William Bramwell Sizer Diaries
July 1914
Milwaukee County Police Department
These diaries are a mixture of work and family affairs of William Bramwell Sizer. William was on the Milwaukee Police Department and a member of the Sherman Street Methodist Episcopal Church, later transferring their membership to Kingsley Methodist Episcopal Church and died in 1916. The diaries give a pretty good view of life in the years involved. The diaries were given to me for presentation on this site by family members see contributors page.
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Key to names and places in this diary
The following material was found in a separate notebook. It is written in ink rather than pencil and covers selected dates in the period 1910-1914
while Wm B. Sizer was serving as a Sergt. on the Milwaukee Police Force.
9-18-1910
Ptm. Nehls at 19th & Hadley at 2:45 AM, a block out of his beat. Reprimanded him. He promised to do better.
10-7-1910
11:25 PM. Fire at 19 Clark St. Box came in from Bremer & Clary. This place is in the middle of Ronowski beat. He didn't show up at the fire. At 12:45 he was 13 min. late altho the operator made no note of it. I watched him & know that he reported at Humboldt & Center at 12:58.
10-13-1910
Ronowski 15 min. late at 1:45. Came to Sta. at 2:20. Said he sat down & went to sleep.
11-28-1910
C. Schroeder spent the hour from 6:25 to 7:25 in a Jewelers Store at 2552 Fond du Lac, a grocery store & shoe shop.
12-1-1910
Wittman missed 1:35 Report & came to Sta. at 2:50 AM.
12-3-1910
Kelling reported at 8th & Chambers at 2:50 & went home to lunch. Came out of house at 3:00 o'c. Spent 29 min. in house.
12-4-1910
Kelling went home to lunch at 2:30 AM. Staid in 30 min.
12-20-1910
Ptm. Al. Wegner reported at Richards & Concordia at 11:20. Went to 1518 Concodia (Fahls Bakery). Went in & staid until 12:13. Spent 48 min. in the place. I met him at the box, Richards & Concordia. He said he had been to lunch.
12-28-1910
12:25 AM. Patrolman Buege reported at Center & Richards St. Went to G. Sonnenberg's Saloon, SE cor. Richards & Clark. Went in front door. Staid about 5 min. Came out. Went S. on Richards St. at 12:35 AM.
1-20-1911
Ronowski went a block out of his beat at 1:35 to Fratney & Clark. Reported & went to Station with Johann. His route is Wright to 2nd to Hadley. I watched him. Got to Sta. after men had gone in.
2-16-1911
Vogt & Nehls in church at 19th & Center St, from 4:00 to 4:35 AM. Temp. 36. Foggy.all night. Damp.
3-7-1911
C. Schroeder came out of school house, 22nds & Center at 1:20. I watched there from 12:45 to 1:20. He took car E on Center St. from 22nd after reporting on 23rd St.
3-17-1911
Kelling missed 4:30 AM report.
3-20-1911
Riemer missed 5:35 report & didn't come to Sta. I went to look for him. Met him at 3rd & Center coming to the Sta. Said he was looking for a tramp dentist that hangs around Dr. Wedges office. He went in & sat down & went to sleep. Temp. 40 deg. Fair & pleasant.
3-20-1911
Kelling went home to luch at 1:40. Came out at 2:10 AM. He was 4 blocks out of his beat at 1:40.
3-30-1911
O'Gorman missed 1:30 Report & came to Sta. at 2:35 AM. Said he sat down & went to sleep.
4-2-1911
Vogt went into H. Kittlemans Saloon at 29th & Locust at 2:25 AM. Staid till 2 :40. Saloon dark. They used flashlight.
4-3-1911
Vogt came to Kittlemans Saloon, 20th & Locust at 2 AM. Rapped on window. Went in the front hall door. Staid 10 min. Barkeeper went into hall twice.
4-6-1911
Ptm. E.F. Vogt came to Herm. Kittleman's Saloon, SE cor. 20th & Locust at 2:10 AM. Waited outside till lighted were out & then went in the hall way. Came out 10 min. later with pipe in his mouth, smoking. Weather fair & cool. Nice weather to walk. Temp. 36 deg.
5-14-1911
5:10 AM. Ptm. Ptm. Frank Burns sleeping in Eng. House, 3rd & Auer Ave.
5-23-1911
Kelling missed 3:30. I told operator to give him his mark this time.
5-24-1911
Nehls went into the yard rear of Thatchers Saloon, 1716 Center at 12:05 AM. Came out at 12:15. Returned & went in the rear door. Staid 5 min.
6-26-1911
Kelling missed 5:30 AM report & came in 20 min. late. Excuse: Headache & went home, took powder & sat down & went to sleep.
