Unhappy Halloween for fake cop sent to prison

A century ago this month, a fake Burlington cop imposed fines on people for “fornicating” in parked cars. Of course he then pocketed the money. He was convicted and hauled off to prison Oct. 22, 1926, leaving plenty of time for “lovers’ lane” shenanigans to resume the nights before Halloween.

• Robert Ormiston actually had been a legit Burlington cop a year earlier — but only for two weeks! So the rascal was using revoked credentials to conduct this little side project.
• Witnesses say Ormiston intimidated his victims with a gun and a “blackjack.” That was an early police “baton” or “billy club.”
• This news clip has two errors. It was published Oct. 22, not Oct. 2, and the offender’s name is misspelled “Orminston” in the headline. It’s actually Ormiston.

This other report is almost illegible, but does include some worthwhile details about Ormiston’s MO.

And now, some relatively routine items from 50 years ago, October 1976: