Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-17
GIVE Us DETECTIVES.
Pointers CoBeerning the Numerous
and Recent Burglsrfes.


Tbouph,ful citizens have had ther atten-
ton attraction by the bold and frequently
recurring robberies and burglaries that, OF
lste, have filled the papers OF the city. A
city correspondent of the REGISTER writes
on this subject and says:
Every morning our city daiiies tell MS of
some citizens house, store, office or some
other building having been burglarized In
Wheeling, or the neighboring towns. Thsre
seems TO be but three men in this gang.
There were three at Berlsville, three at ST.
Clairsyille, and three at Belmont, all ONE
towns. close to Wheeling, and at Wellsburg
Tuesday night, in this State. 1t is safe to
saw that they are all of and belong to our
CITY. We have gang OF three burglars In
our city. They have been here sometime
operating, both in this city and outside OF
it, and they are always together wherever
and whenever seen.
Some of them have already been in the
peniten tiary, and others OF the gang have
been many times IN jail.
This gang is now in the city setting up
another raid on some unsuspecting town
or citizen. The question by almost every
one is asked, why don't the officers arrest
these thieves and burglars? The same
question can be asked of every citizen.
Burglars and thieves don't generally let
the police and their intended victims
know when and where they are going to
make a haul. They are always on the
alert as to VINO will see them: and gener::
ally manage to keep out of the sight OF
officers aud everybody else.
There is but one way 10 hunt these burg
lars and thieves dowE, and that is BY de-
tectiyes. The Board of County Com.
missiopers and the City Council
should Jointly employ two de-
tectiyes at least, and let them
work up these fellows in the city and
county, until they are captured and con,
yicted. Unless we have detectives to AID
the city and county officers, we may look
every morning to see some ones store or
house robbed. All arrests made by the city
and county officers of burglars and thieves,
are more by accident than otherwise.
Wheeling is without any protection against
strangers who come here and prowl about
our streets both day and night, seeking for
plumber. In Pittsburgh aperson can be ar,
rested, and unless he can furnish good
and satisfactory showing for himself, ne
or she. as the case may be, is sent
TO the workhouse. This ordinance is differ
emf from our yagrant ordinance. we
should have an ordinance authorizing the
police to arrest any person known 10 De
loater, proUler, Dummer, or any otuer suS-
picious looking character.
The county and city authorities should
act in this matter at once.
We should have detectives, and council
should, without delay, pass an ordinance
giving the city sergeant and his deputies
authority to arrest every suspicious look
ing person whose antecedents are, or are
not known to the authorities.
If the citizen will assist the law othcers
in their efforts to catch the burglars and
thieves now in our city their capture will
be certain. The great difficulty is the peo'
pie expect too much OF officers and do 10th
ing themselves.
After the capture Of these outlaws
comes the nominal punishment, il any at
all, they get. 1t is about this that desire
10 say that officers have no heart or en-
couragement to risk their lives in hunting
down and catching burglars, and other
offenders, and then, through the technl-
calites OF law, have them again turned
loose on the community. American courts
would do well TO follow after the English
courts in the punishment OF criminals.
The murderers Of Cavendish and Burke
didn't have many days of probation granted
them after arrest until conviction followed,
and then the death penalty followed that
in thirty days. European courts under.
stand and appreciate the necessities OF
society better than our courts do. Swift
and sure; but a life time punishment
should be the sentence OF every burglar.