The evening world., 1894-09-24
LAST EDITION.
The INCREASE
IN CRIME.
Criticism Of the Police Causes
Deep Gloom at Head
quarters.
GATHERING OF OFFICERS.
Captains and Sergeants Sum-
moned to the Big Marble
Building.
BYRNES REFUSES TO TALK.
Police Court Echoes Of Recent Mis-
deeds, Where Arrests Have
Been Made.
BYRNEs REFUSES TO TALK.

Police Headquarters, in Mulberry street,
seemed particularly gloomy to-day. and
the gloom extended to the occupants,
from Supt. Byrnes down to the newest
doorman. browning faces were the rule
and civility the exception. The attempt
to throw the blame for the unusal preva-
lence of crime upon the LeXow Commit
tee had proved boomerang that hit the
superintendent a pretty hard blow, and
when the Superintendent is out of humor
It is the fashion at Headquarters for
every one else 20 mask his good nature
An old attache of the detective de-
partment stood upon the marble steps
at the Mulberry street entrance to the
building this morning in a reminiscent
mood. There was far-away look in
his eyes, and he was whistling in a
dolefully subdued way the air of a
topical song popular in New York in the
seventies. The air, catchy one, re-
called the words of the song, which
were something like this:
Can you wonder at crime. can you wonder.
When you see the police on their beats
Testing the poor starving men sir
For begging their bread on the streets7
lille the thief on the corner stands grinnine
In the broad open light of the day;
And the law cannot touch him, they say.
One of the inspectors, called to confer
with Supt Byrnes, happened to pass
In while the whistler was piping this old
tune.
1t maybe that the air recalled the words
and they struck him forcibly and I'M
pleasantly, or 1t may have been that the
old mans feeble squeak grated harshly
mn tie lN,,t 81, 10
, yAve the aged musician froze the tune
midway in the chorus, and the attache
hastily stepped inside the building to
attend to his duties.
There seemed to be something mysteri-
GUS IN their conduct and demeanor OF
The captains and sergeants who called
upon the. Superintendent There were
tscore of the commanders of the vari-
GUS precincts, besides twice as many
fergeants, at Police Headquarters.
When approached with regard to their
mission SO early in the day, the cap;
talns shook their heads msaningly and
went away. The sergeants were equally
as reticent.
From one of the captains, however,
an Evening World" reporter received
extraordinary directions issued; that the
VISIT was merely casual and in the
ordinary lines of duty.
There was n suspicion, however well
founded 1t may be. that there was some,
thing more significant In the visits OF
the several captains than THE Evening
Worlds informant cared TO intimate
The Superintendent himself was as reti-
cent as ever.
With regard to the reported increase OF
crime in the supposed heretofore. well
poltced districts of New York the Super
intendent said:
Il positively decline 20 make any state
ment other tsan this: The police Will dc
Their whole duty at all times. and
believe will make their best endeaVor tc
prevent the perpetration of any crime
that may come under their notice or tc
which their attention may be called
That Is all | have 10 say