The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-24
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.
GATHERING OF OFFICERS.
sYRNES 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 preya-
lence OF crime upon the Lexow Commit
tee had proved a boomerang that hit the
Superintendent a pretty hard blow, and
when the Superintendent is out of humor
1t Is the fashion at Headquarters for
every one else TO 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 q reminiscent
mood. There was a far-away look in
his eyes. and he was whistling in q
dolefully subdued way the air of q
topical song popular In New York in the
seventies. The air. a 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 their beats
For begging their bread on the streetsf
while the thief on the corner stands grinning
:, In the broad open light OF the day:
Your pockets he'd pick for a shilling
ana the law cannot touch him, they say.
one or 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 forcfbly and I'M
pleasantly, or 1t may have been that the
old mans feeble squeak grated harshly
on his ears, but the glance the Inspector
gave the aged musician froze the tune
midway In the chorus, and the attachs
hastily stepped inside the building to
attend to his duties.
There seemed to be something mysteri-
GUS IN their conduct and demeanor of
n nne eapttain Sand and sergeants who called
a score OF the commanders OF the vari-
GUS precincts. besides twice as many
sergeants, at Police Headquarters.
When approached with regard to their
mission SO early In the day, the cap
tains shook their heads meaningly and
went away. The sergeants were equally
From one OF the captains, however.
an Evening World' reporter received
the information that there had been no
extraordinary directions issued; that the
visit was merely casual and in the
ordinary lines of duty.
There was suspicion, however, well
founded fS,Is 1t may be that there was some:
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
polced districts Of New York the Super
intendent said:
II positively decline to make any state !
ment other than this: The police will do
their whole duty at all times, and
believe will make their best endeavor to
prevent the preparation of any crime
that may come under their notice or to
which their attention may be called.
That is all have to say"