Weekly Delaware State journal and statesman. (Wilmington, Del.) 18??-18??, 1869-02-05
The Vigilance Committee in New York,

PROGRESS OF THE woRK-wHAT Is TO BE
DONE ny THE WORKING MEMBERs-THEIR
PLAN OF OPERATIONS.
The secret organizations that have already
been spoken of as existing in New York,
says the Sun, have at last appointed work.
ing Committees In number Of The wards.
The leaders faced the fire In California. In
huential lawyers, merchants, and property
holders are connected with the movement,
and help 1t with both advice and money.
The following are said to be the plans for
the working members Trustworthy men,
bers OF the Committee are detailed to visit
the Police Court, Courts of Sessions, and
other Courts, TO watch the proceedings II
any well-known criminal is brought up on
charge OF outrage on the lives OF property oil
citizens, one OF the members is to take par
tcular note OF the criminals person and ap-
pearance, the name he goes by and the re-
suit of the case If he can ascertain It, II
committed, the case is to be watched through
It's various gradations, until the offender gets
the Just reward for his offence; and should
the case hang fire in any way. to find out
the cause of its so hanging fire, the persons
10 blame, and TO have, IL such be the case,
the official brought up for malleasance of OF.
hee. II the prisoner-ior the person so de-
tailed is 10 watch only one prisoner-should
be committed without bail, and should be
found at large TO cause his re.arreat: and If
this method should prove Of little avail, TO
| provide ether measures to secure the pun
ishment Of the offender.
The members of the organization in the
various wards are 10 detail persons who are
acquainted with the notorious characters in
the wards, 10 watch their headquarters, and
when they move out of their haunts, to fol-
low them at such distance that they can
watch their actions and yet not be seen.
Another portion OF this secret body Is 10
watch the police themselves, and when they
find the officers negligent IN their duties, OF
indifferent in the protection of the lives and
properties of citizens, 10 see that charges are
preferred against them before the proper au.
thorities.
Tho compromising of feonies by the police
or judicial authorities (for the purpose of re.
storing stolen property 10 the losers), and
allowing the prisoners TO escape, is not to he
countenancod IN any way; and all the mer-
chants connected with tie organization, i
they should lose property by burglars, agree
TO prosecute the offenders TO the utmost ex
tent OF the law, and their losses are to be
made good from the funds Of the association
Any ofncers known to countenance the com
pounding of any such felony to be at once
brought before some high authority of law tt
answer IN their own persons for offending
against Sic law of the State. Officers who
suddenly get rich, without any fair and ap-
parent reason, arc 10 be consider proper sub
lects OF suspicion, and their official actioni
to BIO closely watched, in order tn ascertain
whether or not they are in league with tn,
thieves in order 10 enrich themselves.
When these measures fall, the Committee
men will resort TO the short ligature and TIT
lamp post.