DEATH OF A VICTORIAN POLICE OFFICER.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7214, 27 November 1888, Page 5

DEATH OF A VICTORIAN POLICE OFFICER.

.. . » [FBO2S OUB OOBRKHPOHDBNT.) [BT TSLKGRAPH FROM THE BITOT.J 3B.ELBOUENB, Norember 20. Sergeant James Dalton, one of the oldest an£ best known, members of the police force, died, at the Bjoyal Park Station, of which he was in charge, on Friday afternoon. Dalton was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1828, and after serving five years in the Irish Constabulary came to the colonies, and joined the Victorian force in 1859. I>uring the early days, when there were rough elements in the population, he did excellent service in maintaining order in the city. He was utterly, incapable of fear, and his name became a terror to evildoers. Hie quiet, dry humor in the witness box will long be remembered by those whose duties took them to the City Court,' and the racy anecdotes told of him would fill a good sized volume. He will be best remembered as the originator of the now universally adopted word •• larrikin." " They were a larrikin ('larking') down the street, your worship/ said lie one day in describing the conduct of some youths, and the Bench had so much difficulty in understanding what he meant, and the expression was repeated so often, that it passed into a catch word, and was soon applied universally to. youthful roughs. The good work he did was appreciated by those in power, and in time he obtained promotion. He died of typhoid fever.