The record-union., 1891-07-20
Washers" AND MIGRANTS.
How the Former Should be Treated
Everywhere.

How the Former Should be Treated
Everywhere.
P. Crowley, the efficient Chief of Police
OF San Francisco, writing to the Exam
qner, says:
Until the passage by the last Legisla-
ture Of the present Nagrancy Act it was
difficult for the police to secure the con-
viction Of members of that Objectionable
and disreputable class known as corner
Statutes
The old Fagrancy Act was not effective
for the reason that many ofthe statutes"
1requenting the entrance Of cigar stores
hotels and business houses on the two
main thoroughtares of the city, Market
and kearny streets, from California as
far as the Baldwin, who made it a busi-
ness in the afternoon and early evening
TO ogle and insult women, could show
when they were arrested that they were
engaged in legitimate pursuits during a
portion of the day. and therefore not un-
der the Penal Codes definition Of vagrant
Then there was the natural hesitancy of
any refined woman approached or in
suited by any Of those well-dressed loaf
ers to mention the fact except in the pri-
vacy of home. The patrolmen, to whom
strict orders for the protection of women
and girls have always been given, as a
rule seldom hear of insults, and COM
plants generally reach my office by mail
IL
brother or other near relative informing
US about 1t, when instructions are issued
10 carefully watch the offender and at the
first opportunity TO arrest him.
The stringent Nagrant Act now III force
has given the police authorities better
opportunity to protect our women from
insult on the public thoroughfares than
formerly, and | propose TO use all it's
powers until the intolerable nuisance of
''mashing," ogling and insulting women
and girls is etiectually suppressed.
The conviction of William ID. Miller
under a good law and backed by a
healthy public sentiment shows what
can be done, and there is no reason why
the work so auspiciously inaugurated
should not be prosecuted with untiagging
energy. Certainly no efforts of the de-
partment under my charge will be lack
ing to secure that end. There is an innate
love of personal liberty and liberation
of license for the sake of liberty, as one
newspaper aptly described a few days
ago in commenting on Miller'S arrest for
vagrancy, that makes it little difficult
for the police to deal with loafers OF
Miller's class. Here was a fellow in
fashionable clothes and with the outward
gemblance of a gentleman, who made a
business every afternoon OF ogling and
"mashing" respectable women. Com
plants TO the police led to an inveStiga-
ton of his personal record. In order to
stop his dlsTeputable practices II was
found necessary to arrest him as q va
grant, and the law and the facts fitted his
case. Miller, however, is only type of
one class of the professional masher.
There is another and more difficult class
for the police to deal with, which en-
braces young men of respectable and
well-to-do parentage, literally supplied
with fine apparel and pocket money, but
without occupation, and who are really
more offensive in their actions than their
1ellow-mashers who live by their wits.
Jt is an extremely difficult task TO bring
this class of gentry under the operation of
the Nagrant Act, and more difficult still,
when arrested, to convict, for influence,
money and the best legal advice is at
their command and the police are accused
of prosecuting them. The presence of this
class along the principal streets makes it
frequently hard for the police TO segregate
them from the habitual vagrants who in
fest the prominent doorways and cigar
stores.
However, that class will receive atten-
tlon IN due time, and no matter how hard
the work may be to the police the practice
of insulting women on the public streets
will be stopped. The thoroughfares ought
10 be as safe for our wives and daughters
as their own homes, and Will be if ] can
make them so.