The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-06
PATR0LMEN AND THIEVES
Police Not Happy Over the New Rules
Compelling Them to Run Singly.
Likely TO Be Targets for Thugs and Sand
baggers-Question of Evidence-St0ry
Of o Detectives Experience.


vidual districts has been suspended during
these times of labor troubles. but it is peril
nent to consider the propriety of the order.
Superintendent Colbert was asked for the
reason of the change He said: THE plan
of assigning one patrolman to district is
used in twenty-five of the largest cities In
the country. In enables twice as much
ground to be covered and with the addi-
tion of two sergeants, / believe it Will work
we'll here. One advantage of it is that it
will prevent quarrels and iil-feeling among
the men. Nobody knows better than l how
many complaints there are. They all bring
their stories to me. The eight sergeants
districts Will give the patrolmen n sergeant
within easy call, aud II the sergeants Go
their duty there is no reason why the
change should not be all Improvement
Tho plan 10 not new one. having been
tried here before with demoraliZlng effects.
The patrolmen are unit against it,. The
reasons were stated by one or them OF long
experience and q clear head:
The change" said he. lis not agreeable
TO the men, first. because our beats Will be
so large many of them cannot be covered
more than once or twice during the entire
night A single officer becomes an easy
victim of two or three men, who may Jump
out of an alley and sand-bag him before he
knows himself or can call for help. There
was the case of Conkiin, when we were oil
fbn ean con snss and robbery ss es nns
upon the three men in q lonely place near
the rolling-mill. He put them under ar
rest, and seized hold of one of them. The
next thing to happen he did not know OF
for long time after. One of the robbers
came near breaking his neck by blow on
the back of the head with a sand-bag
They all ran away. Two officers running
together could have secured the men. To
be alone with a crowd means a certainty of
fight In spite OF your revolver and club.
TOughs know that patrolmen do not like
TO club q man, and that they will get into
trouble If they shoot prisoner. Cases Of
resisting ON officer will increase when the
new order goes into effect. Cases of as
saults upon officers and perhaps the killing
of officers may be expected. In rough To-
calities it will be necessary for q
single patrolman to use gun and Climb much
more freely. We won't stand 1t to be beat
Ell up merely because we are alone.
Another objection. and d most I'M
portsnt one to the single-running system,
Is the matter of evidence. 1t takes three
or four policemen now TO convict q man
in many cases. The court seems TO favor
the citizen generally against the officer.
But when alone. it IL still worse. The testl-
mony of one man will not secure many con-
yictions, and this has bad eject on tho
criminal and vicious classes. | can't
see much TO hope for out of the new sys-
tem."
In the cities using the new plan the
beats ore very small. being one side OF the
street for several squares. 1t is not
80 here. and the second experiment
T T a be wa ns4 hs. Ss.n sosS
in nearly every respect The city Is one Of
the most orderly in the world. 1t has no
one class known for raising disturbances.
ETC., such as Chicago ami other large cities
h. al +
the last ten years. since the old Zoo The
ater, saloon concerts and such affairs were
allowed to run unmolested. Old officers
have many thrilling tales TO tell of arrests
in those days. before the advent of the
patrol wagon. The superintendent's
change, therefore. is not demanded and
probably not directed by the failure of the
double patrol system.
Detectives are forced by tho nature of
their business to become quick in identify
ing people. This leads them to be close
observers of the cOuntenance, the wearing
apparel cut and color of hair, hel ght and
weight, and the general appearance. When
they once see man they can describe
him closely, even TO the kind Of
stripe in his trousers. Chief Splann
is said to be able to see a guilty man as the
sculptor does his handiwork IN the uncut
block of stone. But it was left to old con-
stable Seamon, OF Richmond, for O novel
mode of recognizing people. When accOst-
ed by friend, whom he had not seen for
several years. being over seventy years of
age himself, lt was noticed be was puzzled.
His eyes fell to the feet of his friend. and
then he looked up and called his name.
How did you recognize me" was asked
of him.
"By your feetw was the reply.
but how by my feet!'
"Oh. used TO be a shoemaker. When
was in the police business l always I'M
pressed tho shape of q mans foot on my
memory. because it was easy TO remem Der
people IN that way. A criminal would not
think OF changing the shape of his foot
but he might change the style of his beard.
So my plan has some advantages"
Mr. Seamon is noted for his honesty. He
once captured bank robber between An
derson and kokomo. recognizing the man
on the train from description in the tele-
gram. The robber sought to buy his lib
erty.
Here's roll of bills. $4,000" whispered
the desperate fellow, who was known by
the police as Moses. Its yours TO let
me 90"
Put ND that money" was the heroic re-
ply. :" on are a prisoner"
The man was returned to Anderson, the
money recovered and the thief sent to the
State prison for long term OF years. OFF,
Ger Seamon never even received thank
you" from the banks officials.