7-15-1911
At 12:03 AM Nehls went to Thatchers back door for a drink. He didn't stay over 5 min. I told him to stay away & save himself a lot of trouble.
11-30-1911
Partolman Orth went home from beat. Sergt. Linden called for me. I met him at 11th & Hadley. We went to Orth's house. found him in bed, drunk.
12-1-1911
Orth resigned.
12-8-1911
Kelling on special duty watching RR crossing. Found him asleep at 4:15 AM.
12-25-1911
Dobratz left beat on Center St. Car that gets to 3rd St. at 7:40. Got off at 5th & Center. Had 15 nmin. to wait before coming in.
5-4-1912
Mundt absent from Roll Call last night. Over slept. Has been moving & said he was very tired.
5-10-1912
Ptm. Chas. Schroeder in Van Ellis Store 9:30 to 9:59 last night. In full view of St.
5-12-1912
Riemer came in late for roll call. 5 min. after men were gone. Said he was watching Schultzs Saloon, SE cor. 3rd & Wright. (Winter's beat) which was none of his business. Said they were raising hell all night. I investigated & found it is not true.
5-20-1912
Betts & I saw Rennen come out of Koester's Saloon SW cor. 3rtd & North Av. He discovered us standing in Marble Shop door & tried to start an argument. He was half drunk.
6-8-1912
Mundt:- Absent from roll call. I went to his house & rang the bell at least 15 times & received no reponse, Met Schaetzel & he went to the daoor & rang the bell twice. Received no reply. Called up the Sta. Kpr. Wussow said he had reported from beat.
7-2-1912
Kelling absent from roll call last night. Went to his house & got him out of bed at 12:10 AM.
7-5-1912
Bet. 11 & 12 o'c last night someone Tel. the Sta that Ptm. Aug. Gutknecht was drunk. Shortly before 12 they called again. I went to 8th & chambers. Met Sergt. Linden with G. G. was drunk. I took him home.
7-9-1912
Mundt absent from roll call without leave. Had been in court in morn & at City Atty's office in PM.
7-30-1912
F. Kienzle absent from roll call. Reported from beat. Overslept. Kelling absent from roll call. Says child was sick. Reported from beat at 12:10 AM
8-24-1912
Glass absent from roll call. He called Sta. Keeper. Was told to go to beat at 12:03.
8-30-1912
Dieman absent from roll call. Says he overslept. I warned him & told him to get a clock & see that it was in order. Schultz absent from roll call. Says he overslept.
9-7-1912
Nunnstoecker absent from roll call. I woke him. Very hot all day.
9-9-11912 Geyer absent from roll call. Overslept. I went to his house & woke him
9-20-1912
Glass absent from roll call. Forgot gun & club & had to go home after them. Got to Sta. at 12:20 AM.
10-5-1912
Kelling reported at 11th & Locust at 1:42 AM. Went home, came out at 2:32 AM. Walked north on 10th St.
10-6-1912
F. Kienzle absent from roll call. Met him in front of his home. Overslept. Met him at 12:10 AM. He went directly to beat.
10-6-1912
Kelling left his beat, 10th & C.at 1:45 AM. Went to his home at 1:48. Came out at 2:20. Talked with Ptm. Truelove on Cor. 10th & Locust till 2:24. Back to beat at 2:27. Total time absent from beat - 42 min.
10-13-1912
Kelling went home at 1:42 AM. Came back to beat at 2:32 AM. Absent from beat, 50 min.
10-14-1912
Kelling went home at 1:40 AM. Came out of the house at 2:28. Went to his beat. Total absence from beat. 52 min. allowing 2 min. each way from & to beat.
10-15-1912
Kelling reported, 11th & Locust. at 1:35 AM. Went home enterd house 1:39 Came out 2:32 AM. Went to 11th & Locust to report.
10-17-1912
Kelling went home at 1:35. Came out of his house at 2:48 AM without hat or coat. Went to Box at 11th & Locust. Reported 13 min. late. Went home. Staid till 3:30 AM. Went to 4th & Locust to report.
10-26-1912
Kelling went home at 1:45 AM. Came out of his house at 2:40AM. Went to 1th & Locust to report. 55 min. in his home. Total time off beat 1 hr.
10-27-1912
Kelling went home at 1:45 AM. Came out of the house at 2:30 AM. 45 min. in house. Usually lights up about 5 min. Then turns the lights out.
11-5-1912
Neunstoecklin absent from roll call. Overslept. Called up from 8th & Chambers at 12 o'c.
11-6-1912
Kelling went home at 1:45 AM. Came out of his home at 2:30. Went to 11th & Locust to report. One hour off his beat. 48 min. in house.
