The sun., 1896-07-06
TAUNT CHICAGO'S POLICE.
TIE "LoNG AND SNORT" ROBBERS
WILL CONTINUE WORK.

A Letter TO tao CHIEF OF Poiieo which III,
Seems TO Regard as GeHuiuo-Ris E6ort
to Catch the Men-A Great Roundup oi
Crooks Preparatory to the Convention
CHICAGO, July 5.-When Chief of Police
Badenoch received his mail yesterday morning
he found in 1t q letter supposed to have been
written by tho long man" and tho short
man." who have beon largely responsible for
the reign OF terror now existing among store
keepers because Of hieh-handed robberies in
various parts Of the city. Tho letter was writ
ten in bold hand, and said:
CHICAGO, July 8,
Mr.. Bddsnoch. Chief Of Police:
1t was announced in tho morning papers that when
we robbed the orus store on wabash avenue we had
done our last Job. That Is not so, ana we made no
such stamp We don't propose TO quit rohbing stores
so long as the graft Is as easy as II Il now.
We have spotted several other stores to hold up,
and propose do the work at leisure. We write
this letter TO put on your guard aud so that you
will not relax your vigilance in looking for us. II
you TO get better acquainted with u.s. invite
you and your sleuths to come and get us.
We have had several close calls but UP to the pres
en time have succeeded In foong the police and think
we can continue to do so. Wishing you success in
your attempts to catch us, we remain, yours,
TUE TALL MAN ASD SHORT MAN
When tho Chief had finished reading tho
letter he was boiling with rage and, seizing his
hat, hurried with the letter to the offlco Of In
spector Fitzpatrick. Assistant Chief Ross was
sent for. ana for an hour they discussed tho
situation.
The Chief insisted that tho letter was tho
most important clew yet received by the police.
and to this his subordinates agreed, but what
could they do about til
The Chief said that the writers OF the letter
must be apprehended at all hazards, even II his
patent thief catcher had to be pressed into
service 70 accomplish that result;
The Chief also looked upon the letter as an
attempt on the part OF the now famous robbers
to annoy him.
Detectives were at once set TO work to learn II
possible where the letter was mailed, and in
this way try to find the scnders II this can be
"long and short men who have been terroriZ-
ing the town and causing him sleepless nights.
The addition of thirty five men to the force Mt
detective headquarters caused no little COM
mcnt In Police Headquarters yesterday. 1t was
not the fact Of the increase in the force which
caused the talk. but the detail OF the men who
were selected from outlying stations to do duty
at the City Hall. All the policemen chosen were
formerly detective sergcants.
When Chief Badenoch took up the reins he
reduced and transferred these men, and filed
their ,heir places With politicians man many Of whom
knew nothing at nll about the business.
some were politicians who had been dis
either for offensive, partsanohip or more
serious offences. At the time the CHANGES we're
were for the good of the service. His long ex-
perience as a policeman had taught him that
the men who were reduced and transferred
could better serve the city OF Chicago on the
prniries than in the heart Of the city. notwith-
standing he fact that they had spent nearly their
entire lives IN the Police Department and were
acquainted with nearly all the thieves in Chi
cago. But now IL Is different
The city is overrun W ith crooks and thugr.
and CHEZ Baden chs detectives are utterly
unable to cope with the situation. Crowds OF
strangcrs are In the city and thousands moro
will arrive to-day and tomorrow They must
be protected. II possio from Chicago thieves.
After a long consultation the Chief concluded
II would be necessary to bring to the Central
Station thirty-iive men who had been reduced
and transferred by him to OUTLYING stations
for the good OF tho service" This was done.
and as II result moro than seventy-fve thieves
and thugs well known to the older detectives
are now behind the bars and will remain there
until the Convention crowds have left tho city.
Nearly all Of the arrests have been made by
tho men whom Chief l3adenuch sent away from
detective headquarters year ago to make room
for politicians.