The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-08
THE sAFEaY- QUE HOMES.
Is the Police Force Adequate :-only
Sixteen Men to Seventy-two Miles OF
Streets-What is to be Done !-Com-
munications from the Acting Mayor
and Chief of Police.

Our community are becoming aroused t6
the importance of doing something to pre-
vent the commission OF the crimes which ore
now almost q matter of nightly occurrence
That there has been an accession to the ranks
of Charleston thieves, or else an extraordinary
display OF vicious energy on their part, grow
ing out Of the hard times, is attested oy the
| long list OF thefts and burglarles reported
during the last thirty days How to stop them Is
the question. The police are comparatively pow.
eress. We have taken pains to make inquiries
on the subject and find that the total police force
OF the city consists Of one captain, two ileuten-
ants and but slxty-twO men, Including two ser.
ceants at the main Guardhouse. Wehave seventy
two miles OF streets. The largest detachment on
duty at night does not exceed sixteen men, and
the awatches'' are four hours long. These SIX
teen men are expected, By orders, to gotne entire
rounds. Doubtless they do so. We have no COM
plaint to make in this respect, but there is reason
70 feel aggrIeyed when you throw up your Win
dow at midnight, vehemently shout "Poce !"
ana see burglar kicking up his heels with sar.
castle indifference, conscious that the public In
stitution you call for is just threequarters Of
mile distant II figures do not lie, and sixteen
of Streets 1t follows, as matter OF course, that
each one must take his gentle exercise over beat
four miles and half in length. Under these cir
cumstances, what can be expected but jubilee
Of roguery? There are only two plans whereby
the evil may be cured. The first Is to increase
the police force; the second is for neighbors TO
combine and employ private watchman. FIJI
teen or twenty residences might easily be guard
ed by single man, and the cost per week would
be triding compared with the peace OF mind ana
safety OF property that would be Insured by his
presence.
1t is not improbable that an arrangement Of this
sort will be made at once by persons living In
certain portions OF the city where the Legitimate
police are looked upon as foreign curtosities, and
their movements are followed with as much IN
terest as would attach to the perambulatons OF
man from the moon.
The next important question to be considered
H. "Where's the detectives" Thereby hangs a
tale-several OF them.
P. S. Since writing the above, we have recetv-
ed the following communications:
OFFICE CHIEF OF POLICE,
MAIN STATION HOUSE.
CHARLESTON, S. c., December 8, 1S7o
TO THE EDITOR OF TIE NEWS.
GESrLRMBN-As was considering the necessi.
ty of publishing card In my own defence, in re-
ference to an article which appeared In yester-
days Courier, under the caption Of shail we pro-
tect our homes,n received letter In that con-
nection from the Mayor pro tenn, which, although
aat.erng to me, Is so full OF other facts Of impor-
tance that have concluded, with the acting
Mayors consent, to enclose correct copy OF that
letter for publication, which think will be salts
factory to ell unbiased citizens.
Very respectfully, H. W. HENDRICKS,
Chief OF Police.