The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-06
PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS.

PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS.
Superintendent Matsell ON the Dnforces'
ment or the Professional Criminalss
Aet-Thieves To He Driven Away from
the City and To He Hunted Down In
Their Dens-Ten Arrests . Day Under
tho Act for the Last Two Wceks-The
Atmosphere To he Tee Unhealthy for
Them.
A HERALD reporter called on Superintendent
Matsen yesterday in regard to the enforcement Of
the Professional Criminals act adopted by the last
Legislature. The superintendent OF Police was at
hts desk, which was covered with returns OF ar.
rests, petitions for permission to hold procesens,
reports OF captains and other documents. He
looked hale and hearty. "You see that am very
busy the CHIEF said, asking the reporter to take
q seat 'but shall be happy TO converse with
you.a am doing all l. can to enforce
the act vigorously. Twas sworn In on Friday
On Saturday issued verbal order in regard to
this matter, and day or two afterward sent
written order, as well as copy Of the act, to all
the captains. My order was that they should follow
these thieves, even II, they, would keep out Of
sight, into their dens; that they should follow them
wherever they went and drive them out OF every
place in which they found them. They have
already brought me numbers OF these thieves" thu
Superintendent pursued, land always tell them
II the evidence is not sufcient TO convict them.
you know-that this atmosphere win be SO de-
cidedly unhealthy for them that should adviser
them to leave. tell them that mean to make 1t.
SO uncomfortable for them here that they win prev
fer any other place to New York. Thieves who
have been arrested under this act are brought to-
me every day. We take them where there ID 8
crowd, and arrest them and send them up"
REPORTER-HOw many criminals have been ar
rested under this act
have averaged for the last two weeks ten day
yes, about ten, should Judge. YOu see there's
and t the s here at
Every one tries to- do his duty. why, there are
WSerever they are ound
REPORTER-Where have all these thieves gone
other places. One merchant in South street who
who used to haunt South street now in Brooklyn.
should gladly give You list Of those arrested
tries tries are simply grand larceny" .petit arcenyW
&c. OF course, our great aim Is to prevent crime-
It is line chasing rats with good terriers; they arg
Here was in who had stolen
| watch He was young Thief with pale, sickly
dering rom one object to another, and nose and
chin as sharp as razors. The superintendent
help smiling.
| dent continued, ~ shall have returned by every
captain the number Of thieves In every precincts
nu%Sy o ssn
ments in ths lower portion Of the city ana the
I'VE shall have TO construct ventiIators in place
| Of the windows In these houses, somewhat like
those in the steerage of emigrant ships, where the
| ventilators are made to accommodate themselveE
to all the directions OF the wind" l.li
Two young burglars were now brought In, and
had arrested them and said, in his hearty voice:-
Gentlemen, thank you-l thank you, gentle
them shah take great PAINS to
board and lodge you for as long time as possible;
NJ no object IN ne word for me 50 beautiful
The younger or these thieves who had presented
! o very rueful appearance when first brought IN.
arrested. Oh, you snail have the knowledge soon,s
the superintendent SAID to him, good humoredlys
You saw N how the fellow smiled, the superin-
tendent said to the reporter. There is no class Of
people who are more jealous Of their professional
reputation than .thieves-they are more SO than
lawyers or journalists. It tickled them immensely
5e e n To %
subject. have no doubt that we shall accom-
plish considerable by the enforcement Of this act
have good material, but It has not been handled
right There was no esprit de corps in the police;
all they have been doing was to watch one
REPoRTER-In regard to the convictions You
have obtained under this act have you had much
sUPERlNTENDENr-W have lost but two. because
the subpGnaes were served too late on the wit
| nesses VI course could not sc0ld my men for
that. We ought to have some men for this WORK.
who are not able to perform night duty, but aree
| keen and shrewd and know how to serve q SUBJ
| pGna. You know there is good deal OF art In
serving q subpoena. II there is parade Of course
| . good many people will 60 with the band Now,
II we one OF these thieves, there he Ia ct once
! arrested simply because he was In the crowd. &c
| we find large thief in Wall street we arrest him
at once because can't wait TIN he steals. Then.
1 the officers make a11davits how. many times the.
thief has been arrested and convicted before, and
| that is sufficient evidence for the magistrate to
send him up for the sixty days. The effect OF this
act will be to drive thieves out Of the city the
country, 30 that they will have to enforce the act
In the country, and thieves win have sorry tim0
measures as soon as they perceive the good enect9
| OF the law in New York. An innocent man might
1 be arrested under this law but have cautioned
4 my men strictly not to make mistake
REPORTER-What is the necessary basis Of tho
arrest OF professional criminal under this actf
/ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES conviction, two or thre0
arrests and the fact that the man associates with
| thieves or course cast my net for all the fish,
under this act or any other act. Any thief who
gets into my net must take the consequences of HIS
past character and the act under which he was ar-
rested. Whenever get large thief and we can only
| give him sixty days. because we have no EVIDENCE
to convict him OF any certain crime, have his pho
tograph taken And send him round to all the police
look at him. Show them thief and it's like show.
ing young dog rat-theyl never forget him.
The reporter thanked the Superintendent for his
kindness and took his leave.