Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-03-05

In response to the petition of promi-
uent citizens which was presented to
the Council last Thursday, charging
inefliciency upon the police force,
Marshal Carrillo publishes a>card de-
Tending his department. He says:
i would respectfully state to the
public in general that our city police
have done, and are now trying to do,
what is in their power to rid the city
of the vagrants and suspicious charac-
| ters that infest our limits, but it seems
that the courts, jurors aud witnesses
can not do anything to convict these
human pests
1t is rot the fault of the police, as is
are arrested and brought before the
proper magistrate, as my books will
show, for many different crimes, but
they are acquitted and turned loose
again upon our public streets. The
law requires such an evident proof to
convict these scoundrels that it is
pretty near a matter of impossibility
for us to bring such proof as the law
requires.
This week Fseveral parties were ar
rested for vagrancy, having no means
in the world for support, and doing
no work whatever; but the law was
ridiculed, it seems, and they are out
again, defying the vigilance of the po-
lice.
[ understand that citizens think
there are twelve policemen on duty al
ways, but am sorry to say it is not
the case. There are only six-two
horse. policemen to watch the out.
skirts Of the city in different direc-
tions, while four have to do their best
to guard the heart of the city.
Two parties have .recently been ar
rested under the vagrant law and ar
raigned before Mayor Beaudry. One
was discharged upon hearing, and the
other was taken under advisement un-
til yesterday morning. At the time
appointed for an additional hear
ing of evidence, the accused
brought witnesses to prove that he had
worked some time in the city and had
on several occasions made application
for work. This Of course was sufficient
ground for acquittal under the law and
the man was discharged. We would
remind Marshal Carrillo that it is the
part of good officer to secure evidence
for conviction at the svme time that
he makes arrests in such cases. For
the effort which the police force have
put forth to bring these criminals to
justice they are entitled to credit, but
they should not give up their exer-
tions in this direction because two
cases have been dismissed. We feel
confident that our courts are able to
administer justice if the proper evil
dence is brought before them, but to
convict a man of vagrancy requires
explicit proof.
These laws, ifrigidly enforced, would
lead to the punishment of that danger
Gus class of thieves and black-legs
which now infests our city. But to
effect this, we must arrive at that sys-
tenn and thOroughness which the law
requires. In other cities we know that
men are convicted of vagrancy and
punished for it; why not in Los An
geles? Most of these fellows would
willingly leave the city for good if
threatened with vigorous trial and
punishment and thus we might be rid
of them by quick and easy process.
We do not find fault with Marshal
CanilO for any derelictiOn of duty, but
simply urge him to more thorough
enforcement of the laws than has ever
been secured heretofore in Los An
geles.