Police Log: 1888

More 5-fingered biddies, 1888 April Fools joke, and Pat Farley moves a pile of trash to the Town Hall front door, then gets a beating by a woman with a tambourine.

June 22, 1888 – One Tevlin was arrested for the stealing of hens from Gardner Chamberlain and sent to the House of Correction for three months. He sold the biddies to some Italians in Braggville, which were identified by Mr. Chamberlain. Tevlin claimed that one Murphy did the stealing, he disposed of the goods.

December 14, 1888 – Officer Curran took a tramp to court yesterday morning as a vagrant, he had requested so as to get good shelter for the winter.

April 1, 1889 – The snow fall of Sunday furnished somebody a chance for some fun, as evidenced by numerous large balls of snow rolled up and deposited on the front piazza at G.W. Slocum’s house.  Was it an April-fool joke?

May 2, 1889 – Those officers are never round when you want them, as shown by one of the Selectmen who was anxiously looking for one yesterday to serve important papers. There’s going to be music soon and don’t you forget it. 

May 17, 1889 – “Paddy” Mellen has served his term in “durance vile,” and is seen on our streets once more. 

June 3, 1889 – John Cahill was arrested and locked up Saturday afternoon by officers Curran and Carroll.  He was taken to court at So. Framingham this morning for drunkenness and beating his wife.

June 29, 1889 – Monday, Patrick Farley succeeded in distinguishing himself. In the morning he resolved that the rubbish back of the town house should be removed, so he brought most of it from the rear and made a big pile of it in front of the hall, threatening to burn it there if the selectmen didn’t remove it, but as later they ordered it down, he concluded he would not.  

June 29, 1889  –  In the afternoon an orchestra on wheels arrived, in charge of a man and woman, when Pat, not liking the quality of music dispensed, ordered to them to desist, and proceeded to take a hand in the business himself, when the woman struck him two or three smart blows with her tambourine, causing the blood to stream down his face, and Pat came to the conclusion that he had caught a Tartar.  The spectators applauded the woman’s grit, and S.E. Carr passed his hat and got quite a cash collection as a substantial appreciation felt for her vindication of her rights.