Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-07

The Matter 81 Detectives
HOW THEY SHOULD ~ sRLIcTKn
To the Editor Of TIE EvExMa STAB:
WASHINGTON, February Sth. 1859
The abolition OF the detective corps OF the
District, ana the proposed changes In the form
ard management OF the police force, are matters
In which acitizen has right to express his views,
and at least offer any suggestions that may be OF
use in reforming these departments The recent
Investigations have established, beyond doubt, the
fact that our police system Ia at least. failure;
but can readily conceive Of q system much more
practicable than that proposed by some OF our
newspapers
There have been many robberies committed in
this city. some extensive ones; and In only one IN
Brought to justice. auds q IKE Sinister SIX
the Count PULASKI were robbed in this city. and
the joint proceeds amounted. for the thieves, to
nearly 500, 600 I have since learned that ..Long
John WEIGH" the most successful OF that kind OF
thieves In his day. and who died In the Ohio peni-
Tertiary In 1880, figured conspicuously In both
Of the money or detect S the thieves since then
there have been many more or less extensive rob
berries, and only cases where the work was that OF
been satisfied. Among detectives in the broader
fields 1t Is q well known fact that police who are
posted In regard to local criminals and criminal
anairs, are perfectly useless when called upon TO
assist In the detection OF experienced criminals,
whose apparent ubiquity and fertility Of resource
explained BY the fact that professional or rather
expert thieves. for your scholarly thief processes
nothing Of the kind>, never associate with thieves
hold them In supreme contempt How unreasona-
BILE then for sol distant detective to claim. as
Sas 90 that BY on the gnt,
ton In regard to the actions and movements OF
old, experienced ''guns" SO now it is suggested
rank Of detectives and ieutenanfs Of precincts to
the maJorship and lieutenant OF the detective
corps. instead OF men OF the world, whose broader
character, ETC., viii enable them to discharge the
dutes OF the onice and protect the lives and prop
OF Inc police force who are much better fitted to
NIL the Offices than those already there see in a
local sunday paper the name OF one member OF the
He is man who has never been a hundred miles
from washington, and who could not distinguish
between a thief and an honest man. On last In
one OF the headquarters detectives standing within
-FOUR feet OF such notorious thieves as "Oyster
Jlm," Parish, Papes. and McCloskey these names
ex-detective corps) laying their. plans, and they
atterWard arrested one OF them aid held him until
the excitement attending the Inauguration OF the
In the city Of New Orleans, where a large rob
berry IS never known, the chief Of police and de-
other cities the most successful detectives and
chiefs are men who have never worn a uniform,
notably: Kelso and Jourdan in New York, Hickie
Cincinnati, and Robert Harris In New Orleans.
Why cannot men be selected from the citizens
OF Washington as well In other cities, compelled
to give good reliable bonds and be subject to dis
missal for inability or forfeiture of bonds for dis
honestly Our business men could then feel as
sured that should they be robbed the police would,
In nine cases in ten, recover the articles money
stolen, and In most cases convict the thief. Should
policemen be appointed from the ranks there are
.guns" In all parts OF the country who will flock
to this city and plunder it with IMMUNITY, and
what Is more, escape with their booty This is not
idle talk, but Is based upon reliable Information
obtained from men employed on one of the largest
Ex-POLICE AGENT.