Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-25
MEN TO FERRET CRIME.
THE CITY'S GREAT NEED OF A
DETECTIVE SERVICE.

AS rule it is not considered 10 the
credit OF a city to say that it is decade
behind another city in some special re-
spect. OF Savannah not only that can be
spoken, but it can be added that the city
10, in at least one sense, more than a de-
cade behind its own former self. That
sense Is one, too, which all other cities of
Savannah's size and many OF much less
pretenslon deem highly important.
The criminal class generally seeks the
places where the chances Of detection are
the tewest, and Savannah has become
faVorite resort for ViolatOrs of the law
who wish to go into temporary retire
ment. This fact has become more nOto-
rious each succeeding year since the old
detective force was abolished in 1873.
Thirteen years ago Savannah had an or
ganized department under the Chief of
Police, for the detection of criminals who
are too shrewd to be caught by the ordi-
nary patrolman. The tough element in
a community soon familiarize itself with
the looks of the policemen,
them, even if not uniformed.
Nothing is easier than to keep out of the
way Of the policeman patrollinG his beat,
and whose uniform makes him cOnsplcu-
GUS block or two away in day time.
NEED OF DETECTIVE SERVICE.
Speaking of Savannah's need for de-
tective department, Chief Of Police Gen.
Anderson said yesterday that the city
ought to have one by all means. Few
men are fitted for the work of NidOcq.
Many a man may be an excellent patrol
man but poor detective. Intelligence,
courage, perseverance and secretIveness
nj NhpNr OF
be combined in a rare degree and be
added to Il natural tact tor detective
work to make a successful criminal
catcher. Whenever any detective work
is to be done now man has TO be de-
tailed from the regular force and sent out
in citizens clothes The officer, how
ever, if not known by the criminal Is
sure to be by some of his friends, and the
party wanted Is alarmed when the hunt
begins to get warm. A regular detective,
on the other hand. who is always in citi-
zens clothes, is not suspected and has
better chance OF success from the start.
THE OLD DETECTIVE FORCE.
In 1865 the CITY Council created de-
tective department of i've men, besides
which there was the police department. of
100 men. Lieut.. Nray had charge of the
detective force, and under him 1t did good
work until the time of bis death in 1873.
Tne force had been gradually curtaIled
until there was but one man, Mr.. Michael
Hanley, under Lieut.. Wray. In July, 1873,
the ordinance creating the detective force
was repealed. During the eight years OF
its existence the force did good and eff
iective work, Gen. Anderson states. Be-
ing Under him, it had the direct cO-Opera-
tion OF the police. savannah had been q
hotbed for sneak thieves. They were
pretty we'll run out though in year or
two.
Since the force was abolished there has
been but a slim chance for fastening a
crime upon the perpetrator, providing the
latter escaped unobserved. Hundreds OF
petty cases, such as theits, prove the
statement without the mention of dozens
of the most grave cases. Had there been
detective to detail to investigate
the Haertel, the Pfuger, the Powell, and
half score Of other cases the murderers
might not have eluded justice, and Sayan-
nah might not have had to bear the
stigma which rests upon her name for not
capturing the guilty parties,
INQUIRY FOR CRIMINALS.
There is not a day the Chief of Police
does not receive letter from some part
of the country asking him to make H.
quiry for criminals. AS he referred to
that fact Gen. Anderson picked up a let
ter from his mornings mail which re-
quested him to nave uis force look out for
an escaped convict from the chain gang
at ValdOsta. The man was believed TO
be in Savannah and reward is offered
for his capture, but 1t Will be the vereSt
chance if the police come up with him.
! II savannah wants any information about
a criminal supposed TO be in Charleston,
Atlanta or any OF The cities i'll tue North
| or West, the Chief has but to write to the
! detective department OF that CITY, and n
/ man ls assigned 10 work the matter up.
/ w hen II similar request is made of Savan-
/ nan it cannot be compiled with. Ii was
well known last winter thai savannah was
! being worked by confidence men and
! sharpers. The city, however. had no de-
tecuves to run them down, and SO they
| tlourisned until some victim put tine mat.
ter into the hands of a private detective
! The town soon got too not tor the opera,
tors and they lett. One was captured il
! Charleston, but prosecution was no
pressed upon the return of the stolen ar
ticles.
THE PRESENT POLICE FORCE.
The city police force numbers htty.foul
| priVates all told, four Sergeants, an AS
slstaut C1ief and ChiCt. The salaries
are So 900 year 1or the Chief, 81, 800 tol
! the Assistant Chief, 900 tor the Ser
geants and $3.50 for the priVates, In 1860,
| when savannah had scarcely more than
half its present population, the force
numbered siXty-OBe privates. The pri-
Yates then got $500 a year, the Sergeants
! 81, 200, the Assistant CrIei or First Lieu.
tenant Sl,s10, and the Chiet $500. Out
of the hiLy -four men TO which the
force Is now limited there are
| about twelve men who have special
! property to watch, as for example
the man IN the market, those in the park
aud others around the barracks. There
! is one place vacant and has been for six
| or eight months. The vacancies are gen.
/ orally filled by the Mayor about Nov. l.
WHAT THE CHIEF WANTS.
Gen. Anderson says that he would rath
/ er have two less patrolmen and give theil
salaries 10 one good detective than have
/ the full complement OF "a pa:rOimen anC
! no detective. What is needed is a mar
/ 10 be sent out to work up a case the mo-
] ment 10 is reported. Savannah is not pos
stssed OF r0gues gallery, which IS oite
| the means OF Identifying a criminal. The
/ Police Committee of Council has had tn,
matter OF establishing a detective fore,
under consideration, and IL is possibl,
that an ordinance authorizing one will b,
! introduced before the present board gOel
! out.
-----------=-
HORSFOKD'S ACID PHOSPRATE
Hundreds Of Bottles Prescribed.
| Dr G. naka RellayiIlp III savs. -