"It was ivident, yer honner, that the skeert child feart that owld vilyun more than the noime of the law."
Just then an officer who had been on duty near the South Ferry stepped forward and cleared the situation.
"This old man is a peaceful, respected resident, living a little way from Battery Park. He has grown sons and daughters in the city. With a score of grandchildren making bedlam at his home, it is not likely he would steal a newsboy."
The old man looked both relieved and vexed. This unexpected intervention would help him out of trouble, but he preferred not being recognized in such a rôle. At the station he had refused to tell his name or residence.
With a smile, the judge said:
"Turn your kidnapper loose!"
Escorted by the crestfallen Michael, he left, returning to the station for money and watch.
The last words Oswald heard from this diplomatic representative of New York man-catchers were:
"Indade yez in luck to have inflooenz! It was me own resarve that yez did not git the limits! If iver Oi nades a rickomindashun, yer noime will head the soobscripshun!"
Oswald learned that in the vicinity of this arrest, Broadway was the dividing line between police precincts Nos. 1 and 2. Having been arrested on the east side of Broadway, the old man was taken to precinct station No. 1, or "Old Slip."