[Notes of a Turn-of-the-Century Beat Cop]. Obadiah Knott. Second Police Div. Fall River[,] Mass. July 12, 1903. Returning Post cor. North Main and St. James Sts. [Drop title].

Fall River, Massachusetts: 1903-1904. 14.5 x 9.5 cm. [120]pp. Red limp leather top-bound notebook, tan paper label stamped in black to front cover. Holograph text in pencil and ink. Leather edgeworn, with several small chips/loss to sides and lower edge; title label stained and toned; faint center crease to rear cover; occasional minor soiling. About Very Good.

A year in the beat of Fall River patrolman Obadiah Knott, providing a day-by-day account of his activities while on patrol. For the most part, these are fairly mundane things: he notes the number of gas lights burning on his route, checks that doors are locked, and occasionally gets called upon to break up groups of loud drunks. Often, people disperse themselves, running away when they see him coming; other times, he is merely resolving misunderstandings. Nevertheless, numerous arrests are reported, mostly for larceny and disturbing the peace, witnesses corralled, warrants given, and at one point he notes, "On Duty on Wellington St. while small pox patients where [sic] being carried away" (July 20, 1903).

An uncommon personal record of a policeman's activities while walking his beat.