Report a Comment

"...back on November 24th, 1908. A teenager, working for Hamilton Dairy, was speeding down 15th St. NW on his bicycle, approaching H St. Teddy Roosevelt was crossing the street with two secret service agents tailing him. The boy narrowly missed the president and a visibly agitate Roosevelt threw his arms up in the air in anger. The article goes on to mention Boyce’s involvement.

"When President Roosevelt returned to the White House, after attending services at St. John’s Church, Sixteenth and H streets northwest, one of the secret service men, accompanied by Sergt. John A. Boyce, of the Second precinct, went to the dairy and arrested Gilbert Boyer, aged 19, of 61 G street northwest. The boy was taken to the station house, charged with “not having suitable bell on bicycle,” and subsequently was released on $5 collateral. When his name was called in police court yesterday Boyer failed to respond, thus forfeiting his collateral.

“I didn’t know it was the President,” said Boyer yesterday to a Post reporter. “He looked just like other men to me. I was carrying a basket of milk bottles in one hand, and it was hard for me to get along. I couldn’t have rung a bell if I had had a gong on the wheel. When I saw that I was going to run into the man I yelled and he jumped back just in time to keep from being hit. His glasses danced on his nose and he looked mad. He opened his mouth, but I don’t know what he said, for I was getting away."

http://ghostsofdc.org/2012/05/21/officer-sprinkle-trinidad/

by Lance on May 23, 2012 9:59 am • link • report