The evening times., 1896-04-10
DUMPED INTO THE RIVER
Final Resting Place of Weapons
Taken by Policemen.
DESTRUCTION is COMPLETE
Before Being Consigned TO Their Wa
terry Grave a Policeman, With Il
fective BiOw-MOst of the Weapons
Thus Treated Are Cheap Ones.

The law passed by Congress two years ago
ordering the destruction Of all weapons
taken from persons convicted IN the police
court of carrying them has proved 10 be a
popular measure.
Heretofore these weapons We're disposed
Of TO the highest bidders atthe sales Of un-
claimed property that the police department
holds every year. This practice aroused Il
grcatdealo Of commcnt-althoughi hadbecn
a acustom of long standing-in that the barcau
Of the city's government organized for the
observance of peace and order and the de-
tectisn and prevention of crime should in
measure. aid and abet crime by selling at
public auction pistols, dirks, knives, razors,
etc.
The evil Of the old system was frrrihly
Illustrated in the police court the ot.irr day,
when the defendant said he procured the
razor found IN him at one OF the sales. lie
was ii negro and had attempted TO cUg one
OF his own race.
A RIDICULOUS POSITION.
That was such Ridiculous position In
which 10 place the ,icpar,nIent-selling a
man Il weapon ahC then arrcstirg binl for
carrying it-that Congress wisely pro-
ttif DiNStifl "tiftb hEs
Sylvester, chief clerk og the police depart
ment. secs is carried uut 10 the l.ttcr. As
Mr. Matalani would say. the destruction
Of these weapons is one 'den'd drnmitiuu
demOiitiun," according to the methods OF
Col. Sylvester.
After conviction in court. the judge orders
the weapon found .n The offender turned
over 10 the police property clerk. who
makes an entry Of il On o list. with the
nanIe Of the defendant. date OF trial and
cbara cter of the weapon which is So tagged
and numbered to Corresp.,n nd with the regis
ter. II is then packed away in a room Of
the big red brick buiiiing on Louisiana ave
nue..
LOADED on TIE BLA CKBURN
Wien Il sufficient nambcr have accuu!u-
.ated they are placed IN a patrol wagon
carried to the wharf and put on board The
patrol boat, joe blackburn, with. Mr. Syi-
Tcster. Commodore Sutton and some Of The
policemen attached To the river front sta
lion on board. The time selected for TINS
ceremony is usually 10 tie spring.
The Blackburn steams down the river,
stopping in the vicinity OF Marshall Han,
So the olfIctory senses Of the party can be
ticklcd daring tIsc proceeding by the odors
of plankcG shld, borne on the fresh. Young
winds from the Maryland shore. Mr.. syl-
Tester calls from tie list and the commo-
lore finds the weapon corresponding tu
the entries.
In the bow of the boat is 4 broad anvil.
Tue weapon is placed on IL and heavy
weight policeman, with a sledre hammer,
Smashes the implement OF crime TO smith
Greens. One blow suffc.s for razor,
which is easily destroyed by a tap gentle
as love tap. and raZ"rs form the mo iority
Of the collection.
BROKEN WITH A HAMMER.
The officer swings his arm twice for a
pistol and the mechanism OF a Colt or a
Winchester is gone forever. Mos, OF the
-evolvcrs are cheap affairs, usually of :he
popular bulldog pattern. The costiiest
on" now awaiting destruction il valued at
SS.
The cost. however. would make no dlf-
ference TO tie ruthless destroyers. Were
L a priceless blade of andre Fcrraro, or
4 slender dagger OF Damascus steel, with
iewrle;i handle. u would so the same road.
AftCr al the weapons have been broken
AMI rendered useless, their further and
most absolute destruction is accomplished
by dumping the remnants of implements
that have deprived SO many men OF liberty
n the Potomac. In the bed Of the nver
they soon rust AMI rot away.
Atprcsent Mr.. = ylvestcr has bout seventy
five pistols and razors In hi. possession,
but Will wait until tic number Is Increased
before making ;hc annual pilgrimage
lown The river.