The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-07-30
A STATE CONSTABULARY.
The Tacoma Ledger has plan for pro-
faction of railway trains from robbery:


lection of railway trains from robbery:
If each train were accompanied through re-
gions favorable for this sort of criminal oper-
alton by three or four armed men who were
on the watch, it would not only be 1mpossl-
BILE for the brigands to prosecute their work
take It, They would know that the train
was as we'll prepared for defense as they were
for attack, and they would never dare take
the risk. 1t would be perfectly easy for the
Government to provide each train with Ser
geant or Corporal and three or four men II
the army posts were located with reference TO
this service. 1t could do this without IN
creasing the army appropriation
We believe that by far the better sys-
tenn would be that long ago advocated by
the REcoRD-UNIoN; namely. the estab-
lishment of State Constabulary.
Suppose California had corps of State
Constables not to exceed, say twelve.
These should be located al widely sepa-
rated points along stage and railway
graphic communication with chief. To-
Gated at the most central point. All
Sheriffs, Constables and Chiefs of Police
should by law be required to render as
sistance to the State Constables on de-
mand. The Constables themselves
should be skilled men. of known courage
and high detective ability.
Now suppose stage or train robbery
TO be reported. Instantly the chief OF the
force would be informed as to all known
details, and would at once notify his
force, which would proceed with the aid
of Sheriffs and county and city peace
officers to guard all avenues of escape the
robber would have to take. The entire
body would be on the alert. There would
be no waiting for rewards to be offered,
no hesitancy or red-tape about jurisdic-
ton and the power to cross county lines,
or concerning operation within the
legal limits of local jurisdiction.
A chief of such bureau would have at
command all over the State force of
several hundred officers. The pursuit of
criminals would then be systematic,
orderly and under one direction. There
would be no acting at cross purposes.
nor any conflict OF authority, nor would
there be any jealousy between peace Off
GERS of the State. nor yet any pulling and
hauling upon lines of conflicting theories
concerning the robbery and the probable
criminal.
The State Consrables would be con-
stantly alert as to suspicious characters,
the whereabouts of professional crimi-
mails and the rendezvous of robbers. and
be likewise in communication with Off
GERS of other States.
It Is easily seen that under such a sys-
tenn the likelihood of capture. the GER
tainty of speedy and untiring pursuit
without the handicap that is upon all
Sheriffs In the matter of expenses in
Cured outside their baliwicks, there
would be SO much peril to robbers that
their business" would involve such
great risk as to deter criminals and
render their operations very infrequent.
Such a constabulary force would also
serve the State and cities and counties ex-
Cellentiy IN the pursuit anu capture Oh
murderers, house and bank robbers and
the perpetrators of other crimes. That
Tom Lawton escaped after the Tullis
murder was due to the fact that it was the
immediate duty of but one Sheriff to pur-
sue him, and because he had not the
means or facilities for such pursuit as
should have been made. So. too, in the
case of train-robber Brady, and in the
case of Clark, the fellow who few years
ago shot down Special Police Officer Wet
eel in the principal street of Sacramento.
and walked away from among q crowd OF
spectators and escaped. Not even trace
of the murderer was ever had. nor was
there any pursuit worth the name,
though he was q well-known character.
aman incapable of much fatigue. anG I'M
likely to get out of the State had there
been a State Constabulary and detective
system in operation.
The setting up and maintenance of such
force as is suggested would not be costly;
probably the twelve men and a chief
would be salaried at about $4,000, and
have ar command fund Of equal
amount for use in pursuit