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Sergeant Joseph F Smyth

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Sergeant Joseph F Smyth

 

Sergeant Joseph F Smyth

On this day in Baltimore Police History 16 September 1911 we lost our Brother Sergeant Joseph F Smyth in the line of duty to heart failure based on the following Baltimore Sun newspaper article dated 17 Sept 1911

One of the Most Popular Men in the Police Department Fell Dead

Serge. Joseph F. Smyth, of. the Central District, one of the most popular men in the Police Department, fell dead a few minutes after 10 o'clock last night (16 Sep 1911) on Lombard street, near Charles. Leaving the Lombard bowling alleys, where he had seen a number of young men rolling ten pins, the sergeant remarked to Patrolman Poske, who was with him: "Poske, those young fellows are having a good time." Were the last words that left his lips the sergeant collapsed and staggered to the pavement. "What's the matter, Sarge," asked Poske. He received no answer. Poske tried. to lift him to his feet, but Smyth could not rise.

Reaches Hospital Too Late

Hurrying to the nearest patrol box. Poske sent for the Central district ambulance. fellow-policemen lifted the sergeant into the patrol wagon and in a few minutes, he was at Mercy Hospital. Not until the body was put on an operating table was it found the Sergeant was dead. It seemed to Poske that "Joe," as Smyth was affectionately known to every policeman in the city, was only ill. Lieutenant Klinefelter heard the sergeant was ill and hurried to the hospital, but when he met Dr. Aubrey Lawson, the latter conveyed the story with one word "Dead." Big policemen, used to the world's weal and woe, gathered at the table on which lay the uniformed sergeant, tears formed in their eyes. Poske, known practically to everyone who frequents the downtown section after dark, wept in was deep sadness at his very threshold for the loss of his Sergeant and friend Sergeant Joseph F Smyth.

Four Cousins In The Priesthood

Sergeant Smyth was a member of a well-known family and four of his cousins, All of whom are brothers, are priests. They are Rev. Thomas G. Smyth, pastor of St. Ann's Church, Tensly, D. C.; Rev. James' A. Smyth, assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Church. Washington; Rey. C. Carroll Smyth, assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Baltimore, and Rev. Tobu Carter Smyth. a member of the Paulist Order. who Is in New York. Another cousin, a brother of the four priests, is Patrolman William H. Smyth. Tr. The sergeant was only 34 years old. He was appointed to the force August 17, 1901. On. May. 1910, he was promoted to a sergeant. His promotion was the result only of a meritorious record. He was loved and esteemed by every policeman who worked under him.

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 16 September 1911
City, St. Lombard street, near Charles 21223
Panel Number N/A
Cause of Death Heart Attack
District Worked Central
Read 4403 times Last modified on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 06:24
Published in Fallen Heroes
Baltimore Police Historical Soicety

The Baltimore Police Historical Society put this and other articles on this website together using research from old newspapers, old books, photos, and artifacts.

We rely more heavily on books written at or near the time of the incident we are researching or writing about. We do not put too much weight on the more recently written history books, or books that have been written with a biased opinion or agenda.

We try not to tell our readers what to think about our past as much as we tell a story with hopes of our readers forming their own opinions. That said, ever so often we come across a story that to us is so exciting that we might express that in our writings. but we hope our readers will form their own opinions based on the information written at the time, not information that was added years later using a filtered history that has been twisted and pulled in the direction of various storytellers that may or may not have had their own agendas.

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