The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-08-13

The Police commissieners, ts'n Detectives ANA
the Thieves.
The Police Commissioners have undertaken
60 accomplish revolution in their dealings
with thieves and pickpockcts, which, if they
carry out firmly and efficiently. the public viii
have cause to be grateful for. 1t is notorious
that for long time past no one was sale in
travelling on our city railroads. omaibuscs or
ferries who had a pockotbook worth stealing
or a watch worth abstractug. Not one case
In a thousand Of robbery in this line was
ever reported, and people came by habit
quietly to submit to the guerilla system which
prevailed almost universally. Ne one thought
of appeal. ng to the police for the opinion gene
rally prevailed that the police were Gin the
ring;" and the recent developments IN the de-
tect,ve department Of the force only prove
that the public were correct in their estima-
ton of the efficiency Of that branch Of the
police establishment. Certain discoveries at
headquarters duplicating the members Of the
detective police in completely with criminals
have resulted in the order 10 supcrscde the
detective force and place the management Of
that department In the hands OF the Deputy
Superintendent. So far so good New
brooms sweep clean. The recent order
to arrest notorious pickpockets and shop
lifters is very good. 1t will probably insure 10
our citizens and strangers from the country the
comparative safety Of their pockeibooks on the
city cars aud ferryboats, aud this win
be something gained. But II seems rather
strange that it was only when the de;aica-
tions of the detectives were discovered that
the Police Commissioners appear to have been
made aware Of the extent to which the system
Of robbery upon our Gnee OF travel was car
ried. The public, however, have had sad OK
perieuce Of that system, for they were Heeced
day and night on Nhe railroad cars, sometimes
by the adroitness Of the pickpeckets-ofte by
the use of force. We have known cases when
one portion Of the gang would obstuct the
entrance Of passenger intoa cor, while their
confederatcs on the platform were niling the
victims pockets This, we need hardly say
was highway robbery; but as Gar as the inter-
vention OF the police was concerned, II was and
probably still is practised with impunity.
Very few people thus depleted Of their
money or watches ever thought Of ap-
pcaing to the police for assistance, for
the impression genersily prevailed that II
there was = detective on the car when the
outrage was perpetrated he was about the
most Likely person to have hand in the rob-
berry. The recent developments al the dctec-
tive headquarters 90 very far TO show that pub
lie opinion upon this point Is correct.
Our Metropolitan Police is en- expensive
body. The members OF the force are paid very
respectable salarics-the lowest being thou
| sand dollars year. We are heavily taxed for
its maintenance, and we have right 10 expect
some protection from it Nevertheless we
| appear to have been given up to the raids OF
burglars pickpockets and counterfeitcrs. who,
| in communication with the detective police,
| ply their game with impunity. We are dis
posed, under the circumstances, to ackncw-
ledge the performance Of . manifest duly
| on the part Of the Police Department In
| ordering the arrest OF notorious pickpockets
and thieves wherever they may be found, and
| we hope that the measure will be carried out
vigorously, without any further compromise
with the rsscals who prey upon the commune
| ty, whether In The uniform OF the Metropolitan
Police or out OF II.
HENRY A. WISE ON TEE CHrRcHEs.-Ex-Gov-