The record-union., 1897-01-08
A STATE CONSTABULARY.

The subject of State Constabulary
ought to come before the present Legis-
lature as a purely economic PROPOSE
ton. Long ago it was shown in these
columns that a force of five men with
adequate power to call the peace officers
of counties to their aid, and with head
quarters in four widely separated places
with the chief at the Capital and in
close communication with his aids,
would serve the State and all the coun-
ties, cities and towns most usefully, and
greatly reduce the cost and uncertainty
of the pursuit and conviction of Grim
inals, and moreover act in deterrent
manner upon the criminal classes.
1t is conceded that under the present
system the escape Of criminals is easy
and that highway robbers enjoy espe-
cial advantages for pursuit of their
nefarious calling. Sheriffs have no au-
thority to pursue at county cost outside
their bailiwicks; no fund is provided
that can be used equitably and fairly
for pursuit outside of county lines. Each
peace officer follows his own theory ir
respective of what officers over an imag
mary line may be doing. II there is
need TO use money to follow and detect
criminals, the Sheriff must advance it
with, very often, small chance of its
return
Now a Chief of ConstabIes being ad-
vised instantly Of the commission Of a
great crime, notifies his aids by wire
Immediately, who at once put them
selves into like communication with all
peace officers in their districts. Having
authority to command their services and
direct their movements, it viii be seen
that pursuit at once becomes active and
detection goes on harmoniously and ac-
cording to system, and not with friction
and on differing and antagonistic lines.
1t is a case very much like that Of a
General commanding an army covering
a wide territory.
Practically with the present 1,S00 reg
ularly chosen and serving peace officers
of the State under one direction when
called upon and acting in concert, the
exterior State lines and all roads of es-
cape with all sections of our territory will
be under guard, and avenues of retreat
for offenders be closed. Pursuit will not
be obstructed by county lines, and local
jurisdictional boundaries will not tie
up the cause of justice. Under a State
Constabulary system costing probably
$4,000 a year, such monsters as Dun
ham and Tom Lawton would hardly es-
cape highway robbery would become too
perilous TO follow, and the cost of pur-
suing and convicting the road agent
would not, as at present, fall wholly
upon the sparsely settled counties
which are i'll able to bear such expense.
In 1893 Barrett, in this city, shot and
killed on the public street, Police officer
Wetzel and then disappeared as If he
had been swallowed up by the earth,
though he was an ex-convict and well
and widely known In 1894 Larocca shot
and killed Lucc1 In tnlS city, ran IATouBn
the streets, crossed the river and dis
appeared, though once thereafter he was
seen in San Francisco. Because there
could be no systematic pursuit of him
he was never apprehended July, 1896,
.Whistling Pete" without provocation
br1ltally murdered on the public street,
in this city, Joseph Mitchell. This hall
aemented murderer disappeared and will
probably never be apprehended, because
there is no means provided for follow
ing surrounding and capturing such
monsters.
october, 1895, Paggett, at Nashville
El Dorado County, shot ana kliied III
cold blood a youth, John Smith The
murderer sprang on a horse, escaped ano
no trace of him has developed, save tna'
no was seen near Stockton. But nc