New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-22
ALL ARE NOT WELCOME.
asHADY. CENTENNIAL VISITORS,
INSPECTOR .BYRNEs MAKES ARRANGEMENTS
FOR THE RECEPTION OF THIEVES

ANoFECIOh. .B1BNES MARES AhAAsu11-~sAS
FOR THE RECEPTION OF THIEVES
AND ProKPocKETss
Inspector Byrnes decided yesterday to be gin an
immediate crusade against the thieves In this
city and to keep it up until after the Centennial
festivities are over lie was led to this determines
tion by learning on Saturday that several Wei-
known thieves and confidence men had raised
fund to be used IN bringing thieves and swindlczs
who are unknown to the police here from other
cities, and also in securing lawyers and bail IN
case they should be arrested The thieves have
taken this action in order to thwart the efforts
of the police to cage them, as has been done on
former occasions when thers has been large
gathering OF people here. The Inspector believes
that unless they are picked up there will be
fully 5000 professional thieves minglng with the
crowds viewing the parades, and it Is his intention
to place every one OF them under lock and kew
if it is possible.
He has asked for the assistance OF the poliee
in other cities to keep the department here tn-
formed of the departure of thieves from their preI
cinets and to send descriptions Of thieves who are
not generally known One difficulty which the
police will have to contend with, the Inspector
believes, in view of the agitation on this subject
will be the apathy of police magistrates who VIII
refuse to hold the thieves brought before Them
unless upon specific charge, and not upon the
general complaint of being a suspicious person.
Should the police judges refuse to hold the prisons
ers the detectives instructed TO reafrest tnem
Immediately upon their discharge and to lock-
them up until it is necessary under the law 70
take them before Judge again, and to keep this
up until the strangers leave the city.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY!
There would be no trouble, the Inspector says5
II the thieves could be taken into custody under
the law relating to habitual criminals, which
gives the police right to lock up any person who
is known to be a professional thief. In order.
however. to take action under this law 1t Is nec-
essary that the Judge who passes sentence upon
persons convicted of crime should state after nxlng
the term for which the prisoner Is sent TO prison.
that the THE is known to be habitual criminal
and this must be made part OF the record. Inere
are no habitual criminals, from legal point on
has yet passed a sentence in accordance with the
provisions of the act, and until tins Is done one
law is simply dead letter on the statute book
The Inspector will suggest to the Police Oom-
missioners at their next meeting that the seventy.
five ward detectives and about twenty-five special
policemen be placed in his command in additaon to
the central office men, These men are TO be
de tailed at railway stations, ferries, etc-s
and they are to be instructed to arrest
every known professional thief. Care is 70 DO
taken that the identity of the thief Is thoroughly
thieves are not on the list. The Inspector stated
that this action is 10 be taken not TO show in an
arbitrary manner the power Of tho police, but
simply for the protection of the people and their
property in this city during the Centennial Theirs
will be some objection and adverse COMMENT but
the Inspector believes that the strongest obiectors
will be the thieves themselves, not because they
will suffer the indignity Of being locked up, but
because they viii not have chance at the fsu
pocketbool1s that going to be brought here bB
strangers.
ADVICE TO HogEHoLDERS
The Inspector, by way of advice, said thaS
employees in stores and servants in houses should
be instructed not to admit strangers TO their
stores or dwellings without examining their
credentials. Men representing themselves as gas
inspectors, telegraph line men, plumbing and
health inspectors, insurance agents, collectors,
book agents, ETC.. should be carefully watchedi
They may be all right, but expert thieves take
this method frequently of gaining an entrance
to q building for the purpose of robbery. Jewelry
of any sort should be left at home or in place
Of safety, and not worn on the street.
Several arrests have already been made, among
them being Chancey johnson, banlk-sneak and
picESpocket; James Hanley, general thief; James
Wilson, alias Pretty jimmy" and Andy Hantay.
alias TOUCH" pickpocket.