Hello
It has been shown here before, but given the nature of this thread it falls into the Regulation police revolver category. This Regulation Police revolver shipped on November 1926 with serial number # 4599X shown in Original Nickel finish with the shortest barrel length 3-1/2" being offered in this model. It was found at a Local gun show where I live for a price of $210.00 due to lack of Buyer Interest. It Intrigued me due to it's engraved side plate indicating it was given as a gift to Harry Anderson who was the Police Chief for Evansville, Indiana.
Normally Police side arms do not Interest me, but given the price and the fact it is in my Favorite caliber being .32 S&W Long Cartridge, the purchase of it was a No brainer to me. Shortly after buying it I contacted the Evansville, Indiana Police Department through an E-mail and made an Inquiry about their Past Police Chief, Harry Anderson. The response was reluctant to share much information with me as I assume they were suspicious of my intent & scope of the information I was asking for.
This quickly passed as I sent them the pictures below of it, and explained I had purchased this revolver to add to my collection and wished to learn more about Chief Anderson. I was answered by Sergeant Rick Hubbard sent me in return all he knew about the past Police Chief also shown below. I later learned that they started Impeachment hearing on Harry due to his on Going activity of back door sales of Spirits during Prohibition times, so he resigned as their Police chief. I was told the 3-1/2" barrel made it easier for him to carry it in a flap Holster while riding his Motorcycle.
Apparently, Harry was the head of an experimental motorcycle Brigade of officers that answered city calls on Motorcycles. Prior to this all calls within the city were answered on Bicycles. I have fired this gun and it is very accurate but given the fact it has such a rich history, and that it is in nice shape for it's age, I elected to case it and preserve it's original condition. It was on display at the annual S&WCA meeting this past spring and was in our member's Journal as one of the featured presentation revolver's at that meeting.
Here is the historical information on Harry Anderson with the Evansville Police Department. He served as Chief from 1926 to 1928.
If I can be of any other assistance, please let me know.
Sgt.Richard Hubbard
In March 1926, Nolte was hospitalized with a nervous breakdown and voluntarily took a demotion to detective, stepping down as chief in favor of Harry Anderson on March 29, 1926. Nolte continued as a member of the department until his retirement in 1931. Nolte died in 1933. Nolte's 3-month term as chief was the shortest in the history of the police department.
Harry Anderson
Harry Anderson, the 23 rd chief of police, was born in Warrick County. He became active in the Republican Party. He joined the department on November 24, 1916. Prior to joining the department, Anderson worked as a bartender. He was promoted to motorcycle man on January 7, 1918. Anderson was a member of the Evansville Police Relief Association committee that published the book "A Souvenir History of the Evansville Police Department" in 1918.
In 1919, Anderson resigned and became a car salesman. In January 1921, County Clerk Frank Grange appointed Anderson a deputy in the county clerk's office. When the Republicans took control of city hall in January 1926 Mayor Herbert Males appointed William Nolte as his choice to replace Democrat-appointed Ira Wiltshire in the chief's position. After 3 months in the chief's office, Nolte suffered a nervous breakdown and took a voluntary demotion to detective. Anderson returned to the police department after an absence of 7 years as Mayor Males's choice to replace Nolte in the chief's position.
Anderson remained Chief of Police for 33 months. The City Council launched impeachment proceedings against Chief Anderson, License Inspector Benjamin Bartlett, and members of the Board of Public Safety in September 1928. In the 1928 county elections, he was elected county clerk. In late December 1928, Anderson submitted his resignation as chief. The text of Chief Anderson's letter of resignation read as follows:
"Honorable Herbert Males and Board of Safety. Having been elected Clerk of the Vanderburgh Circuit Court the past election and as this term of office begins January first, I hereby tender my resignation as superintendent of the police department to take effect January 1, 1929."
Chief of Detectives Edward Sutheimer was appointed to fill the chief's position for the remaining year of Mayor Males' administration
When Anderson resigned, he had served a total of 6 years as a member of the police department. The department's 8-year experiment with a mounted Motorcycle patrol began in 1927 during Chief Anderson's administration, as he was in charge of it. Anderson ran for county clerk again in the election of 1932. The Roosevelt-Democratic landslide of 1932 buried Anderson, like his fellow Republicans. After losing the election, he returned to the trade that he had practiced before joining the police department in 1916, working as a bartender. In 1935, Anderson became a milkman. Later in life, he bought a dairy farm in Warrick County. After failing to make that enterprise profitable, he sold it. Anderson then moved back to Evansville, living at 209 First Avenue. He was appointed a Vanderburgh County deputy sheriff. He served as a guard at the Evansville Waterworks during World War II. In 1945 he moved to 26 East Chandler. He died on December 12, 1946. His wife's name was Bertha and he had one brother who lived in California.
I learned from this Harry Had a brother in California and I assume the Son of his Brother is who got a hold of his Regulation Police revolver and later sold it off to the guy I bought it from, who was a retired Indiana State Highway Patrol Officer. I Dug a Little deeper by contacting The Evansville, Indiana Public Library, and a woman there sent me the Pictures of Harry below in the old files they had. He was also in charge of their Motorcycle brigade an experiment they were trying using Motorcycles to answer calls with, as before this, all calls were answered on Bicycles. We have to remember this was around 1926 so I assume the Motorcycles used were either Harley Davidson's or Indian's. I can't believe just how much Harry had done in such a short life span as at the age of 55 Poor Old Harry's Heart gave out and he Passed on
