The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-23
Prosecuting Attorney M'Elroy
Upholds Police Department.
WARMLY DEFENDS IT'S CONDUCT
wvlgoFous Policy which Has AMI
mated the Department Mas Ny
Fail and Free Isdorsement ana
Appsovsl,~ He snys-Eaect Of
I'm Dealing with Criminal Class.

Tho sharp criticisms OF the police de-
csSn,sra, made frequently OF late from the
supsr.os court bench By Judge Orange ia
ssbs. has directed public attention 20 the
Issue between the court On one hand and
tie chief OF police and tito prosecuting at
tornay's Office on the other. Thus mat
tiers which the public has been satisfied 10
leave TO the sound discretion OF the au-
yhor1ties whose duty II is TO arres, and
prosecute rnalsfactors OF all sorts have
been brought into remarkable and unwont-
I'd prominence. uuxsI the equities involved
On the controversy are being generally dis
eugssd by citizens.
II - a well known fact that when tho
KIondike rush set In and Seattle became
established as the chief point OF outfit
nag ana departure. various classes OF
sr1minals turned their eyes this way. ard
soothing but the effective work OF the
uoi5cs department checked their coming OF
shsckmated them after they arrived. thus
freeing the city from the seproach which
~ enemies sought 70 cast upon Il and OF
which they tried IN many ways TO take
advantage.
Prosecuting Attorney James F. McElroy,
whose duty IL f. 10 hear the complaints Of
those who have suffered at she hands Of
thieves of various kinds and TO determine
whether a prosecution is advisable and
likely to be successful. warmly defends
the conduct OF the police and the policy
pursued BY the department. in dealing with
AAE ali eff 4ss.4Irf Al H..
q common sense view OF the subject,
sounding a note which IS in harmony with
the Views expressed by several well known
people who discussed the matter yester-
day.
To a Post-Inteiligencer reporter yeSter-
Gay Mfr. McElroy said. in discussing the
criticisms that have been directed against
the police department:
THE vigorous policy which has ami
mated the police department Of Seattle in
its dealings with the pest OF thieves. swim
oilers and confidence workers which the
KiondIke rush has brought 70 us has my
fun aud free Endorsement and approval. It
must be patent 20 every rsght-minde,l man
that there is only one way TO deal win
these people. No compromising or tenn
rorizing policy viii avail. Prompt and
vigorous action and a ncver-ceaslng watch
fulness III hunting them down and IN pre-
venting them from robhlng the ignorant
or credulouz strangers In our city are and
have been absolutely essential 10 secure
results,
When the Klond!ke rush was in lis n
eipienoy chief Reed and had a long con-
sultation as 10 the best and most effective
methods az dealing with the criminals
which were then beginning 10 move west
ward in the train OF the army OF gold
hunters We canvassad thu matter thor
osgilly and both agreed on one thing. and
that was that the police department. should
be unremittLng in It's fight against the law
less and tho criminal. / advised the chief
that II was my opinion that he should re-
inForce his detective department by pro-
curing men who knew these crooks and
Who would be informed Of their presence
seen after they appeared here. I told him
that they SHOULD be hunted down without
let-up. and should be given 10 understand
that their presence would not he tolerated
In esatto under any circumstances. Fur
thar, l said tFAt crooks. when recognized
by tho detectives. should be Swallowed.
ana ugen thc erst manifestation .. taeir
EVIL tendencies they should he arrest :.
ard IL TO evidence OF q crime should de
ve,op, thcy should be ordered to leave
town.
1t Is my belief that The practical part
OF the police work. especially whoa deal
Ing whh confidence men anl 69hos.
thieves and highway robheEs 20 he SIC
cessfui Will not staGd a stir -neeksa and
extreme Observance % the rules AS 20 ar
rest. In other words. II the police mast
FIRST have a lead pipe cinch' oa buoko