Here's a short article demonstrating how law enforcement has changed over
the past 100 years.
Orleans Progress (January 26, 1899)
Last Friday the notorious conspicuous form of "Gabe" Moffett, visited this
prosperous and progressive city. "Gabe", who is some what of a "crook"
and
had "done time" in the Prison South, for obtaining money under false
pretense, and only recently completed his sentence, came to town armed with
a self-acting revolver and preceded to fill up with "white lightning",
better know as native corn whiskey, and to give the residents a taste of the
"wild and woolly west". He had not gone far in his escapade before he was
over hauled by Constable Alvis and Marshall Standiford, taken before Squire
Stout who assessed a fine and "trimmings" to the extent of $15. "Gabe"
in
company of the city marshal meandered the main thorough fares of our city in
quest of some one to stay his fine. The sleek and sly "Gabe" had a quart of
corn whiskey in his packet and asked permission of the Marshal to go to the
hitching rack on the square and put it (the whiskey, not the hitching rack)
in his brother's wagon. No sooner had he arrived at the wagon, than away
flew "Gabe" at a "Nancy Hanks" gait across the school campus; and when
on
the west side waived his hat in triumph to the marshal, as much to say "A
fare thee well, Brother Watkins",