The evening times., 1897-02-15
POLICE AID ON THE FOURTH
How the Bluecoats Will Take
Care of the Crowds.
DETECTIVES WILL BE BUSY
Four Hundred Additional Priyates.
Crooks VIII Come by the Score,
But Shart-Eyed Sleuths VIII Fol-
low Them-M Many Ambulances VIII
He Placed in Service

4
Washington during the approaching in
auguration. The particular policy, of
which Major Mckinley is champion has
nothing TO do with 1t, either. There W ould
have been just as much of the same Eind
of stuff had MIR William Jennings Bryan
been going to star in the coming pageant.
1t is the police protection that viii be
meted out by Major Moore. chief of police,
and his hundreds of assistants
The present police force, aggre eating
more than 500 members, is to pe auRu-
mented by 400 additional privstes who will
do duty before, during, and after March
For the past months those VINO Lave
signified their willingness to swing a
baton for few days have made applieatio
for enlistment as extras before the chief
of police. Already the number Of appli-
cants exceeds the number of positions to
! he filled. In few days the selections Will
| be made and the ulen Will be given pre-
lininary drilling for their new duties so
far as possible those who nave served In
the same capacity in former inaugITttions
will be given the preference, it is said,
because of their experience.
During the Inauguration exercises the
| 400 additional privates Will be placed tn
| duty in the outlying precincts. Ali OF the
| men who are now on the force throughout
the city will he centered in the downtown
| districts, where the parade will take place.
There is no doubt that, as whole, tLeTe
is no finer police body in the country than
| the one that does duty in this city. The
| standard of intelligence on the force is
] high. and when the whole aggregation OF
| more than half a thousand is collected
| in the central districts Of the city there
| is little need to fear for the safety of the
(, masses.
To the police, however, there is II ore
interesting branch of protective work TO
| he looked after than the mere guardianship
| OF the peace, that win be so admirably
cared for by the bluecoats. 1t is the de-
tective end OF the service. Washington on
Inauguration day is the Mecca for crooks
They are here in squads, plat OOns and COM
panes. The guileless public knows not
of their coming. 1t does not even know
when they are here But il often aWakes
to their departure when ii feels for its
watch, or its diamond stud or its gold
headed cane.
Inspector HollinbeTgeT, chief Of the local
detective bureau. viii naturally be at the
head OF the reception committee for these
light fingered visitors. His imm ediate
assistants will be tile sleuths OF his own
office They have done admirable work
on similar occasions, and are now getting
in excellent trim for their duties during
the coming function. Each day the de
tectives OF the city bureau may be seen
poring over the great social album Of
crooks, the Togues' gallery, TO familiar
ize themselves with the features OF their
prospective guests. The Togues viii be
entertained with a lavish hospitality due
to their social positions II Inspector Hcl-
Iinbcrger and his men can help it, not one
of the crooks shall be allowed TO enter
the city without being properly received
IRE crooks them selves are bashful and shy
of such hospitality, but they Will be made
TO feel at home 10 as great an eXtentaS pos |
sible
The local force of detectives win be aug
mented by a large additional force. Each !
large city in the country will send two or |
more of it's best detectives to assist in |
the formalities. There is a statute en- |
powering the chief of police TO swear these |
detectives in as local officials during the |
ceremonies, and they will be enlisted with /
the same powers of making arrests in the
District that govern the local force.
The wisdom of this move is easil y~seen.
Every crook has a home in some city, and |
the detectives of the respective municipali-
ties are familiar with their own clients.
For that reason the Boston crook will be
known to the Boston detective, and the
San Francisco sleuth will recognize his
feIlow-to wnsman, who is engaged in a
more or less shady profession.
1t has been the custom on past occasions
to arrest these men as soon as they are
recognized in the city. They are locked
up on suspicion, and held until the crowds
have left the city. Four years ago sew
enty-five of the gentry enjoyed the in
auguration exeTc cises from behind the
bars of station houses. Sometimes when
they are placed under arrest nothing but
an air of chagrin at their capture is found
about them. More frequently, however,
they are relieved of half dozen watches
entirely too many, even to keep time with
an inauguration together with pocket
books, stickpins, studs and rings, that
never bought for the use of the men then
wearing them. This property is held at
police headquarters for identification.
Pickpockets are the chief evil of the
period. Along with them
come a fe W bunco workers, burglars. sneaks,
hotel thieves aad confidence men. They |
take their chances ON being locked up.
It'll it is a risk to them worth running.
In anticipation of the event the crooks
will lay off from their labors in their | :
respective cities for weeks before inau-
Igration. This vacation has to them a
lual object. 1t enables them to rest and
,hink and it prevents them from being !
ocked up at home on the eve of a great
event.
Wnen they reach the city they seldom
come into the railway stations. They |
llight in the suburbs where detectives |
ire few and pick their way down into
the crowded sections with as much care
Is lady takes who crosses a rough
street on a rainy day. Still they run
with Fate, and at every turn are
n danger of being recognized by the
authorities from their own homes.
No Pinkerton men or detectives from
ther private agencies will be employed
" the city during Inauguration. There
S q statute specifically prohibiting it.
This does not apply to railroads and other
rivate corporations thought and these
oncerns will, as in times past. make
se of such protection for their private
interests.
Another branch OF protectio is worthy
( mention. 1t is the care for the injured
nd sick during the exercises. This work
viii fall under the auspices of the public
omfort committee OF the inaugural conf I