The times., 1898-09-04
TERROREED BY TRAMPS
Lawlessness Reigns in the
Suburb of DeanWOOd.
CITIZENS LIVE In FEAR
Attempt TO BurGIarize One Store
Nfghts-sn Appeal Has Been Made
40 the Commissioners for Police
Protection.

The citizens of Deanwood, one Of the
pretty suburbs of Washington, about
mile above Benning station, on the Penn
sylvania Railroad, are up in arms over
the inefficiency of police protection which
has been afforded them of late and the
frequency with which marauders commit
petty crimes and attempt to perDetrate
more extensive ones.
Complaint has been made to the au-
thorities at the District Building, and it
is asserted that the dread of being rob-
bed is so great that many of the people
are afraid TO leave their places at night
unguarded.
The section OF the District in which
Deanwood is situated is infested with
tramps. who beat their way to Washing
ton on freight cars and make it a point
TO drop off before they get within the
city limits. Deanwood and Benning are
favored spots for travellers of this de-
scription. as there are a number of sid
ings there and every facility is afforded
them for sneaking on and off cars.
Hide in the Woods.
There is considerable vacant territory
in the neighborhood, some of it wooded
and when the fear of police drives the
tramps from the populous sections Of city
and suburbs in the daytime. they car
hide in the woods until nightfall- Ther
Deanwood is the first place they strike
and being quiet, rather poorly lighted
and with inadequate police protection, they
do not hesitate to make bold attempts al
robbery.
c Stern, a merchant on Sheriffs road
a short distance above Deanwood, has
had several experiences recently with
these disturbers, and a few days ago he
wrote to the Commissioners on behalf oi
himself and other residents of Deanwood
asking that more attention be given the
locality by the police. Mr.. Stern's store
was the object of burglarious attentions
three nights in succession last week, bu
each time the thieves were frightened
away.
Petty robberies have been numerous il
Deanwood and its vicinity. and at nigh
spirit of lawlessness prevails which
has wrought the citizens of the place NJ
10 pitch of great excitement. Tn,
tramps pFowl around the one street o.
the place and its environs, making it dan
gerous for women 10 go out alone afte
nighsfall.
An Extensive Territory.
Deanwood is included in the Ninth Po-
lice Precinct, one of the largest in the
city, which is commanded by Lieut. Nc
Cathran. Three mounted policemen al
ternate in patrolling the village and ter.
ritory for some distance around, each
ones turn of duty lasting eight hours
OF the twenty-four. They are Policemen
Boland, Hazen, and Preston.
Owing to the extent of the territory
which they are required to look after.
however. it is impossible for them to de
vote to Deanwood the attention which it:
citizens claim should be given it, henc
the lawlessness which has brought abou
the complaint Mr.. Stern, IN his letter L
the Commissioners, asked that an office
be stationed permanently at the station
so that the villagers might rest secure.
Deanwood is a telegraph and signal sta
tiOn on the Pennsylvania Railroad an
has been the scene of several serious rail
read accidents. The most serious of thes
occurred about a year ago, when Judg
II. o. ClaughtOn and Miss Custis wer
struck by an express train while drivin!
across the track and instantly killed.