Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-11
CRIME IN THE DISTRICT,
Some Interesting Figures From Major
Moore's Report.

Some Interesting Figures From Major
Moore's Report.
Maj. Moore, in his annual report, as stated in
The STAR yesterday, made some interesting
comments on the statistics Of crime in the Dis
trict He said:
While the police statistics for the last
year show an increase in the number of
cases of arrest, it must not be con-
cluded that crime is on the increase
in the District of Columbia. The swell
ing Of the figures is due to the steady additions
to the numerical strength of the force, and
closer vigilance and renewed activity, which
resulted in larger number of arrests for minor
offenses and misdemeanors There were many
more Migrants, disorderly persons and violators
OF the District ordinances brought to the Po-
lice Court. and few more intoxicated indi-
yiduals cared for at the several stations.
Strange as it may appear, to get drunk is not
an offense in the District of Columbia, and
there were 35l5 cases wherein the individuals
seemed aware of the fact In other words. in
3.0l5 instances intoxicated persons were taken
up by the police and released from custody
when sober, and in this way saved from exposure
to the weather, perhaps from robbery. This
condition of the law with respect to good many
who fall into the clutches Of the police oper-
ates as premium for drunkenness. But when
the individual INDUCES in disorderly conduct,
rs well as Dau WHISKY, the law comes 10 the
rescue OF the community, and a fine or work
house sentence ia imposed. In !, $50 such cases
parties made themselves amenable to punish
ment during the year. For the same time the
cases wherein "vagrancy" covered the viola
ton aggregated ,949, an excess Of nearly 400
over the corresponding period for 1889. There
were 2,661 charges docketed at the several po-
lice stations for noncompliance with the police
regulations (dog law and the many District
ordinances). and s6i cases where suspicion"
was the entry. The minor matters just re-
ferred to constituted $3.50 cases, or over one
third OF the whole number for the year
(24,372).
TIE QUESTION OF BURGLARY.
There is no statute law defining burglary ap-
plicable to this jurisdiction, but the act which
applies to HOUSEKEEPING by day and night in
cludes this offense and also sneak thieving,
commonly called, if committed in the night
time. Any person who. in the day time.
breaks and enters. or i'll the night time enters
without breaking, any kind or character of
building, vessel or railroad car, with intent to
commit any felony or misdemeanor therein. is
guilty of HOUSEKEEPING. This far-reaching
law. when the statistics are understood, I'M
justly presents the District of Columbia as the
home Of the burglar. The meanest Of all
crines-petty pilferings and thefts- constitute
the most frequent annoyance to the citizen,
housewife, hotel keeper and stranger here.
Dishonest servants are i'll n great measure re-
many. belongs to that class Of loafers who
play ''crap" and hang about low-down grog-
geries and resorts during the day and steal
under cover OF darkness. The professional
thieves who have visited the capital within the
past twelve months, though few, have gener-
ally been recognized, arrested or placed
under surveillance, the long sought-after shop
lifters, Kate Friday and Miss Lewes, now i'm
prisoned at Albany, being the most notable
In 1890 there were 364 cases OF housebreaking
in he iuhf fI,na tod 10 fhn
for the same period in 1889 there were 800;
there were Sc cases of HOUSEKEEPING in
the daytim against 81 in the Year before. The
cases of alleged grand larceny referred to the
department numbered 176 against $50 for the
prior year; ], 500 Of petit larceny against 1,514
in 1889; 80 cases Of larceny from the person to
109 the year before; five of larceny from the
government. while in 1889 there were six; eight
Of highway robbery In 1880, Is in 1889; the
cases of enlightenment were 81, as against SO
for the preceding year; 81 where "false pre-
lenses was the charge; in 1889, As; 16 cases
OF forgery, an increase of 10; and 90 cases where
property was lost or mislaid, 3 less than in
1881 Tho goods or property lost included
everything, from piece of bacon to q diamond
ring. there being no extensive jobs or thefts
among the many. The estimated value of
losses during the wear was S54, 939, S5.5i1 of
which were reported lost or msiaid SlS 835
were recovered. In 1889 the losses reported
aggregated S62.643, "a, 40l.S5 lost or mislaid
COMPARISON.
The police. in the year gone by, placed upon
the records OF arrest "a s72 cases-white, H. 764;
colored. LAGOS OF these 1919 we're nolle
pressed upon a preliminary examination and
. 40 were dismissed, including all cases of in
toxication, which were disposed Of by the
police Iieutenants. This would leave 1913
cases fined or held by the Police Court In
cluded in this number were l3 charges of muir
Anr A lneu tlpr, in. 20, -
against 622 the year previous; rs cases of as
sault with intent to kill, while in 1889 there
were 81; IA charges where officers of the force
were assaulted, while the year before there
were but "a; for cruelty to animals PIT cases.
where fines were imposed, in 1889, 2O9; I76
charges for carrying concealed weapons. more
than during the previous year; there were 81
cases of arrest for grand larceny, i'll 1899 but g.
for highway robbery and 6 in 1889; % cases
of HOUSEKEEPING in the day and 40 the year
preceding, 81 Of HOUSEKEEPING in the night to
81 the last year. Comparing further the years
1890 and 1889, the arrests numbered, for lar
ceny from the person. q and 81; larceny from
the government. and 3; obtaining goods I'M
der false pretenses, 80 and 40; petit larceny,
649 and 666; writing policy, 81 and g.; backing
policy, 10 to O. respectively. Thus it will be
observed that the police have not been idle.
The small increase in the number of minor but
meaner crimes reported, has kept up with the
increased number Of apprehensions and con-
viciiOns 1t quite apparent that there is large
amount Of petty thieving and swindling going
on in the District each year, and it is difficult
task for the uniformed policeman to deal sue
cessfully in ferreting out such cases. No
stronger argument need be advanced for an IN
crease of the detective force than these figures
present. While the population OF the District
has been growing steadily. while the capital is
yearly becoming the resort for all the great
conventions and society gatherings and offenses
keep pace with increasing population, there
has been no additional strength given the de-
tective branch Of the police service. dozen
years ago there were six members OF the de-
tective corps; their number is but six today.
ODD FELLOWS CELEBRATE
The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Found
n