The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-22
PORTLAND's CORRUPT POLICE.
Small Wonder That People Are Robbed
on the streets Nightly.

TACOMA, Jan. 2l.-TSpecial "A Port
land policeman, who was in this city
few days ago. stated that there were in
that city "beats" worth $500. This value,
he said. was on the "side," and in addi-
ton to the regular salary of the policeman
assigned 10 such cheats"
A former resident of that city, who was
while there connected with the municipal
government, was asked what he thought
of this statement. lie said:
IL is undou bte lily true When the special 10
lice used 10 have the run OF thing. down there
know of beats that We're worth from 500 to 5000
in addition to the salary of the patrolmen. Ii is
evident now that the regular force at Portland
Is fighting the ghost of the Old special force
Besides the great mum ner OF hold-ups that have
occurred there recently gives evidence of some
thing being wrong with the police force it~elt
In order 10 keep the town from being robbed
from TOP Ia bottom, they have mad to put the
day police on duty until along in the evening.
and even with this precautiou they have been
unable TO pr, stop to thiev.ng and highway
robbery.
Chief of Police Davis gives his opinion
of the situation at Portland as follows:
They are fighting the very same gang shat We
drove out OF Tacoma. Thore were fifteen of
tho!n al toll! and we eau ht fourteen Of them
Some OF them we gave sound tlogging and told
them never 70 return to this city, aad am sure
they viii not. They worked here several day,
before realized just what they were doing
and how they were dong Il As for the Port
land police allow ~ crimes 10 ao committed, !
DO not know wha, truth there is in il. W.
ever, Il found that crimes were being co., I1it-
ted Oh certain beats il al CiIy should change
my men About II tAere were no let up in Il Tea-
6ouab.e time About evayy day bave propos.-
tons made to me IL "-tsud in with the .aw-
4ta tH-,tC t-iu Ii
Proposition which would have Melted mo
so = day on the side. There are beats In this
city that are worth 500 month II al officer
woU3d &c inclined 10 be crooked. When YOU
see III a city thieviug and robbery going on gor
long time and nothing IS done t. suppress IL
you can make mp your mind that something is
TottcA IL Denmark. Where your captain, your
inspector AMI Your sergealts all DO thei- duty
and pull together with tae secret service OF the
fierce crooks rud IL impossible u WORK your
Gown. Fortunately. our force works in perfect
harmony. mysel. have been treated too We
~ The taxpayers and c.tiz rs OF Tacoma 10
stand il" with crooks aud see them robbed
During the past three weeks there have
been more petty thieves ami robbers in
Tacoma than probably ever before.
About one hundred or more Of this
class have been arrested. Most OF them
have been ordered to leave the city. Thew
readily comply when told that they viii
I've sent 70 prison if they do not leave.
Most OF them claim 10 have either come
from Seattle, or have been employed on
tie Great Northern Railroad. Some OF
them were part OF the gang that was
driven out OF Wenatchee by vigilance
committee. They attempted several DO d
goobersos before being driven out of
Tacoma.
Many continue 70 arrive daily. Some
say they had 70 leave Seattle because the
gam iiug houses were curtailed, and that
they expect 10 md more congenial haunts
a. Tacoma One tells an amusing story
about The manner Of raidinS Seattle gam
b.lng houses. lie says there are electric