National Republican., 1880-11-16
THE ARLINGTON sWIYD1rRs.
Commemorative Attorney Burke's Views
Upon tho Subject.

upon tho SubJect.
A reporter of The REPUBLICAN interviewed
Mr.. Edmund Burke, commonwealth Attor-
ney for Alexandria county, Va, yesterday
with reference to the swindling at Arlington
in that county.
Mr. Burke said 'I have never received
any official notification from the District au-
thorities concerning these outragos, nor has
any complaint ever been made to any officer
of Alexandria county so far rs l am aware.
My information upon the subject has been de-
rived almost entirely from the publications Of
the Washington press which have attracted
considerable attention here as elsewhere, inss.
much as they exposed system of brigaudago
organized at the national capital almost rival.
ing those Of the old world. In order to dc.
str1y this organization, whose acts are not
only bringing discrodt upon the community
that tolerates It, but reflects injurously upon
the power for protection the law is supposed
to possess, addressed communication to the
officers Of the police of Georgetown, ID. c.,
quoting u full the Virginia statute upon the
subject and requesting their cooperation with
the officials of Alexandria county In urroeting
aud bringing to Jail at Alexandria persons 90.
lug over from the District and thus offending
against tho law, and promised that these
officers should be duly compensated for
their services Soon .aftcrward the case
OF Rubonstein occurred, who was arrested in
Washington for having under the pretext
OF being \ guide induced u stranger to 60 to
Arlington, and there, in conjunction with
others by presenting pistol, robbed him Of a
large sum. Upon hearing of this case, in COM
pIuy with Mayor Smith of Alexandria who
exhibited Gommcndabe zeal in the matter
and who detailed the chief of police, Captain
Webster, for tho purpose, / came o Washing.
ton to get Rubcustcin informally turned over
for punishment, or failing IN that, to have him
committed to await rcquistion from the
governor Of Virginia. Owing TO the facilities
Ol escape afforded criminals upon our border
by crossing the Potomac river, 1t has been tho
custom In Virginia to surrender them TO the
District authorities in such cases without tho
expense, lormaltcs and delays attending y
requisltion. | had hoped TO obtain jurisdiction
OF Rubenstcin's person in the same way, and by
bringing him tO speedy justice in Virginia,
where the penalty for the ohcnse with which
lie was charged Is death, TO terminate at once
these hcinous and vexatious crimes, but the
lieutenant at the Tenth.strect station.hOuso,
where lie was confined, parleyed with Ruben
stein, aud refused TO give him up. deter
mined to push the matter to the fullest
extent aud lie then called upon tue
assistant United States district attorney, aud
l requested him to have Rubenstein commit.
tel at the police court on the next day TO an
swer 4 requisitiOn ofthc governor. Mr.. Perry
informed me lie would probably prosecute
him for larceny in the District, and that if
Rubeustein was held for oxtmdiliou lie would
inform me. l know nothing further OF the
case, except that the papers of The next day
contained the announcement that the charge
against him had beeu dismissed aud the cul-
prit discharged. The officials OF Alexandria
county have always heretofore borne the rep.
utation Of being faithful aud yisilant In the
discharge Of their duties, aud the iurlcs that
Of being prompt aud unsparing in melting out
Justice to tIuuggrcssO sOTs OF the law, and there
fore the statement contained in the Washing
ton Post, in tO-day's issue, that tho fault seems
to be with tho Virginia authorities who have
made no effort to stop this ncfirious business
within their borders,' is as unjust and unde.
served US it is grRtulous."