New-York tribune., 1899-07-07


more petty. from fattening on the same vices d!
exacton OF tribute from the Keepers oi "''''
derly resorts. We are not surprised WIN "
Bowery policeman walks to distant ehn vi h's
beat while somebody is knocked down ana
robbed at n saloon door. We take II for srah'e"
that the policeman and the proprietor oi .ne
saloon owe allegiance to the same district ieiuer
aud regard the blindness as natural bes'uee,
most of these wrongs in low life are cases VI
diamond cut diamond one rascal lives OH an
other. and the community Is not much ihcliheu
10 worry itself about the matter. But the roo
berry of Captain Rhoads is n variation III the
record Of police villany. Most decent ana law
abiding citizens regard policeman as at iehs'
not an enemy TO be guarded against at ever!
turn. even II he Is not specially ANXIOUS 10
stamp out profitable vice They think II they
are Ill they may safely trust themselves III 'he
hands Of a policeman. II there Is anythihg
wrong in their house they may without rlsk
unchain the door and let the officer OF the law
come in. But after hearing how the body OF the
dying Captain Rhoads was robbed on the way
to the hospital by the policeman intrusted Win
his care they are likely TO conclude that mere
after they Will entertain burglars when they
call rather than trust themselves to the mercy
Of the New-York police. Was there ever any
thing like 1t known In modern civilized CITY
The sworn officer of the government the
guardian of order, the protector OF citlzens'
steals the watch and chain from dying man
placed in his charge The physician VINO pol
soned his patient would he no more traitor to
his trust.
The Police Board will probably make an eX-
ample of this offender but with what race can
they do so? Atrocious as is such ROBBERY Is
it not the logical result Of the administration or
this same Police Board? Look TO any quarter
of the city and see the utterly lax discipline Tor
the answer. Policemen spending the evenings
comfortably established with women In da:k
doorways meet the observer at almost every
turn. police captain refuses to listen 10 an
alarm Of robbery block away because the IN
formant is a person whom he regards as
nuisance and the thieves carry on their work
undisturbed Two murderers are lodged IN
prison only to he allowed TO lift the latch OF
their cage and walk out of the station house.
citizen Is murdered where two policemen are on
duty and the only way they can avoid answer
ing for his death Is TO plead guilty OF being on
their posts Such incidents as these are only
few OF the significant signs Of police demoraliza-
ton. And they are not punished with any
severity, IT, indeed, they are punished at all.
1t is no wonder that a patrolman robs the
dead He sees his superlors at every hand rob
the living He probably has no chance to make
any dive keeper give up" His betters reap all
the fruits of partnership with the booksellers.
When plupder is the order of the day he natu-
rally regards what falls into his hand AS his
lawful plumber. If that plunder is the watch
and chain of dying man, well and good. That
is better than having to guard the body Of some
poor wretch with no watch and chain with
which to reward the guardian Mr.. Croker says
the government is run for the financial benefit
of the governors. The patrolman is one Of the
governors, and. of course, must have his share
Why should the Police Board become suddenly
squeamish about the pennies from dead mans
eyes? They do not vince when policemen fatten
on the theft Of children's bread or of woman's
honor.