National Republican., 1883-03-14

the party who had bought them testified
not only to the purchase, but to his possession
of the goods for two months or more. The
man was found guilty Of the larceny, and
served term of twelve months in the pcni-
tentiary.
Tho witness just mentioned, who was the
receiver of the stolen goods, was promptly in
dicted thcrcforat our suggestion. and on his
arrest was bailcd by another of the detectives,
who, so far as VIC then knew, had no knowl-
edge of the last mentioned crime. Tho re-
oeiyor, however very shortly made this all
plain by furnishing his sworn statement and
giving his testimony before the grand jury.
From which IL appeared that both of the de-
toctives just referred to were not only ac-
quninted and connected with the Christiancy
robbery, but one of them planned the crime,
sent for an expert thief to execute II, received
tho stolen jewels into his own hands, sent TO
Now York for go-betwoen to buy them,
hagglcd abont tho price to be paid
therefor, sold them for $4,000, receiv-
ing four $500 bills in payment two of
which bills he exchanged Ifor smaller
money, and divided as follows 5000 to the
witness who furnishes ithe statement, 5000
to his fellow detective, $500 to the man who
stole the property, and kept $500 for his own
share of tho plunder; and finally ho went to
the depot and finding that the way was clear
his fellow detective actually carried the jew
els to tho depot, where he delivered them in
duo form and with all proper ceremony to
the go-betwcen, who was then in the car and
waiting for them.
Such occurrences as the foregoing would be
incredible wero they not established by most
abundant evidence which the committee
gathered and furnished to the grand jury.
The instances mentioned are enough, al
though we have in our possession proof, more
or less complete Of probably one hundred
similar transactions, involving ordinarily n
Christiancy robbery, but some involving oven
larger amounts, and in one case the loss
amounted to nearly $30,000 and tho property
was recovered at n cost of more than $4,000.
OUT INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN PROSE-
CUTED
now for about three months, but the work Is
by no means completed, and the next grand
jury should have before them many moro
cases than tho last jury had time to consider
although they were extremely faithful, dill
gent, and paintaking, giving many hours of
each day to the consideration Of this matter,
and bringing into court thirty-four indict-
ments, mostly against former detective Off
GERS.
We could never understand, until these
investigations had taken place, how 1t was
possible for thieves to prosecute their depre-
dations not only with success, but ordinarily
without even fear of detection or punish
ment; but one of this class, by no means
especially an expert, committed more than
thirty burglariess-l robberies from the houses
of citizens in less than two years. obtaining
thereby seaskin sacques, suits of clothes, sill
yer, diamond rings, watches, jewIry, money,
and in fact almost every description of per-
sonal valuables. These crimes were nearly
all committed in the day time, or at least be-
fore 10 o'clock at night, and the goods were
generally in the hands of the receiver ofstolen
goods within an hour after the burglary was
committed. In but one instance did that thief
attempt to conceal the property.
The place of business of the receiver with
whom he principally dealt was in densely
populated portion of the city, and within n
stones throw of Pennsylvania avenue, public
resort where some of the detective officers
could be found almost every day and night of
the year.
His business seems to have been conducted
there in thoroughly systematic and business
like way. On the thieTs entering the receiver
would look at his plunder, ask how much he
wanted on it, and commonly complied with
his demand upon the understanding always,
however, that If the purchase did not prove
remunerative to the receiver the matter
would be made right on the next transaction
between them.
1t is astonishing how small an amount
compared with the value Of the property was
advanced. Stealing was, indeed, to the thief
an unremunerative business, and the reasons
they must offer to return the goods at n price
so moderate that tho owner would commonly
be willing TO pay; out of that sum the detect
ives must have their share, and the receiver
his, which was always large.
Under such system the hazard of crime
was reduced to the lowest possible rate; in
deed, il might be said that there was
comparatively no hazard at all, because
if the thief was discovered in the act,
and identified, and warrant issued for
his arrest, the detective who shared
in the plumber communicated the fact 10 the
receiver and, the receiver informing the
thief that he was wanted, the latter quietly
made an excursion dewn the river, or to Bal
timore, or to some other point at conven-
lent distance, where he remained only II short
time, when he returned to resume his depre.
datons on the defenCeless people of this city
Knowing as we now do the workings of
THIS ORGANIZED BAND OF ROBBERS,
we can see plainly that thioving can be meas.
urably stopped only by destroying and blot
ting out of existence the shops Of the re.
CeiVers of stolen goods, and by preventing
Justice, and wo therefore recommend to the
committee and the citizens that their efforts
should be directed to reforms in these paFtc.
ulars.
Ono would naturally suppose that it would
not bo difficult to prevent officers of the
lOICc lIOn DcCOhluB lHcUlbclNth InC
aiders and abettors of crime and the pro
tectors of criminals, and perhaps il would
not be so but for the fact that the whole force
of about two hundred officers was in this re-
spect put practically within the control of the
six detective officers, for the practice has
been, as we understand, to assign the more
important cases Of reported crimes to one OF
the other of the detective officers, with whom
the other members of the police force did moi
undertake to interfere, and thus it came thai
the whole business drifted into their hands
and they not only had thus the control of tn,
police force, but they We're also in combina
tion with the receivers of stolen goods, pro
tecting them to the same extent and by the
same means with which they protected
thieves.
Although the work in which we are engaged
as has before been said, has only been begun
and ought not to cease until the organization
to rob aud plunder has been broken up, ant
those engaged therein have found home in
side the doors of penitentiary, i congratu
late you that we have already
ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING RESULTS
First. The committee have discovered tn,
existence Of organized combinations to rol
the citizens and protect the guilty perpetra
tors Of the crimes.
Second. The committee have discovered
that, while the thief relies upon receivers o
gtolnn uOnds To take and lisuose nf his nlun