The Police blotter from August 1929

All of a sudden I became so overwhelmed with work, politics and social events along with a trip to join the railbirds and ponies at Saratoga I had to call for backup – and sure enough up popped a 1926 blotter from the Saranac Lake Police Department … and you know what…aren’t we all anxious to read about what was happening on the quiet and peaceful streets of our fair village nearly 100 years ago? The police officers back then signed only some entries and the time of the call was not listed, only the date.

Aug. 10 — Complaint from Lt. F. E. Stack of the United States Marine Corps about a Colt Automatic Pistol being stolen from his camp at Paul Smith’s. Pistol Caliber 45 – Serial No. 606216.

Aug. 15 – Complaint from Mr. A. P. Todd of Malone of having a sample case of U.S. Rubber Co., marked Syracuse, New York, stolen from his car parked on the street. [does not say what street]. A red fiber shoe case with “kids” on one corner and “rayuster” on other corner. Value $175.

Aug. 16 — Perley Gould complains that last night at about 5 p.m. two boys stole a bundle of vegetables from his garden. He watched them run down River Street to the corner of Church Street where they stopped for a short time and then went on down River Street.

Aug. 17 — Complaint that the “Poor Box” at the Catholic Church was broken open and robbed today during the janitor’s noon hour. Over $50.00 was taken.

August 19 – Mrs. Dr. Hayes of Glenwood Estates reported cows destroyed her lawn and flower bed. The cows belong to the Lester’s on 34 Algonquin Avenue. I told the Lester’s to take care of the cows and also fix up the fence. [Hey! What about Dr. Hayes lawn and flower bed? Algonquin Avenue is a long ways from the Glenwood Estates – the cows must have gone over Dewey Mountain]. – Officer Baird

Aug. 22 – W. W. Phillips of Hopkinton reports that he had a 32. Caliber automatic revolver stolen from his Chevrolet roadster while parked in front of 8 Marshall Street. — Officer H. L. LaBarge

Aug. 23 – Frank H. Harrington of 20 Broadway complains that sometime between 12 midnight last night and 7:30 a.m. this morning his car, a Dodge Touring car was stolen from the Saranac Lake Parking Garage. Both left fenders are jammed, right front fender had a small hole torn in the top of it, has a new right front wheel. Top covered with little patches. [“touring” cars are convertibles — one would think the thief could have found a car to steal that was in better shape].

[Now the following are entries from August 24, one day after the above car was stolen. It makes one imagine things about the car thief. Maybe he pulled the following capers because he needed new license plates and a new tire for the stolen Dodge …?]

Aug. 24 — Complaint from Ms. Oliver C. Brown of 105 Broadway that her license plates No. 7P3541 were stolen from her Ford Turing car which was parked back of Frank King’s building. — Officer Jones

Aug. 24 — Stolen- Harry Feinberg reports that a Riverside Cord tire, size 30×3-1/2 and tube and rim was stolen off his Ford Touring car which he had parked in front of 104 Park Avenue Sunday night at 12 p.m. – Officer J. A. McCarthy

Aug. 26 – Complaint from Mrs. LaRue on Main Street that her husband was drunk and making trouble so I went up there andwhen I got there she said she just wanted him put to bed. He was not very drunk so I got him to bed. She said she did not want him locked up. He just got out of the hospital last week. [Guess that’s reason to celebrate.] — Officer Baird

Aug. 27 – Miss Hushion complains that on two different occasions she has caught someone peeping in at a bedroom window on the main floor of their home at 67 Bloomingdale Ave.

Aug. 28 — Call from Mr. Kennedy of 26 Shepherd Avenue at 9 p.m. that some men were stealing his apples. I went there and staid (sic)till 12:30 a.m. but did not see anyone. — Officer Finnigan

Aug. 29 – Mrs. Bullard of Fairview Avenue complains that Dietz’s black police dog has killed her chickens and she wants it stopped.

Aug. 30 — At 7:30 p.m. I was called to 71 Bloomingdale Avenue. Jack Fontaine was causing trouble. His wife had him taken out. Judge Utting allowed Jim, his brother, to take him home. Mrs. Fontaine will appear against him at 10 a.m. Wednesday. If you should want me, give me a ring. She said she would appear at the above time, so, on her complaint I took him into custody. He had a few drinks in him and was not himself. [it appears he must have been brought before the Judge, allowed to go home with his brother and then arrested later. — Officer Jennings