The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-14
Outline OF the Work Performed by the Citi-
zens' Committee in Hunting Down
Thieves aFd Their Abettors.
West Point -Academy to BE Kept
Abreast ofthe Foremost Colleges.
A Dangerous Counterfeit of the Silver Dol
lar-Interestng Interview with the
Malagassy Embassy Notes.
CRIME AT THE CAPITAL.
Revelations Made in the Report to the Citi-
.zens' Committee.

Revelations Made in the Report to the Citi-
,zens' Committee.
WASHINGTON, March 13-The citizens COM
mittee organized some weeks ago to take con-
certed action for the SUPPRESSION of crime in
this city, particularly burglary and robbery,
which had become so alarmingy frequent.
while detection and punishment of thieves
had become correspondingly infrequent, met
this afternoon to receive the report of the
chairman, John w. Thompson, upon the
work accomplished. The report is volumin-
Gus, and discusses the situation which neces-
states the movement and details the steps
leading up to the results accomplished. These,
in a general way, have been published from
day to day, and in conclusion are thus
summed up:
First-The committee discovered the ex-
istence of organized combinations to rob the
city and protect the guilty perpetrators OF
the crimes
Second-The committee discovered that
while the thief relies upon receivers of stolen
goods to take and dispose of plumber, he de-
pends upon detective officers, and sometimes
upon other members of the police force, to
secure himself from arrest, trial and convic-
ton.
Third-The committee discovered who are
the principal receivers of stolen goods, as
as well as the names of the officers charged
with the detection of crime on whom the
thieves relied for protection.
Fourth-The committee has been able to
supply proof of the facts and circumstances
which resulted in the suspension of por-
ton of the force, and not only demonstrated
that separate organization of few we'll
known persons as detectives does not tend to
either prevent or detect crime, but
finally Sanurod tho ohOlifinp hv of 10
goess, of the entire detective force.
Fifth-The committee not only discovered
the names of the perpetrators of large
number of crimes, before unknown, but
placed such testimony before the grand Jury
as resulted in the finding of thirty-four in
dlctments, principally against detective Of
ticers and receivers of stolen goods, which
they deem it to be of most vital importance
TO have speedily brought to trial; and finally
have secured such full and adequate infor-
nation in relation to the operations of the
criminals named and the methods of their
confederates in the police force and among
dealers whose shops dot more than one
OF the streets. who alone make crime easy
and detection impossible, and that informa-
ton has been so fully placed before the pub
lie that if these investigations are not con-
tlnued and these combinations broken up,
the public officers, whose sworn duty it is to
see that the laws are faithfully executed and
the guilty punished, will be justly charge
able for what the citizens may hereafter suffer
from criminal depredations.
The way for the future is plain and the
labor comparatively light. Threats of vo-
lence and slanderous accusations will have
little terror hereafter TO men who conscien-
tlously engage in an organized effort
to protect life and property in our midst,
while the entire community cannot but be
sensible of the dangers from which it has
been at least partially saved, and be ready
cordially to cooperate in all proper meas
ures which may be inaugurated for the sup
preston of crime and the purging OF the
public service.
A STRONG ILLUSTRATION.
In illustration of the above, it appears that
detectives were not only acquainted and
connected with the Christiancy robbery
but one of them planned the crime, sent for
an expert thief to execute it, received tn e
stolen jewels In his own hands, sent to New
York for go-between to buy them, haggled
ABOUT the price to be paid therefor, and sold
them for 81, 000 receiving four $500-bills in
payment, two of which bills he exchanged
for smaller money and divided as follows;
5000 to witnesses who furnished statements,
$500 to fellow-detective, $500 to the man
who stole the property. and kept $500 for his
own share of the plunder, and finally he
went.to the depot, and finding he was clear
OF his fellow-detective, actually carried the
jewels to the depot, where he delivered them
in due form and with all proper ceremony to
the go-between, who was then in a car and
waiting for them.
hazard of crime was reduced to the lowest
possible rate; indeed it might be said there
was comparatively no hazard at all.
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