**Mr./Constable/Sheriff – Johnstone/Johnson &c (both threads.)

Original: The unamed Constable is arresting Mr. Johnstone the Mate. In salty popular speech a “Mister” is a ship's officer. ie: First Mate or Executive (Mr. Roberts, Mr. Spock &c.) It's a wee bit more complicated than that but nevermind.

Covers: In all my time there I never once heard the title of “Sheriff” used. Afaik the Bahamas were not a shrieval county and the Royal Bahamas Police Force always used the standard UK system – Constable up to Chief Superindendent. The courts had Baliffs.

Trivia: Well after the song was written howsomever… Ernest Walton “E.Dubya” Johnston (1884-1996) became the first Sheriff of Flagler County, Florida (1917-1925.) He moved over to County Commissioner; then back to Sheriff (1937-1941) and so was in office for all the WPA recordings. Johnston retired from government as the Flager Co. Judge (1945-1956.)

Small world, the county was named for Henry Morrison Flagler (1830–1913)(Standard Oil &c.) E.W. Prouty (see above) was the musical director for the Flagler hotel system, including Nassau.