11-7-1912
Kelling left his beat at 6:48 AM. Went home. Came back to beat at 7:38. Absent from beat - 50 min.
11-29-1912
Burmeister missed his 1:45 AM report & came to the Sta. at 2:15. He had been drinking but was not drunk.
12-7-1912
2:15 AM. Tenner in Saloon NE cor. 4th & N. Av. Standing neat the dor with coat off. Stood there 5 min. Came out and walked North on 4th.
1-23-1913
Kiehl in Eng. House reading paper with coat off. Don't know how long he had been there. This was 12:05 AM.
1-29-1913
Dieman, absent from roll call. Met him on the way down. 20 min. late.
2-9-1913
Found Kelling asleep in the basement of Eng. House 25, 3rd & Auer at 5:15 AM. Took his badge off his coat which he hung on a nail & went out. At the Box at 3rd & Burleigh he begged so hard I gave him his badge back again.
3-12-1913
Fred Kienzle absent from roll call. Reported at 3rd & Burleigh.
3-23-1913
Geyer absent from roll call. Went after him. He got his 1st report in at 12:19.
3-27-1913
Chas. Schroeder went to the back door of the Paris Theater, 22nd & Center, at 12:52 AM. Opened it & went in. Came out at 1:25. Total time inside, 30 minutes.
3-28-1913
Burn absent from Roll Call. I went to his house, woke him & got him out at 12:30 AM.
3-29-1913
Wittman walking with Grabowski (on Luhms beat) from Hadley to Chambers 1:25 AM.
4-7-1913
Dieman absent fom roll call. Went to his house. Woke him up. He put in first report at 12:45 AM.
4-8-1913
Kelling went into Berg's Bldg, Gr. Bay & Ring St. at 2:45. Came out at 3:30. Actual time 45 min. in the place.
4-13-1913
Kelling 12 min. late. 3:15 AM entered Berg Bldg. 2405 Ring. Came out at 5:38 AM. Total time 47 min.
4-15-1913
Mundt in Trapp Bros. Milk Depot 2:30 to 2:55 AM.
5-30-1913
Dieman absent from roll call. Overslept. Called up at 12 o'c & I sent him to his beat.
6-7-1913
Dieman absent from roll call. Overslept.
7-22-1913
Frank absent from roll call. Got him out of bed. He got to the Sta. at 1:20 AM.
9-4-1913
Fire started in C. C. Bedding Co's. Factory at about 4:45. I saw smoke at 4:55 AM while I was standing on 22nd & Center. I got to fire, 32nd & Fond du Lac at 5:10. Found Dieman & Vogt there. Dobratz came at 6:15 AM.
9-30-1913
Nehls went to Bakery at 19th & Center at 2:50. Came out at 3:30 AM. 40 min. in.
10-1-1913
Nehls went into Bakery at 2:48 AM. Came out at 3:21 AM. Total time- 33 min.
10-2-1913
Nehls went into Bake Shop, 19th & Center at 2:45 AM. Came out 3:25 AM. Total time inside 40 min.
10-3-1913
Schultz absent from roll call. Came to Sta. at 12:09 AM. Says he overslept. Called up at 11:50 PM. Said he was on his way. Glass absent from roll call. Called up at 11:50 PM, said he couldn't get in on time. Came to Sta. at 12:30 AM. Says he overslept. Nehls went into the Bake Shop at 19th & Center St. at 2:41. Came out at 3:21. Total time inside 50 min.
10-7-1913
Nehls went into Bake Shop at 19th & Center at 2:52 AM. Came out at 3:25 AM. Time in 33 min.
10-8-1913
Nehls in Bake Shop, 19th & Ceneter. 2:55 to 3:30 AM. 35 min.
10-13-1913
Renner in Nevermans Saloon, 1180 Hopkins, 12:20 to 1:25 AM.
11-18-1913
Nehls in Bake Shop, 19th & Center, 2:50 to 3:35 AM. Time 50 mim. Temp 50 deg.
12-7-1913
Schumacher absent from roll call. I met him at 12:15, Richards & Center on the way to the Sta.
12-24-1913
Ptm. Renner in Kroenings Saloon, 6th & Burleigh Sts. 12:20 till 1:40 AM. Went home quarrled with his wife & went away at 2:45. Told Schumacher to watch. Koehler heard the quarrel with me in the neighbors yard.
2-3-1914
F. Kienzle absent from roll call. Went to his house. Got him out of bed. Said he was sick & couldn't work. Told him he ought to have notified the Sta. Keeper. He was sober. I think he was sick.
2-6-1914
Nehls mised 4:40 & 5:40 reports. Under the influence of liquor at 7:40 AM at 16th & Center. Came to Sta. Quite sober.