The record-union., 1897-01-08

disemboweled a human being at the
Tweed ranch, Butte County, jumped
into a boat, padded off and has never
been apprehended, though seen by nu-
merous people for several days at diff
ferent points, butt no ONE arrested him
for want of authority and proper COM
mInication with authority. February,
1925, Andrew Parks stabbed Elmer
Newton at Pasadena twenty seven
times, coolly took his way north, reach :
ed Sacramento and went into hiding
here; was discovered, but before he
could be legally taken he escaped and
has completely disappeared.
June, 1895, ait Hesperia, San Ber-
nardino County, Douglas killed Neal,
escaped, was traced to Barstow, and
then disappeared, solely because
there was no system by which
his lines of retreat might have
been guarded, and 1,S00 men
have been put on watch for him
under orders and direction, and with
ample authority. Vital was convicted
of murder in Santa Barbara, sent to
the insane asylum, and sentenced 20
lie hanged. But once There he easily es-
capped, and has never been recaptured.
Blanther cut the throat of Mrs. Laug-
enfield in San Francisco in May, '96,
and escaped with ease, no lines being
under State surveillance by which to
cut him off. So, too, with Dunham,
the fiend His pursuit was ON straight
lines, and cost as much money as a
quarter years salary of State con-
stabulary, but he has disappeared.
| A State constabulary does not wait
| for the stimulus of reward. 1t eXcites
no contention and jealousy over re-
wards. 1t has no interest in sequester-
| ing criminals, awaiting announcement
| of rewards. 1t is in regular COM
niunication with every State Prison in
the Union has constant reports from
all Sheriffs and heads of police as to
criminals and their haunts. 1t has a
~N-~
State. 1t knows just when desperate
character is to be released from prison
in short, it is perfect bureau of in
formation regarding the criminal
classes. 1t has the power to pursue
over county lines through any terri
tory, and to fairly surround the State
and close all it's exits. In an hour S
time it can give to 500 officers in 100
widely separated localities orders that
will make escape of the murderers and
road agents very improbable, and all
This will serve to deter the vicious, and
thus vastly cut down the expense of
pursuit, trial, conviction and punish
ment of criminals.
Salaries of the five State Constables,
with the Chief ait $1,000, will amount
to S11 900 a year. Allow the force
$40 600 for its expenses of pursuit, So
600 for costs of communication and
publicity. and 81 900 for clerical assist
ance, and $4,000 for unforeseen and
extraordinary expenses, the whole to
be expended under the audit of the
Board of Examiners, the officers to
have the aid of the fifty-seven Sheriffs,
the fifty-seven District Attorneys, and
the 1900 police, Constables and peace
officers of the State, the expenses Of
such of them as are engaged being
paid out of the reserve fund when
they are actively employed outside
their bailiwicks, and the whole ex-
pense will be covered-namely, $4,000,
small outlay, indeed, relatively to the
benefit that would result.
Such expenditures VIII save the coun-
ties of the State five times that sum,
besides taking from California a rep
utation that has given the State such
unenviable notoriety. It is impossible
in a. single article Of ordinary extent
to exhaust the subject, or to present
half of the reasons that may be ad-
varced in support of the proposition
that a small State constabulary would
be economic for the people, and greatly
beneficial to the causes of peace, JUS
tice. and the rights Of life and prop
erty.