Through the Lens of a Police Officer

Dutifully, on August 19, 1896, Patrolman Michael Mullaly* (1848-1908) wrote the following passage in his logbook. The text is transcribed in its original form:

“The Engineer of 503 from Providence called my attention to a run away on slades ferry bridge It turned out to be William Dunn of Ash St.

There was tow ladys coming a cross the bridge and there hors jumped in to Mr Dunns buggy and struck him in the back and tore his coat crombled one of his hind wheals and broke the body of his wagon he had a litel girl nine years old but she did not get hurt the two ladies did not stop but went a long.”

Thankfully no one was injured. Talk about a hit and run!

Patrolman Mullaly, a Taunton, Massachusetts, native, was appointed to the Fall River Police Department, as a Patrolman, on September 17, 1877, at twenty-nine years of age. He remained on the force until he passed away on January 12, 1908.

*Interestingly, Patrolman Mullaly was connected with the Borden murder case as he testified during both the preliminary hearing and final trial. He was one of the officers at the Borden residence at 92 Second Street on August 4, 1892.