The evening times., 1896-03-13
GUARDED BIIDETEeIIlE
Silent Watcher Who Protects
Senators and congressman.
ARE wAYLAlD BY BEGGARs
SOlOns Are Constantly Besieged by I'M
pecuniOus sPersOns-Many Unworthy
Cases Among Them-Hereafter
the Pretenders VIII Be Arrested
and Brought to Trial.

There Is one member OF the Capitol po-
lice force who enjoys unique distinction
He Is known as the Congressional de-
tective," and )es sleuth work in the big
white building OF the hill.
Owing TO the many complaints received
from Senators and Representatives who
We're "pan-handled for money in the very
halls OF Congress by itinerant fellows and
shrewd begea Capt. Gard:B who is in
command OF the force of Capitolian gems
darmes, decided that the services of a
detective were necessary to rid the struc-
ture of the pests. lie therefore appointed
Joseph j. innott, IA stalwart young man.
who resides at No. 1923 II street north
west, to that position.
Detective Sinnoti, clad in fashionable
attic, and with his badge concealed he
meath his coat, is now dctaileu 10 40 Hawk
shaw work in III PORTIONS OF The great
structure. His latest arrest WIS that OF
Nelson Lewis, who was sent 10 jail for
one month by Judge Miller yesterday for
tapping Representatives Sherman, Chick
ering and Gillette, all of Now York.
HIS FIELD OF LABOR.
Heretofore the fellows who had told
their hard luck stories TO members OF Con
grcsS, and solicited GOnat ions from them
tuaDarcdto Stecrciear OF tie few uniformed
policemen who are posted about the Cap
itcl. But in Tie fUtuIc they VIII have 20
contend with an unknown quantity III
Congressional Detective SinnGtt, whose
tour OF duty extent s through all the raIni-
fications of The inm meme structure, from
the region OF perpetual gasight in the
vaults and gloomy passagcways down ne
neat h the legislative halls TO Il e lookout sta
ton on tie dizzy -heirbted dome.
Beggars ana hobos are not iGe only char
look out for. There are sneak-ihievcs,
pickpo, kets, reiio-huntiDg vandais, who de-
face public property, disorderly characters
and female beggars known as sympathy
touchers." The latter send their cards in
to members ,and Il wait their coming III what
is known as the ladies' reception room =
space set apart in the southeast corner of
Statuary Hall and provided with easy chairs
and settccs. There, in the shadows of the
bronze and marble counterfeits of great
characters in history, women, often ad-
vcnturesses nd chronic beggars, work their
schemes to secure money from tender
hearted solons.
EX-rRESIDENTH HARRISON WAYLAID.
No less a parsonage than Ex-President
Harrison WAS waylaid by one OF these per
sstent females during his recent visit to
the Supreme Court chamber. The woman
is well known about Washington as Il beg
gar and an opium fiend. She represented
to Mr.. Harrison that she was the widow OF
an Indiana soldier who served under him
during the war, and was in an almost starry
ing condition, with three children to pro
vide for.
All of these statements were falsehonds,
but they had their effect. and the dist in
guished lndianan handed the inpos,er n
crisp 81 note. With this she purchased
dope and whisky, and several days later
rl..l nd
grancy act.
Now that Capt. Garden has a detective
at his command he proposes 10 break up the
pernicious practices which have been IN
vogue in the Capitol. The Capitol guard
room. under the old Hall of Representatives
is connected with the Sixth precinct station
house by a special telephone wire, and the
patrol wagon can be summoned in hurry
when necessary.
TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.
tits mis,a ken idea that drunks and other
prisoners are pia ccd in Capitol lookup.
They are simply detained in the guard
room until tie arrival of tie hurry up
wagon. and are incarcerated. If necessary.
III No. police station, on New Jersey ave
nue., and their names, offense. etc. en-
tered on the blotter there. the same as any
other prisoner. The Capitol policeman
making the arrest is named as complainant,
unless otherwise ordered.
The prisoners, except plain drunks. are
then taken TO the police court on the fol-
lowing morning in the "black Maria or
van.
Beggars captured in the city are tried un-
der the vagrancy law. Those arrested in
the Capitol building OF grounds for beg
ging, disordcrly conduct or similar Of
fenses are tried under the United States
statutes and heavily fined or sent to jail.
The city's minor offenders in like cases are
sent to the chain gang.