too sharp for me.


One rather foggy night ! was passing
the top of dark side-street, when hear,
ing a rush wheeled round as quickly as
could-but it was too late. | Just caught
sight of the scoundrel making a swinging
hit at me with bottle tied in a handker-
chief, and the next instant was stretched
senseless. [ shall carry the mark of the
blow to the grave with me, as you may
see, and it was pretty nigh carrying me
to the grave; | was within half an inch of
death, as you may say, for if it had been
halt an inch more on the temple it would
have been an end of me- As it was, it
laid me up tor about three months, but
beyond marking me, it did me no perma-
nent harm.


When got on duty again said nothing
but made up my mind that there should
be q third chalk to the game between me
and the fellow that struck the blow. He
had bolted as soon as he had done it, and
hadn't been heard of since but for all that
felt quite sure he would turn up in his
old lurk again sooner or later. for his wife
and all his companions were there. SO
watched and watched, and sure enough at
the end of a couple of years | spotted him
again. | found ont that he had only been
back a week when caught sight of him,
and so | didn't try to flutter the nest too
soon. | let three months go by, so that
he might think he was all right, and then
| went in to score my next chalk.


| reported him, and half dozen of us
were told eff to take him. Three went
into the house after him, two kept watch
in the front, and took my stand at the
back, the way he was likeliest to come If
he managed to make run OF it. As it
turned out, he did make run, or at any
rate he got start.


1t was low built house, and before
those who went in could get up stairs he
dropped out of the bedroom window,
coming down safely on his feet; but be-
fore he could take to his heels was facing
him, my right hand holding my staff
ready-drawE behind my back my left
hand ready to collar him.


''Oh, it's you, is it?" he grimes out be-
tween his teeth, and before I could say a
word or move an irch, he had whipped
out large clasp-knife. | could see mur-
der in his eye, and so dashed in at once
to seize him; but before could lay hold
of him he had gashed my hand to the
bone-and then It was my turn. He was
drawing back to make running stab at
me, when, quick as lightning, and with
all the strength [ could put into it,
swung round my right arm and caught
him with the staff full in the face telling
him like a bullock. He was quite sense
less, and by the time the others got round
had him quietly handcuffed. When we
got him to the station we sent for doctor
to dress his wound, but he wouldn't have
it touched, and insisted upon being taken
into court next morning with his face all
marked; but though he certainly looked
horrible enough, he didn't make anything
by his move. He was we'll known, and
besides. though | struck with will,
struck in self-defence, and for life. He
had penal servitude, and he didn't live to
do his time out.


That is the sort of customer a police
man has sometimes to tackle, and he
never knows the day or hour he may have
to tackle. Men as are wanted will gener-
ally come quiet enough. when they find
they are fairly dropped upon; but still
you can never be quite certain of them
if the drink or the evil is in them at the
time, they may take it into their heads to
show fight and When they do they're not
particular to trifles-the first thing that
comes handy they'll use. But, as | said
before, it's when they 60 in for being re-
venged on you that they are most danger
Gus. 1t isn't case of fighting then; they
don't give you the chance to fight; they
creep upon you-in the dark for choice
and are up to all sorts of cruel, cowardly
ways OF laying a man. Many fine man
has been made cripple for life, in dong
or for having done his duty as a police
man, and some have been killed outright


Then see how policeman has to 60
INTO row, and take his chance of what
may happen from interfering with wild or
drunken men with their blood up; again,
see how he has to 60 into house where
murder" is being shouted, and where
perhaps the first thing that meets his sight
is man more than half-mad, and slash
ing right and left with a poker. Then
there is being at fires, and being out in
all sorts of weather, so that what with
one thing and what with another, a police
mans is hOth a hard ioh and a risky one