The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-31
THE BALLOT BOX THIEVES.
Small Likelihood That They VIII Eves
BE Brought 20 the bar.

Tacoma. July sa--Specas7 -Aishorgh
ten days have elapsed since tire burglary
a. the city hzil was discovered. the ballot
box thieves have nor been arrested, and
nothing which points q way 70 their ar
rest has been unsarrhed BY the police
authorizes. Such wide r,u5ascity has been
given 20 the measures that have been TAX
en- 70 bring TIE burglars 10 Justice that
Fas guilty ores have been fully advised
Of every move Of the authorities. and 20
are EeE equipped 20 make good their e$-
cape. The police department il os.e1stbly
al work On the case. and The conncil has
offered a reward Of 1859. which ought TO
thieves Bat there are no results. and 40
day after day passes wssnou- TIE finding
Of "A clue. the prospects Of the Apprenen-
sion Of the perpetrators Of the crime
grow smaller.
Mayor Fawcett has taken some interest
IN The case. but % la1e his tine has been
occupied with the light between the city
ard tie Commercial Light Company. The
task Of directing the work OF ferreting
out fhe guilty ones has therefore deyoIyed
On Chief % Police r. G. Hoge- The cikee
was lawyer before he assumed brass but
tons and the Office Of chief Of police. and
his experience Of hunting down criminals
= necessarily limited. Detective Phil
sullivan was detailed on the CASE. and he
has gone about hts work quietly and with
grave and preoccupled look on his face.
Results In his case are also lacking how
ever. George Ashby. a thief hunter OF
experience and skill. who filed the posi-
ton % detective under Chief Smith and
who has been retained IN the department
by Chief Hoge. went on a summer out
Ing the day after the crime was discoy-
cred He had obtained leave OF absence
several days before. and Mayor Fawcett
did not think Il worth wsrfle 20 recall him
and set him az work on the case Yes
terday Ashhy was sent for and he has
easen Up me cold tran and Is diligently
a. work on IL
The probabilities are that the burglars
who disfranchised the voters in four pre-
cfncts OF the city Will never be heard
from The Indications all lead one 70 be-
fieFr that the hole N the wall was tuK
Saturday and Sunday nights. Julyf Is ana
-. IL was on Tuesday afternoon. the
list INST, that The crime was discovered,
so that the thieves have had every chance
they could wish 20 put miles between
themselves and the county Jail
While Mayor Fawcett and his chief OF
police aver they are determined TO bring
10 Justice the ballot-box burxlars. vet IN
the minds Of many there exists sus-
pieion that neither the mayor nor no one
among his sppointees will be sorry II the
thieves are never found. The conduct OF
Commissioner Doherty. as well as the
manner in which the case has been
handled by the police. warrant this belief.
OF course no one has accused Chief Hoge
or connlvance In the escape of the Grim
inals who broke into the city hall but II
the thieves have been hampered any by
the police. evidences of the fact are not
apparent Indeed. the whole thing al
most tusstdes the suspicion that they were
protected in the preparation of the crime.
In the present case there has been
good deal OF investigation OF a council
committee and the police. and theories
galore have been advanced. Even the
hole in the wall, the only thing tangible
the burglars left behind them. has been
photographed az the direction OF the coun-
ell. Bat people who naturally expect re-
suits hare been sadly disappointed
One thing is characteristic OF the way
the hunt after the burglars has been
prosecuted. II Is the publication under
big headlines OF the fact that Detective
Ashhy has been recalled from his cruise
around the Sound and directed 10 work
on the case. Ashhy has a reputation a
a skilled detective. and. OF course, IL the
criminals had any fears that they would
he brought 20 Justice. they had every
chance 70 know FIST What measures were
being taken 20 haul them in. Meantime
the council committee pprsues It's snves.i-
Ea;ian. and the committee Of 30 Is az
work through its executive committee Of
nlneteeu. TIE 81. 90 reward offered by
tire council + hung Ep. secure ard free
from claimants