Baltimore Police Museum
Baltimore Police Museum
History of Maryland Law Enforcement
Colonial Maryland
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1785 Baltimore Warrant
Arrest Warrant Dated 1785
Baltimore was formally designated a "Town" in 1729 and incorporated as a city in 1797. After the Revolution, Baltimore Town was the County Seat for Baltimore County and remained in that position until 1854. It was only in 1854 that Baltimore City enacted the position of Baltimore City Sheriff. Prior to that, the sheriff was, technically and practically, the sheriff of Baltimore City and County. So, prior to 1854, any court document from the Baltimore County sheriff would also apply to Balto. City for service or execution.
The Audley Safety Holster Company was established in the early 1900s, prior to 1905, by F. H. Audley who had previously been a Saddle, Harness, and Bootmaker. These were trades he had learned early in life as a young boy and developed over 30 in the Saddlery and Harness business.
Having started his own saddlery business in New York, at 2557 Third Avenue (Near 139th Street), in approximately 1876 and operating until 1885, F. H. Audley closed his business and went into business with Mr. P. H. Comerford remaining in Saddlery, Harness & Boot making. In 1891, Frank H. Audley went back into business himself and although making quality saddlery and boots, he struggled over the next 10 years until the turn of the century.
In the early 1900s, F. H. Audley moved his shop to 8 Centre Market Place, across from Police Headquarters and it was at this time he starting getting a lot of exposure to Police equipment. From this time, F. H. Audley filed many patents for various pieces of Police equipment which he developed and sold to many of the New York City Police Officers that utilized the services from his accessible location.
The most famous of these inventions was the Audley Safety Holster which F. H. Audley applied for patents in 1912 and they were approved on October 13, 1914. The holster incorporates a spring-loaded steel catch in the body of the holster which securely holds the pistol in place. It can only be released by using the index finger to depress the catch. It is virtually impossible for anyone other than the person wearing the holster to do this. No other retaining strap is required.
They were popular with many officers in WW1 and were also used by many American Police Departments. The Audley Company was taken over by the Folsom Arms Co., which in turn was absorbed by the Cortland Bootjack Co, and eventually became the Jaypee holster company. This particular model was probably used by a motorcycle or horse-mounted officer of the 1920-30 period.
Francis H. Audley Died in May of 1916 and by chance, I was able to find a copy of the Obituary from the New York Times May 11, 1916
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POLICE INFORMATION
Copies of: Your Baltimore Police Department Class Photo, Pictures of our Officers, Vehicles, Equipment, Newspaper Articles relating to our department and or officers, Old Departmental Newsletters, Lookouts, Wanted Posters, and or Brochures. Information on Deceased Officers and anything that may help Preserve the History and Proud Traditions of this agency. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll.
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