Ever wonder what it was like to be a policeman in the 19th century, where your best weapons were your fists and your wits?
Sometimes the best way to look at a historical period is to take a close look at their challenges, and how they were addressed. How about crime?
Let’s look at the police force of Hartford, CT, and the interesting (and sometimes desperate) situations in which the policemen found themselves. Snippets of the original accounts are presented here in order to convey the ethics, priorities, and humor of the time. Enjoy!
Source information: Historical Sketch of the Police Service of Hartford, 1636-1901
Captain Cornelius Ryan
A tough and resourceful policeman, Capt. Ryan found himself in a few tight spots:
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| Cornelius Ryan, Captain |
(Gotta love the dry humor of the above passage).
Then there was the time Capt. Ryan was accidentally locked in with the prisoners overnight (the door only opened from the outside, and he was on duty alone). According to reports, he went into the lock-up room to break up a fight. Captain Ryan:
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| Sophie Lyons, shoplifter, pickpocket |
Nice post! If I were still teaching, I'd totally highlight this as a way to understand primary sources (viz. incorporating them in a meaningful way rather than using Wikipedia). And can I just say I love that the Cornelius was 'in' during the nineteenth century!
Maybe it will make a comeback, who knows? I think the most fun part of the research I do, whether it's for this blog or for my novels, is finding primary source treasures like this. A lot gets lost when someone pre-digests the info for you.
Thanks for your comment, WorstProf!
-Kathy
I'm so glad I found your blog! I love late 19th Century facts and love books set in that time. Brenda Joyce had an amazing series several years back that followed a socialite turned amateur detective. Loved it!
These clippings made me laugh. Talk about scrappy women!
It's great to have you! You can't make this stuff up – Amazons, viragoes, Totties and Lotties – great material for us historical fiction writers and fans.
I'll have to take a look at Brenda Joyce – sounds interesting. Which series is it? She's a prolific writer.
Thanks for your comment and support!
-Kathy
Thanks for the link, Marian!
Thanks, Terrell! I also appreciate the link love on your blog.
As always, educational! I can always count on you, Kathy.
Is it just me, or does Capt Ryan look like the Capt of the Titanic? Sorry, maybe I haven’t had enough coffee yet today.
What a great idea! Very cool to read the news stories and see just how much reporting has changed since then in addition to police work.
And I agree with Tiffany, Captain Ryan does look like the Titanic Captain!