The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-04-14
CLING FOR THB BURGLARS
BUSINESS MEN HOLD A SECRET
MEETING.
TO ORGANIZE FOR PROTECTION
One Of Them Tells What Was
Done at the Preliminary Meet
ing, but Gives no Assur-
ance for the Future.
ME NaL NHEN the wi.

&Tf3F 3HAsE pack our OvercOats ana
prepare the pots for the
- blooming flowers Of
SEs- ~ spring the citizens little
dream of the danger that turks under the
garments of the annual visitors who depend
upon the generosity of the public and
dexterity of their fingers for sustenauce and
the broad canopy of the heavens for
shelter. The people are too prone to look
upon the tramps as victims Of misfortune and
a proper watch is not kept upon them. 1t is
only after the stores and residences are
entered and robbed that the people seem to
realize the importance of keeping a s%uryeil-
ance over strangers, and then it is frequently
too late,
The people of this part of the county are
now pretty well aroused. The robbery of
the post Office at Mahanoy City one night and
the robbery of a warehouse here the next has
had their effect. A number of business men
collected in a store last night and discussed
the matter ald some very strange remarks
were made. One of the party remarked that
there are at least twenty residents of this
town who could probably tell who committed
the robbery at the warehouse and give the
details of some of the other robberies that
have taken place since last fall. He said he
was satisfied that right here in Shenandoah
there is a gang which has been lying low for
several months, but which will no doubt
begin operations before loug and "clean OUT
a number of places. When pressed to
p]articularize the speaker said that it would
be a waste Of time now, but if the authorities
are not on the alert and do not keep a strict
watch upon some Of the young men in town
at nights robberies will become so frequent
that the people will become demoralized.
"But l will say this" the speaker con
tinued, "if such a state of affairs as I predic
should be realized l will lay most of tn.
blame on the loose method by which saloon
licenses are granted. There are two saloon
in this town mo doubt there are many more
where the worst characters congregate an
lay their plans for depredatiOns. One o
these places is known to be the resort O
men whose patronage is refused at respectabl
places and who are known to be the wors
| kind of sneak thieves and housebreaker.
Another door at which I would put tn
blame is that of the people who entirel
disregard their duty to the people and goo
government by shielding perpetrators q
crime when they could bring them to jus
tice with a word. l have known of case
where thieves have been pulled up month
IT, , ,r;v,, bng haa, pop,,,fft0J ov,H Oft,
the thieves have been convicted some ind
viduals has volunteered the statement tina
he could have caused the arrests months be
fore. These individuals have then tried t
excuse their neglect of duty on the plea tina
-- (the thief is a cousin or som
other relative of a good neighbor and he di
not wish to bring disgrace upon the family
etc. And these are the kind of people VIII
are the first to clamor for their rights q
citizens" the merchant concluded.
Another gentleman said that the people
this town have no idea Of the lawless an
desperate character of some young men
this town. He said his eyes were opened
short time ago by an ex.policeman and wifi
he learned really asJounded him. One
the surprises was a statement that there al
gangs i'm this town that stand ready at an
time to do any job from the cutting of
pane Of glass to the Glowing" Of a safe an
if the chance is offered they will do mor
work than the notorious Flynn gang did, an
in less time,
One of the party a little nervously dc
clared that the people should make tn
police do their duty, but others told him t
be calm himself and be reasonable. The
argued that the police force was a new on
and the robbery of Wednesday night was tn
first to occur since they have been on duty
1t is too early, it was argued, to cast an
reflection on the police. They must be give
time and if they should prove unable t
prevent robberies or detect the perpetratol
after a fair trial they must expect to b
censured or removed.
The merchants who took part in it sa
the meeting was a chance one, but on
of the party told a reporter that it was reall
upon agreement and may result in the fol
nation of a protective association of som
kind which will have for its object tn
working up of cases which the authoriti,
may be unable to cope with.
The informant refused to give the name
of those who attended the meeting AMI woul
give no assurance that the public would b
informed if an organization would be effected
He believed that the combination would be
secret one Of only certain business men WI
could be relied upon as having no sympsthi,
whatever with any persons who are suspecte
or may be arrested at any time, or any
their connections, The object he said will /
prompt prosecutions and no compromise.