DRUNK AND DISORDERLY - ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC

My sister, Elizabeth Victoria Wallace who lives in the US, is constantly uncovering interesting nuggets of historical information.  As freelance writers and authors, both she and I are currently working on 'police features' and here is her latest posting.  Mine will appear in the Brentwood Gazette soon. Here we have her latest blog feature. 

"Another great photograph I discovered while researching Hidden History of Denver courtesy Denver Public Library.

Drunkenness and disorderly conduct was a constant worry to the policemen of Denver in the late 1890s. The men, eager to spend their money, often became drunk and disorderly. In an effort to contain the offenders, the police devised a type of “holding pen” or “kiosk.” These were usually placed on street corners in high activity areas where a man (or woman) could be locked inside until the police returned with a wagon. Two men pose for the photograph. One seemingly inebriated man, his hat pulled askew -- the policeman holds a billy club.

The actual location of this photograph is unknown. The road is unpaved. A woman is walking on the sidewalk opposite wearing a long dress, and a dog runs lose in the center of the street."

Liz's 8th book, a sequel to her Essex-based historical  thriller FORBIDDEN is in the last stages and hopefully will be published in the autumn.  

PC RICHARD GRAHAM KENT circa 1944

This is one of my photographs - my father-in-law Richard Kent, who patrolled Brentwood High Street during the 1940s and '50s.