It is week 13 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge and the theme is "In The News." Aside from obituaries for this ancestor or that one, I have a few family members who made the news. In June of 1945, my maternal grandmother's name and address as well as her age was mentioned in a short article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper from Brooklyn, NY. She was in a trolley car that was struck by another when that other trolley rolled back down a hill. There were no serious injuries. My 2nd great-grandmother, Teresa (Devine) Duper and her youngest son Gerald made the newspaper post mortem in an article about a fire in their apartment that claimed their lives. Teresa's cousin, Anna Devine, was a schoolteacher in a one room schoolhouse in the rural upstate NY town of Rifton,. Anna's comings and goings was always reported in the local newspaper along with her school's activities such as spelling bees and plays. Anna was a local celebrity in that town. She was a good person and everyone loved her. She even had a school named in her honor.
This week's story is not about any of the fine folks I just mentioned but about one of New York City's finest, Steven Duper, my great-grandmother's younger brother.
Stephen John Duper, the third child born to Stephen Duper and Teresa Devine was born 20 May 1897 in Rosendale, NY which is upstate in Ulster County. Stephen married a Hungarian lady named Mary and they lived in Brooklyn, NY. In 1923, he joined the NYPD. On October 7, 1924 the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper reported that Stephen missed four days of work due to cough medicine knocking him out. This reminded me of those vintage advertisements and the potent ingredients that these medicines contained. I guess if it didn't kill you then it would eventually cure you. According to the article, Stephen stated that he took two drinks of the cough mixture on September 7 and didn't return to his senses until the 12th. Patrolman Stephen Duper was absent for four days without notifying his superior officers. He had pleaded guilty and stated that he didn't know what happened to him. The trial commissioner asked Stephen if he was married. He said that he wanted Stephen's wife there on the next trial day and the case would remain open until she appears. Stephen liked his drink. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a little something more than couch medicine that kept him out of work.
On October 20, 1928, Patrolman Stephen Duper was dismissed from the New York City police department. He had been charged with neglect of duty and violation of the regulations. He was absent without leave for five consecutive days. I guess he had one too many violations and apparently was not one of New York City's finest.
What kind of Cough Mixture did Patrolman Stephen Duper take???
I found vintage medicines and ads...
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