New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24
SANDBAGGTSG IN NEW- YORK.

The several cases Of assault and highway rob-
berry in which the assailantS have used that
formidable weapon the sandbag have excited
a widespread feeling Of uneasinesS and have
provoked some scathing criticisms of the police
force. In recent years, as rule, the pnnclpal
streets and avenues of the metropolis have been
so well guarded that New orkers have been IN
the habit of Boosting Of the exceptional ell
cheney of the guardians of public order, ana
have given utterance with great freedom to dis
paTaging remarks concerning the condition Oh
affairs in other cities. 1t has been confidently
asserted that many of the appalling crimes that
have been committed in Chicago, for instance
within comparatively short time, were not
possible here with Police Department so well
officered, so alert and so we'll drilled. IL IS
anything but pleasant for the people OF Amer
cas- chief city to be compelled to take much
more meek and humble tone, and to be forced
to admit that crimes of violence have been lar
more frequent here of late than is consistent
with the good reputation of New York. ms
is a reproach that should be removed lmmedI-
ately if any effort can do it,
And it certainly can be done. 1t must not be
forgotten that only twenty years ago Broadway
and Fifth-ave. were by no means safe at night
for men with well-flled pockets. In the most
important thoroughfares of the town were many
lurking places for birds of prey that were al
ways ready to swoOp upon fat quarry. Pick
ing pockets, sneak-thieving. burglary, CARROT
ing, every form of robbery and assault was
vastly more prevalent and menacing then than
in later years In those days no man whose
clothing and watchchan betrayed prosperity
felt secure in walking from Union Square to
Madison Square at 1 o'clock in the morning.
But after the overthrow of the Tweed Ring
and the purgation of the Police Department
which was accomplished subsequently, an i'm
mense advance was made in the protection of
person and property. Even an Indian Prince,
with diamonds blazing at his ears around his
neck and upon every finger, might now stroll
from the Battery to the Metropolitan Opera
House in the early morning hours with no ono
TO modest him or make him afraid unless some
blue-coated patroman should conclude to run
him in'' in order to.investigate his antecedents.
And Fifth ave-, between Fourteenth-st and
Ninetieth, is substantially as safe for peaceable
people ct midnight as at noon.
But not in the neighborhood of Washington
Square, as was shown by recent case Of sand
bagging" And there's the rub. Any orderly
and properly disposed person ought to be as
secure in Washington Square or any other part
of the town after dark as in the fullest blaze
of sunlight. Our Park Department and our
Police Department should not rest satisfied I'M
til this result is brought about. The Commits
sioners and all the officers of both departments
should bestir themselves, and not man in blue
or a man in gray should feel easy until the dis
grace of the recent crimes is wiped out. Catch
the criminals and keep better watch hereafter.
When the criminals are caught the prosecut-
ing officials and the courts have pressing duties
to perform. Make the penalty so swift and
severe as to stop this atrocious sandbagging"
Garrotng was throttled in New York by Re-
corder Hacketts grip on the necks of the gar
rioters. He meted out to them the most exem-
plary and terrifying punishments that the law
would permit, and he pushed the cases with
irresistible energy. We must have some work
of that sort now. But first get the nippers on
the sandbaggers. The people of New Y ork will
endure no shutting, no evasion no fumbling in
this matter. Sandbagging must be thumped
out and its evil existence ended