Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-30
WHO THE CRIMINALS ARE.
Major Moore Gives Some Interestin
Figures in His Annual Report.

Major Moore Gives Some Interesting
| Figures in His Annual Report.
Major W. G. Moore, superintendent of police,
in his annual report, just submitted 10 the
Commissioners, expresses the hope that the
bill authoring further increase of eight SER
geants and sixty privates, which has passed the
House and is now awaiting action in the Sem
ate, viii become law. He says the District
cannot be adequately protected by force
which, between midnight and sunrise, does not
average more than one hundred and ten men,
He recommends the remodeling of the third
and fifth precinct police stations. and the ex-
tension of the patrol system to the fifth, sew
enth, and eighth precincts. He suggests that
light one-horse ambulance suitable for un-
paved roads and rapid transit be provided for
emergency cases. The report says the records
OF the year evidence increased efficiency and
improved discipline on the part of officers and
men, In 1.453 instances" the reports says,
men were detained in the Police Court after
IL O'Clock a. m. who should either have been
on duty or taking needed rest. This evil in
creases yearly, and measures should be adopted
which will relieve the police of this tax upon
their strength, and at the same time afford
speedy trial to arrested persons"
STATISTICS OF CRIME.
There we're 2O,53O arrests made, Of which
9,s5S were colored; 1921 males and $500
females.
The tables accompanying this report" the
major writes, ''show the various offenses
charged, also the age, sex, and disposition of
those arrested. OF the whole number, LIB
were dismissed. personal bonds were taken in
l,S99, and 1856 were nolle pressed. Those
dismissed were mostly arrested for intoxication
(there being no law for their punishment, and
their temporary detention by the police being
necessary for their protection), disorderly con-
duct, violation of District ordinances. keeping
dogs without license, &c. The cases thus dis
posed of aggregated 1049S. and when taken
from the whole number CO. 500, left but 10, 042
for trial; much smaller number in proportion
| to the population than elsewhere in the large
cities. In this connection it should be remem-
bered that the capital OF the nation has popu-
lation peculiarly its own"
After giving a table of criminal statistics, the
report goes on:
TT will be observed that of the 2,O41 crimi-
nal cases reported to the department 1.432 ar
convicted on the preliminary hearing, and that
| of the number apprehended 40 per cent were
colored, while the colored population is but
one-third of the white. Robbing of houses
and sneak-thieving were committed by colored
criminals in three instances to one by the
whites, while forgery. embez2lement, and false
pretenses-crimes rapidly on the increase all
over the country, and requiring greater de-
gree of intelligence on the part of the operator
were the work OF white people in the proper
ton of about two to one colored. The most
exasperating and meanest work with which the
police have to contend is carried on by sneak
thieves, and the petit larceny table demon
strates that 791 cases out of 999 were committed
by colored persons.
''Of the higher crimes, that of murder has
not been the exception here, and never was,
and it Is with regret that an increased number
of cases must be chronicled During the year
nineteen cases were charged, nine white and
ten colored. which were disposed of as follows:
Dismissed, three; nolle pressed, one: grand
jury, fourteen; not disposed of, one. Ninety
eight dead infants were found by the police, a
fact strongly suggestive of the want of an effec-
tive law against seduction and fornication.
DISHONEST SERVANTS.
Servants and other domestic attendants
form considerable proportion of the arrested,
viz: Cooks, 81: coachmen. ID; porters, 81; serv-
ants, 1876; total of 1,377, or per cent of the
entire years cases. These people are so closely
associated with household affairs. and have so
many opportunities for pilfering. when so dis
posed. as to make it desirable that record
should be kept of those whose dishonesty has
been clearly established; and it will be the
aim of this department. when furnished with
proper facilities, to collect and make available
such information as will tend to exclude the
unworthy from employment.
The number Of persons arrested for carry
ing concealed weapons was 1913 Sc white and
1877 colored, an increase of about 40 per cent
over the previous year. 1t is evident that
property of this description should not be re-
turned to the owner after he has been tried,
convicted and punished. or. If unclaimed, that
it should not be sold at public auction, where
low prices induce the purchase and possession
OF weapons by the vicious 1t is therefore
hoped that legislation will make effective the
recommendation in the accompanying report
OF the chief (also property clerk, that all such
articles which come into his possession through
violations of law shall be destroyed. as are i'm
plements of gaming seized by the police, in
order that they may not again be used for un-
lawful purposes"
The report refers to the almost entire cessa-
ton of efforts to enforce the lottery and policy
laws on account of the decision OF the Supreme
Court regarding trials in the Police Court.
THE PROPERTY CLERKS SUGGESTION.
The report of the chief clerk and property
clerk, Mr.. Richard Sylvester accompanying,
that of the major, states that he has deemed
1t to the best interest of the department and
the community to withhold the return of fire.
arms to the vicious class from whom they were
taken, despite their protestations. To illus
trate how one revolver may operate to continue
the practice of carrying concealed arms
would state that an identical weapon has passed
through the records of my office a third time
as taken from the same individual If this
character of property is not returned to the
owner, after he has paid the penalty attached
to carrying it, the law, as it exists. requires
that the same shall be sold at public auction
In this wise an armory of cheap and deadly in
struments is placed in the reach of the wanton
and ignorant classes every year. The number
OF persons arrested during the year for carry
ing concealed weapons has increased about 40
per cent over the previous year."