The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-23
Prosecuting Attorney M'Elroy
Upholds Police Department.
Nyixorous Policy which Has AMI
mated tiAE Department HAS ny
Fall and Free Indorsemsnf and
Apnrovai.- He Says-Eaect 81
Klonafke Hush-Emctent Work
In Dealing with Criminal Class.

1fe sharp criticisms OF the police de-
Oartmers. made frequently OF late from the
superior court bench by Judge Orange ia
esbs. has directed public attention 20 the
issue between the court on one hand and
Shs ehiax Of police and the prosecuting at
taynsy's Office on the other. Thus mat
tiers which the public has been satisfied 20
leave to the sound discretion OF the au-
shcr1ties whose duty IL liz to arrest and
prosecute nalefactofs OF all sorts have
been brought into remarkable and unwont-
ed prominence. until the equities involved
IN the controversy are being generally dis
eusscd by citizens.
I. In a well known fact that when the
KlonAike rush set IN and Seattle became
established as the chief point OF outfit
tag and departure. various CLASSES OF
criminals turned their eyes this way, and
nothing bat the effective work Of the
police department checked their coming or
chsckmsted them after they arrived. thus
freeing tho city frem the reprcach which
its enemies sought TO cast upon It and OF
which they tried tn many ways to take
advantage.
Prosecuting Attorney James r. McEiroy.
whose duty 1t is 10 hear the complaints Of
those who have suffered at the hands OF
thieves OF various kinds and To Determine
whether "a prosecution is advisable and
likely 10 be successful. warmly defends
the conduct of the police and the policy
pursued by the department in dealing with
q common sense view Of the subject
sounding 3 note which is In harmony with
the ylews expressed by several well known
people who discussed the matter yester-
day.
TO a Post-Tnteiligencer reporter yester-
day Mr. McEiroy said. in discussing the
criticisms that have been directed against
the police department:
1.-THE vigorous policy which has ami
mated the police department of Seattle in
It's dealings with the pest OF thieves. swim
ders and confidence workers which the
Kiondike rush has brought 10 us has my
full and free Endorsement and approval. II
must be patent 10 every ght-mlnded man
that there is only one way TO deal with
these people. No compromising O: tenn
porizsug policy VIII avail Prompt and
vigorous action and a ueveF-ceasing watch
fulness In hunting them down and In pre-
venting them from rohbing the ignorant
or crsdulous strangers in our city are and
have been absolutely essential TO secure
results.
when the klondke rush was I'm Its in
cipIency Chief Reed and / had long con-
sultation as to the best ard most effective
methods OF dealing with the criminals
which were then beginning 10 move west
ward In the train of the army Of gold
hunters. We eanvassed the matter thor
eugiIiy and both agreed on enc thing. and
that was that the police department should
be unremlttlng in its fight against the law
less and the criminal. l advised the chief
that i, was my opinion that he should re-
iuforce hls detective department by pro-
curing men who knew these crooks and
vho would be informed of their presence
saon after,they appeared here. told him
that they should be hunted down without
iet~up. and should be given 20 understand
THAI t.s,r presence would rot be tolerated
In seatio under aay circumstances. Fur
ths~, I said that crooks. when recognized
hy the detectives. should be Swallowed.
ana urrn the first manifestation OF their
evil tendencies they should be arrested.
and II nc evidence OF crime should de-
velop. they should be ordered TO leave
town
1T is my belief that the practical part
az The police work. especially when deal
Ing with confidence men and hobos,
thieves and highway robbers. 20 he sue
eessful. Will not stand sttr-neoked and
extreme observance Of the rules as - ar
rest. In ether words. II tire police must
rrs, have lead pipe cinch' on bunko
- IL 60. .aa.,..n .>raara 80. -.