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Saranac Lake police blotter for July 1939

The Saranac Lake Police Officers had to answer the most mundane of calls in July 1939 Complaint from Henry Wood, 150 Maim Street about a drunk asleep on his porch; Erin Shipiro, 12 Moody Avenue reports that his black Cocker Spaniel is missing; Call from Lake Flower Avenue. Dog had been hit by car. Not dead yet. Disposed of same.

However, the first call on July 1 was about money reportedly stolen at the Altamont Hotel in Tupper Lake. I wonder how many people are still around, besides me, who hung out at the Altamont. Anyway, following is the long investigation over 5 bucks.

2:50 a.m., 7-1-39: Edna Foster, 49 Helen Street reports that William Southern took a $5 bill off a table at the Altamont Hotel in Tupper Lake. They were up there together with a couple from the Altamont. Edna Foster claims she put the bill on the table to pay for a round of drinks. [Man oh man, today all 5 bucks would get you is a short beer in a dirty glass.] Miss Bella Bureau and Andrew Hutt were sitting there at the time. She claims that she and Andrew Hutt saw Southern pick it up. Edna Foster and William Southern left Tupper Lake about 2 a.m. She didn’t think much about the money because she thought she could get it from him on the way home. She says Southern said he didn’t know what she was talking about when she asked for the $5. Police went up to Southern’s place and talked to him about it. Says he knows nothing about it. Advised Edna Foster that nothing could be done until she obtained a warrant for his arrest. – Higgins & Brown

3:20 p.m., 7-2-39: Complaint from a sick lady in the Currier Block about fireworks in the direction of Petrova Avenue or Lake street.Found two boys on Dorsey Street with firecrackers. Took them away from the boys and warned them not to shoot anymore. Jones

11 p.m. 7-2-39: Caught Godfrey Chance playing his radio way too loud and disturbing the people in the Santanoni Apartments. [There were 27 apartments at the Santanoni in 1939 and it had three stories.] After pounding on the door and going around to the side of the house we finally made him hear and told him to quiet his radio. Also told him that we had several complaints – warned him against same. Higgins

2 a.m., 7-2-39: While prowling in Police car past Galloway’s Garage on Upper Broadway [now the Senior Citizen’s facility] noticed a light on in the office. When stopping to investigate, the light went out. Checked doors and windows around the building but couldn’t find anything disturbed. This garage is being operated by Mr. Rice in Lake Placid. Notified him. Said to get in touch with Wayne Darrah and go through the building. Wayne has a key to the garage. Investigated inside the building with Wayne and found that there was a loose bulb in the socket in the office. Vibration from a truck going by might have caused the light to come on. Nothing disturbed inside of building. – Higgins & Brown

8:15 p.m., 7-3-39: Call from Mrs. White of 36 Kiwassa Road stating that the tire and wheel that was stolen from her car last night was a General 6 ply tire and the wheel was a black 1935 Chevy wheel. Tyler

5:15 a.m., 7-6-39: Mrs. Clinton McDougall, 8 Slater Street reports that her husband didn’t come home last night. Said she spoke with him last on the St. Regis [hotel] steps near the Tap Roomabout 4:30 yesterday. Told her he would be home at 7 o’clock last nite. Claims he is driving a 1937 Chevy sedan, color grey. Reg. F-10-53. Clinton McDougall, age 46 years. Says this is the first time this has ever happened. Police found the above car parked in lot near Riverside Garage about 6 a.m. Notified Mrs. McDougall. Asked if she would like ride down to the car as she was quite tired from walking all nite looking for him.Brought her down to the car where she said she would wait until he came. Thinks he might be out with a party. He was supposed to go fishing with her yesterday. – Brown

3:05 a.m., 7-9-39: Call from Patsy, [Ezzo] Italian restaurant on Upper Broadway. Says there is a man in the yard back of his place setting small fires on the ground. Investigated and found him to be William Billingham, a mechanic at Gladd’s Garage. Patsy told police that he had sent Billingham home twice in a taxi to keep him from driving his car. Says Monroe Gladd took keys out of Billingham’s car. Police found a small fire burning near his car back of Patsy’s. Says he lit this fire because Patsy stole his keys and claims that Indian’s always build a small fire when they have something stolen from them. Claims to have been raised with Indians up in Canada. Billingham was very drunk, couldn’t make any sense out of his talk. Locked him up for P.I. – Higgins & Brown

6:45 a.m., 7-10-39: Call from Mrs. Sagendorf at the Berkeley Hotel. Wanted to see an officer right away. Investigated. Said there was a young fellow on the davenport three floors up in the hallway asleep.

Found him to be one Pete Fragier, age 24 years. R.F.D. No. 2 State Route, Watertown. Had gone there last nite to get a room. Claims he rang the bell and no one answered it. Set down on the davenport to wait and fell asleep. Had a guitar with him and enough money for a room. Told him to get out of town and if the police saw him here today or to-nite he would go to jail. Just a tramp. -?Brown

9:05 p.m., 7-20-39: Call for police at 296 Broadway. Investigated by Higgins and Jones. Delores V. Hutchinson and Mrs. Bill Sanderson both half drunk- had been fighting. Had broken two big windows, thrown things around the house and Delores had torn the dress off Mrs. Sanderson. Advised Mrs. Hutchinson to go back to her home on Duprey Street before she caused anymore trouble. She refused to leave and started using abusive and insulting language. Brought her down to the police station and called the matron. Mrs. Sanderson was quiet and didn’t cause any more trouble. Advised Mrs. Sanderson to go to bed and not cause any more trouble or she would be locked up. – Higgins

2 a.m., 7-24-39: Complaint from a party either on Riverside Drive or River Street about noise near Prescott Park. Some people there singing, yelling and swearing. Investigated and could also hear the racket. Some fellows in a boat. Put a light on them from in front of 74 Lake Flower Avenue. Told them to quiet down. They hollered back, daring the police to come out and stop them, called police names, told them to go to hell and if they come out to stop them, they would knock the devil out of them. Went to the end of Birch Street and saw a light near shore on Duprey Street. Went over there and met a fellow coming down the street quite drunk. Said he just got out of a boat with Howard Stebbens and Percy Canty. Went to Canty’s house to see him about the matter. Admitted just coming in but said he hadn’t made any noise. Picked up Bert Harvey this side of Cohen’s Ice Cream Plant and locked him up. Lady making complaint didn’t give her name. Phone no. 638 W. – Higgins & Brown

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