DEATH OF SERGEANT-MAJOR SCANLON OF PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 22, 1 October 1897, Page 20

DEATH OF SERGEANT-MAJOR SCANLON OF PALMERSTON NORTH.

(Contributed.)

We regret to have to reoo.d the sad and lamentib'e demise of Sergeant- Major Scanlon, whs die 1 at his residence in Falmerston North on Tuesday nnrning last, September 14th, at a quarter past six, after receiving a1!a 1 ! the rites of the Church. His pastor was by his side when he passed away, and closed his eyes in death. He was well attended to in the short tima of his sickness by his faithful and devoted wife and children, who ware assiduous in their devotion to him in his hours of pain. Two of tha leading doctors of the town were in daily attendance upon him, and did all they could to prolong his life. But the hour had come, and he was well prepared to leave all — having most beautiful sentiments of psaoa, resignation and patiencd throughout the time of his last illness. His remains were carried upon the shouldars of his lata comrades in the police force to the Church, and the Ray. Father Patterson read part of the funeral service. He afterwards spoke feelingly of the s&d loss the parish had suffered in the demise of one who gave the moat edify* ing example in life as a true Catholic, a devoted father, and a good husband. The lonely procession started again from the Church to the station, and left with the relatives and friends for Blenheim. The corpse was met in Wellington by the members of the police force, and carried to the wharf and placed on board the Opawa, The members of the Hibernian Society also joined in the procession in Wellington.

The Maryborough Times of the 17th inst. gives the following account of the funeral at Blenheim : — The remains of the late Sergt. -Major Scanlon were brought over in the Opawa, which arrived yesterday morning, and they were conveyed from the steamer to St. Mary's Church. The funeral took place in the afternoon, and it was largely attended. The solemn ceremony in the Church was condncted by the Rev. Father Goggan, in the presence of a numerous gathering of people. Miss McCabe presided at the organ, and rendered the impressive strains of the " Dead March in Saul." The coffin having been taken to the hearse, a very lengthy procession was formed, members of all sections of the community, and residents of all parts of the district, taking part in the sad function. The Rev. Father Goggan o.Ticiiited at the grave ; and the pallbearers were Messrs P. Maher, T. O'Leary, E. J. Walsh, P. Meeghan, Jno. O'Leary, and M. Ilorgan. these six gentlemen being representatives of the H.A.C.B. Society, of which the late Sergt.-Major was a member. The Hibernians attended the funeral iv strong force wearing their regalia, and the members of the local police force were also present. The coffin was covered with floral tokens of respect, many of which came from other parts of the Colony. The obsequies were extremely impressive, and evidenced in a marked manner the widespread esteem in which the late Sergt.-Major was held. The Times also publishes the following interesting reminiscence of the deceased :— The death of the late Sergeant- Major Scanlon recalls to our mind a speech made by that muah-respected officer in which he gave his conception of the duties of a policeman. The occasion was the v »lediction ac ;orded to him at the beginning of March last year, just before his departure for Palinerston North. In the course of his response to a towt propose! in his honour by his Worship the Mayor, he said : " He knew a policeman's duty, and he knew he should ba a protector aud nos a persecutor. A policeman mu->t have tact and discretion, and the knowledge how to use his power, or ha w.is an evil in the plaoe and not a benefit. For instance, a man, say a respectable farmer, coming into town from the country, inadvertently falls foul of a bye-law. If he administered the law to the letter iv cases like this he would have every man in the place before the Bench. He had of ten " j ucketed," a man at the street corner and found that such treatment, used with discretion, had a better effect than unnecessary public oppression. He hatad persecution, especially police persecution. If he thought it not wis-3 to summons or prosecute a man, he would not do so for anyone." A melancholy interest attaches to his concluding remarks :: — *' He intended to return some day to Blenheim, and have his bones rested in Blenheim. He had made arrangements about his homestead, and, God willing, he would return."