Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-14
THE WAR ON THE ROBBERS, RING

Action Of the Cislzens' Committee.
The citizens committee g their meeting yes
terday, after our report closed discussed the con-
diton of the police force. and after remarks fr ON
numoer OF the members as 10 the necessity or
POLICE REORGANIZATION,
Mr. A. I. Britton offered a resolution reciting that
the welfare OF the District required a more vigor.
Gus administration OF the police system, and re-
commended that the present force be thoroughly
reorganlzed; This resolution was adopted, and IL
was ordered to be sent to the District Commission
erS.
THE INDICTED DETECTIVES.
The Importance OF speedy trial OF the cases
against the indicted detectives was discussed, and
MI K c. Fox offered a resolution instructing the
| chairman to ask the Attorney General to appoint
specal counsel to prosec ute the indicted parties
IN the detective cases in view OF the pressure OF
@ BUSINESS upon the district attorney This resolu.
A resolution ofrered by Mr. W. W. Burdette, ex-
pressing tne appreciation OF the committee OF the
nearly cooperation OF the Attorney General and
the general agent OF the Department OF Justice,
MI. Brewster Cameron. was adopted.
THE STRAW BOND SYSTEM.
In discussing the prevalence OF the straw bond
system In this District Mr.. II. II. Wells said that
only one case had come within his knowledge OF a
pail bond being paid or ordered. After further
olScusslon the committee adjourned, subject TO the
call OF the chairman.
BERRY's STATEMENT coRRoBoRATKD.
w. H. Veerhon, OF 9l6 9TH street, writes to the
chairman OF the citizens committee, corroborating
that portion OF Berry's statement which was print
ed In saturdays STAR relative to the robbery of
MIS- Mrs COL Asmussen's house. 9ss street, on FRI
longed to the writer's wife. He states that the de-
tectlves were informed, but "as no reward was
onered, no goods were returned"
BERRY's STATEMENT coNTRApIcTEp
Berry's statement published in yesterdays STAR
reiteratlng the charge that Mr.. A. B. Williams was
cognzant OF the operations of this thieves combi-
nation, has ELECTED from the latter reply In the
shape OF letters from Police On1cer West, Mr..
SaarIes e0ar M Pelham and Henry Lacey, all Of whom
Omcer West writes: 81 would say that the state
ment OF Ed. Berry that Informed him that mad
seen the sealskin coat taken from Mr. Finckles at
| your of11ce is entirely untrue" He denies ever
navlng seen the coat, or having said so to Berry.
MT charles Pelham, under date OF March 18th,
writes: "The statement OF Ed. Berry published IN
this mornings Republican is untrue. Ibid not In
form him that his concession was true as far as
| licitatton Of yourself and Geo Mantz NV visit to
tne Jai was not for the purpose OF seeing him, but
to see Everett d. Berry, one of my clients"
you would DEFEND him for nothing II he would re-
1use 10 consent to the return OF the stolen ar
teles." s,,, He denies ever having told Berry that
the seal skin sacque was at Williams ofYlce, and
adds:-"I also wish to say that since received
your letter have visited Berry In the JAIL and ne
gard to his statements about the message and that
ne Is willing to correct 1t at any time"
THE MISSING MEN-MANTZ AND SMITH
1t Is stated that we'll known member OF the
police force has Just returned form New York.
where he was sent to arrest Geo. Mantz There
end 1t Is highly probable that the mission to Ne
YORK was not successful. Smith IS also still at
large and the arrest OF both OF these men remains
yet 10 De made. 1t Is expected that there will be
developments shortly which will necessitate bring
ing the detective matter to the attention OF the
which ohoro offvon nf tho
facts recently brought to light.
Action Of the Federation Of Labor.
WoRKlNGAEN ANXIOUS TO COOPERATE WITH THE
CITIZENS COMMITTEE IN PURGMa THE CITY OF
THIEVES.
At the meeting last evening Of the Federation Of
Trade and Labor Unions at their hall, corner AZ
street and Pennsylvania avenue Mr. A. NJ Ken.
ady, the president, read the report OF Chairman
). w. Thompson, OF the committee OF safety and
expressed the opinion that all classes or honest
citizens should come together to sustain the action
OF the men who boldly inaugurated the investipa-
sMa exposure OF tne system by which honest
ganlzed thieves In colluson with faithless oicials
he doubted whether any OF the men indicted
lied, unless the people united their influence to
purge the community of the gangs OF thieves and
ana Of delegate from the
lions, which were unanimously adopted:
THAT the delegates here assembled unite with ali
Soou StLono II IetuIDln8 CnankS 10 the Citizens
Committee OF Safety in their laudable undertaking
OF Kidding our community OF the organized gangs
OF thieves and corrupt ofclals that infest the ma
Cional capital, and that Mr. John W. Thompson,
chairman, and b. H. Warner, acting secretary of
SAID committee, be LOtif1ed that this representa-
tive body OF the workmen of Washington CITY
stand ready to cooperate with the COMMITTEES OF
Safety In such practicable methods OF purging this
community OF organized thieves, whether OF high
or low degree, and their a1ders and abettors as
may be devised by general committee OF the In
dustrial Classes; that the report the Committee
OF Safety shows the necessity for some extraord-
wh2 maintain themselves by honest pursuits
against the vicious and the criminal classes and
that we believe general vigilance committee
est and useful occupations, organized with the
avowed object OF purifying the character and rep
utatlOn OF this metropolis, would have beneficial
enect, both local and national" etc,