Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-17
POLICE AATTERs.
Our own Ds..s s,.: Give. so~'

patrolmen are furnished with an instruc-
tive book, which contains valuable sug-
gsstions to all engaged in police mat
ters. From this little work we take the
following:
The beats are coeItensive With all the
streets, lanes and alleys In London, and
the highways aud by-Ways Of the country
round about Each man is furnished
with beat card, on which the streets
confined TO his care are carefully marked
down. He is obliged TO begin at par
ticular end, and visit all the parts in pre-
scribcd order, so that the sergeant may
know where to drop on him at a given
moment. he is bound TO examine the
fastenings of every shop, factory and
other place Of business, and see that all
private houses are daily secured and all
basement windows closed, and he must
report any instance Of negligence he
may find. This is an arduous duty,
for which he gets little thanks. Ifa crowd
gather on the pavement it is his busi-
ness TO 90 straight INTO the center and
send to the right aud left the disputants
In case OF resistance he must take some
body into custody. He is particularly
instructed never to walk round about a
crowd, or appear to hesitate before TAX
ing action. Decision and self-assertion
are impressed on him as sacred duties.
The chief trouble with our police
force is owing to necessary economy.
Tho patrolmen are too few in number,
and many OF the beats cover too
great an area Of territory. 1t is impos-
sible for patrolman to see what is go
ing en- half mile away. The plan
adopted here Of ordering patrolmen to
go in pairs is a mistake; they should
separate, and while one is traversing
one section of the "beat the other is
on the lookout at the other end. AT
night especially this pairing plan is OBJ
jectionable, because thieves watch the
movements of the two officers. The
rapid driving of drays around street
corners should be prevented, many acci-
dents having occurred from this neglect
There is not a day but that the lives and
limbs of pedestrians are endangered by
reckless dray drivers.
The prairie system of driving wild
mules through the streets, forced into q
long gallop by shouting men ON horse
back, and the cracking of whips, is an
other nuisance that will lead to trouble
if not stopped.
When a party is arrested on a crimi-
nal charge, the utmost publicity should
be given to it through the newspapers.
This course ADOPTED in other cities has
had the effect of detecting criminals, and
the old system of reticence and mystery
has been shown up to be an Anticipated
humbug. The late Observation-Disclosures az
fair is strong case in point. When man
is arrested newspaper reporters should
be permitted to interview the prisoner in
order that his statements may go
out to the world side by side
with those furnished by police officers.
This is mere justice which every citizen
is entitled to, even though he may be
under arrest. Too much secrecy and
mystery savors too strongly of despot-
ism, thing abhorrent to American
ideas OF government. Newspaper men
have had occasion to study police mat
tiers for years, and can easily see the
difference between what's right and
what's wrong. Newspapers want facts
for publication, no sensational story,
but the simple statement of the matter,
and in order to get this and arrange it
properly for publication, it is absolutely
necessary for the reporter to interview
the prisoner lin the presence OF an Off
GER if required), but the interview
should always be permitted. In these
there has always been a good
natured war carried on between report
ers and police officials, the former
insisting on publication, and the latter
On secrecy. Every intelligent. newspaper
reporter is cognizant Of what an amount
Of "bosh and twaddle" is mixed up in
the detective business and it is pleas
nre to the reporter when he meets with
an intelligent detective who understands
his business as a science, and who is
ready when permittsd) to give a modest
but accurate account of the matter
under investigation and which the re-
porter desires for publication. 1t is to
The interest of newspapers and the pub
lie that this secret business should be
brushed away, and it has long since
nassed away in other cities.