· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Supportive Shelter· It’s Sunday night, September 11, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Mary Adella Albrecht has been battered by her husband, Harvey, in their home. * “Mom,” said Pearl, “will you let me go to Delbert’s house and see if we can borrow their car to take you to the hospital?” “There’s no need. The bleeding’s stopped and this ice will help,” said Mary, as she pressed a dishtowel with rusty red bloodstains to her face. “How can you stay in the same … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Supportive Shelter
Hutchinson Police Department
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: The Highest Highs and Lowest Lows
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: The Highest Highs and Lowest Lows· It’s Sunday evening, September 11, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Pearl Albrecht, 15, and Delbert Wright, 14, are visiting while sitting on his front porch swing. * “Delbert,” said Pearl, “it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me! I’m only fifteen, but Rorabaugh-Wiley is paying me for being me, I mean, for dressing up like Charles Lindbergh.” “Now, tell me again,” said Delbert. “Does the department store still want to … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: The Highest Highs and Lowest Lows
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: The Day after the Fall Festival Frolic
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: The Day after the Fall Festival Frolic· It’s Thursday, September 8, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Cora Brown, matron and cook at the Reno County Jail, 15 Ave B, east, hears the front doorbell ringing at her residence attached to the jail. * “Why, Anna Kelly,” said Cora, “it’s great to see you again! Come on inside and rest your feet. I’m about ready to take a cherry pie out of the oven. Do you like pie?” “Oh, Cora!” said Anna, as she sniffed the delicious … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: The Day after the Fall Festival Frolic
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Pearl and Delbert
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Pearl and Delbert· It’s September 7, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Downtown’s Fall Festival Frolic begins with a parade. * Pearl Albrecht, 15, hurried three doors east from her house on Ave A. west, to visit her friend, Delbert Wright, 14. Even though he had promised everything would be ready in time, she had to see for herself. As Pearl walked into Delbert’s open-door garage, she said, “Hello Delbert. I hope you’re as excited as I am about tonight.” Delbert … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Pearl and Delbert
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Line-of-Duty Deaths
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Line-of-Duty Deaths· It’s September 1, 1927. Reno County Sheriff Fay Brown is driving to Wichita to attend a funeral service for a Wichita motorcycle officer who was killed in a pistol battle with bandits. * Fay understood death, or at least the ramifications of death. When both his parents died while he was a young child, his life drastically changed. Fay was farmed out, adopted by George Gorman, an elderly farmer, and raised with the help of George’s grown … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Line-of-Duty Deaths
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Cora and Occie
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Cora and Occie · Hello readers. I’m Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge and I’m recalling my days in January 1927, after arriving in Hutchinson, Kansas. Don’t ask me what happened this morning because my short term memory is iffy, but I remember my first days in the Salt City. Ninety-three years ago I was in Cora Brown’s purse, awaiting the opportunity to meet Sheriff Fay F. Brown. I’d been handed to her by outgoing Sheriff Jess Langford when he was leaving the … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Cora and Occie
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Preface
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge, Preface · "Pardon me if my brain’s not as sharp as it used to be. I’m nearly 93 years old. Due to my age, I occasionally get names and dates mixed up. It could happen to anyone. "However, for the time period 1927-1930, my glory years, my recall is as sharp as a tack, or in my case, it would be more appropriate to say, as sharp as a pin. "You see, in late 1926, I was crafted by an artisan at Sachs-Lawlor manufacturing in Denver, Colorado. I shined in golden … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Preface
Another View of James A. Woodson
· James A. Woodson: A Newspaper View · James A. Woodson (1893-1971) achieved a lot of during his twenty-two year career as an officer on the Hutchinson Police Department (Kansas) from 1927 through 1949. Who else, anywhere, was hired as a city dog catcher and retired as a lieutenant? Early Days Can you imagine being a police officer walking the beat on Main Street without a vehicle, without a two-way radio, and certainly without a smart phone? That’s the way it was for Officer Woodson … [Read more...] about Another View of James A. Woodson
James Andrew Woodson
· James Andrew Woodson: A Family View · When I asked Leland Woodson, 84 years of age, for an interview about his father, James A. Woodson (1893-1971), my interest was mainly his dad’s career as a Hutchinson Police Officer from 1927-1949. I understood that I’d only get a glimpse of the officer’s lengthy service. After all, I was writing a blog, not a book. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that three of Leland’s siblings, all sisters, Galena Mae (Crable), 90; … [Read more...] about James Andrew Woodson
Richard Wickliffe
· Captain Richard Wickliffe Giving, Not Taking · People who know Richard Wickliffe remark about how he’s always calm. I’ve never seen him upset. So, when we sat down together for an interview, I had to see if he would share his secret. And while I was at it, maybe I’d also learn how a guy who retired from the Hutchinson Police Department (HPD) in 2001 at age 64, still looks young enough to be running marathons. Richard, a/k/a/ “Wick”, didn’t reveal his secret of eternal youth but he did … [Read more...] about Richard Wickliffe
