The Beat Cop's Bad Joke

The police department was in mourning yesterday morning when the item concerning the holdup of Officer Alexander McMillan, on Queen Anne hill, appeared in print. This feeling was not lightened in the least when McMillan declared that his report was intended for a joke, because the idea had become prominent that McMillan, while asleep, was made the victim of a practical joker. When the last-mentioned solution of the problem was suggested to the unfortunate wearer of the brass buttons, he declared that it was a lie and would like to be brought face to face with the man who said he slept while on duty. 'I am to blame for the whole affair,' he said, 'but hope it will stop right here. I made the report as a joke, and never dreamed the papers would publish it.' McMillan pointed to his watch, which he declared had simply stopped, and explained that he had called in to report the time issue and jokingly claimed he had been held up. Chief Jackson was highly displeased, and suspended McMillan pending the action of the commissioners. The affair caused quite a commotion among the residents of Queen Anne hill, and one resident telephoned to the chief that there would be a remonstrance if McMillan was put back on that beat.