The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-10

mous near as can ascertain, there has been be-
twsn 81 100 and 81 $40 worth OF property stolen With
in the last three months. The thieves manage A 40
ssroity that those board Of the vessel oanpet
detect HIM They muffe their oars 40 as 10 nrsvsnt
th' III rem making noise and In this man nsr they
approach vessel without tear of detection and stesI
iope and other articles not too heavy to be removed
vitb facility These pirates have boon known to IN
sbackle III. cahs o vessels kuo Sius that they were
10 Fail the next morning, aud could not stay to drag
fer their anchors and when the vessel id gone 10
sea they would get anchor up aud sell it, have
heard Of several instances OF this kind.
To show with what dextrrity aud skill they manage
their operations. would state that on occasion
they went On board II the ship liarhlnger at night
and removed the large bell and carried IL away with
out making the l,sst noise or alarming the psrsens
sound Of the bell
Gases have been known where private watehmen =
have been employ I'd 20 watch liquor, ana whde lying
on the docks the river thieves have gone underneath
the bridges of the dock at Low water and by boring
holes through casks have empted them Of their con,
tents without being detected In this way they steal
oil molasses and other liquids and sometimes coffee,
especially when they have found holes in the flooring
Of the bridge
large number of the juvenile thieves mentioned
in my report 70 your Honor the LIST cay of Novem
Der last are ia the abt OF assisting the liver thieves
in manner that clearly indicates perfect knowledge
OF the mystery of arime. Merchandise having been
landed from vessel. aud piled up on the docks, Is
watched. aud at favorable opportunity, rolled
into The river ~hen the river thief quickly transfers
the article to his boat and the spoil is divided between
them.
other times the vagabends will contrve to get up
sham hight on tue dock in the neighborhood Of the
OF the hands board is directed to the fracas the
river thieves slip stealthily board and carry of
mauy articles before the people their work
and they operate IN the same manner TO divert the at
tentioD Of the men from side of the dock to the
other. to enable them to articles into their
boats uDperceiyed.
They also assisted by persons who go around in
boats, for the ostensble purpose Of buying old rope
others that board of vessels for the purpose
OF buying slush, who convey information to their
frderaes TO enable them successfully to carry their
operations
Blame cannot be attached to the police OF the seve-
raj river wards under the present SYSTEM since IL is
impossible single man having several blocks OF
stores to watch to take of the
sells lying at our docks anchored in the stream;
and even where the rogues are discovered they sell
dom can be arrested for the want Of means to follow
after them
That the merchants and shipping interest should
bsv. opei protection, cannot be denied; and 1t be-
comes matter OF the first Importance not only to the
commerce OF city but the lest interests OF the
community geberay-in preserving the morals Of the
city some efeetual remedy should be adopted
without delay
THIS subject Is daily assuming a more important
apec and shoGid be- wanting in the discharge of the
dutits conhded to me, did not invite your donors
attention TO it, especially when it is considered that
In addition TO the large amount of property which
be saved from pillage large lumber of persons who
now sub'ist and rich by purchasing stolen
merchandise will be mpeled to become honest and
to follow more worthy and honorable pursuits.
The police department. with its present powers ane
guard the streets and buildings OF the city
but IL has facilities for supervising the waters or
tie harbor Our police jurisdiction extends to low
water mark, on the Jersey aud Long Island shores,
should be furnished whereby the members Of the de-
part may be enabled to reach offenders well
upon the water the land This city should be
provided with such conservative appliances tor unor-
tunstely our limits are now swarming with European
rogues who must be met with weapons similar to those
which operated so efeetually in driving them from
the OLD world We watch ferries rail cars
and bridges but We cannot watch some twenty miles
ofrve font without boats to follow and detect deprs
dators WHO operate in boats.
In this view of this important subject, would
spectfuly beg leave to direct your Honors attention.
aud 10 the organization of River Police which
shall be furnished with well built and substa initial
boats. under such rules and regulations may seem
advisable by the Councils Of the city 1t is not in-
tended that this branch of the department shall be
in me diatey as full and efficient the great
interests to be protected imperatvey and instantly
demand but TO test the experiment. Of three boats.
To test the experiment, three boats would be sum
cient one to take charge Of the fret patrol district,
and the Others to take charge of the patrol districts
lying Dove the fret district the North and East
Rivers
The expense attending this system would be com
psravely IihiDg &c II would not require any sddi--
oDsl policemen while the protection IL would afford
TO our merchants and the amount of crime that would
thereby be prevented would be OF inc benefit
to the city.
l cannot, therefore, too strongly urge upon your
Honor the necessity Of adopting i'm mediate mea-
tures to prevent these dcpredatons aud thus Afford
the protection to demanded BY the ext
gencies OF the case.
All which is respectfully submitted
GEO. W. MATsELL, Chief of Police.