Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09

pigeons. When the stones were falling thick
and fast on the back sheds the officer made an
advance and took one Of the youngsters a
prisoner. Pretending he did not know who the
boy was, the officer went with him to the house
OF the lady who had frequently made the COM
plant. The lady was shocked. oh that is nv
son. she said, what's the matter? This is the
ringleader Of the gang of boys who have been
breaking your Windows the officer told her.
THE LADY WAS SATISFIED
that her complaint had been looked into and
upon her promises the officer released her son
from custody. Then there are many persons
who have imaginary grievances and who make
them known at regular intervals. Such COM
plants as the above are fair samples, and they
give the police the greatest amount of annoy
ance. That there is not such great amount
Of crime committed in this city is shown by the
fact that the once most disorderly sections of
the city are now the most orderly. In
'Swampoodle,' where street-fghts were q daily
occurrence, as also in He'll Bottom there a
fight does not now occur once in q week
Blood Field is another fair sample. Not many
years ago in that section it was not an unusual
thing to hear pistol shots fred or have a street
fight every day. Now it is a rare thing to hear
OF night that amounts to anything more than
AN ORDINARY soRAPPINa MATCH.
'There have also been some great improve
ments in the police system during the past few
years." continued the officer. The patrol
system is the greatest thing ever done to pro-
mote the interests of the force. Before that
system was adopted officers were obliged to
bring their prisoners to the stations. II a
person was arrested in Q remote part of the
precinct and gave the policeman any trouble
an hour or two would be lost to the depart
ment, during which time the beat would re-
main unprotected. Then, again. assistance
could not be 30 easily obtained. There were
either no telephones or there were very few.
Thus the prisoner would be on exhibition
through the streets for SO long time, with a
crowd Of men, women, and children following.
An arrest in those days frequently caused more
disorder than the act committed in the first
place BY the man under arrest If, in those
days, man was arrested in a part Of the city
where the rough element was in the majority
and the victim
BELONGED TO THE GANG,
the ofacer would be given lively time before
he would reach the station with his prisoner,
and frequently the prisoners release was Sc
cured and the officer badly beaten. But now
1t is entirely different. The odds are in favor
of the law-abiding citizens and the officers
who enforce the Law, although even now they
the patrol-boxss, telephones, and wagons the
police have no reason TO fear serious trouble.
When person 10 placed under arrest. no mat
ter in what part Of the precinct, 1t 10 only o
lew minutes before an omcer can call mp the
station from the nearest box and call for the
wagon and assistance II desired In case of
riot or other disturbance needing the presence
Of . number Of officers the patrol wagon
which can 60 almost at lightning speed, can
render assistance in that direction before much
damage can be done. Then, in going to the
station, the necessity Of making an exhibition
Of the prisoner for an hour or two is avoided,
and the wagon 10 driven 90 fast that the pris-
oner
10 LANDED m TEE STATION
and got out Of sight before chance 10 given
for curious crowds to congregats and watch
the poor unfortunate. The patrol wagons.
while doing excellent service in the transporta-
ton, 10 also equipped with hospital outfit, TO
DO used In case OF an accident or serious assault
case. Under the seats on either aide OF the
wagon are such appliances - stretchers, mat
tresees, &c., while the driver has chest con-
tanning medicines, bandagss and LIQUORS for
use in case Of necessity. The strstchers are 90
constructed that they can b folded and placed
out OF the way. When In uss there are rings
ON either side Of the wagon which hold the
.txetchsr and on which they aide without max
ing y unpleasant for the patient There are
now in Washington i've precincts in which the
patrol system 4 in good working order, and il
viii not be many years before the whole city
VIII enjoy the benefit Of the system.