The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-10
THE MERCHANT POLICE
B~URGLARIES AND FIRES PREVENT
ED BY THEIR VIGILANCE.
The Force Was Organized i'm 1865 by
Daniel COauiIIard-Now Two
Associations.

Tt is said by municipal and pathological
statisticians that Indianapolis ranks to-
day as one of the best policed cities in the
United States. Many reasons are assigned
by them for the present standard of moral
ity which prevails in this city, and great
credit is given to the Indianapolis police
force. Little. however. is said and less is
known of the great assistance that has
been afforded to the regular force in its
preservation of the peace and maintenance
of the law by its able adjunct, the Mer-
chant police force. Just how many rob-
berries have been prevented or how many
fires nave been discovered in time to pre-
vent serious loss by the members Of this
silent factor of the Indianapolis police
power could only be obtained by an inspec-
ton of records for more than thirty-ive
years back. Even then only a partial rec
ord could be obtained, for the number of
wrongs that nave been rectifed by the mer-
chant police since its organization in this
city that have never been reported exceed
by far those which would be found record
ed.
The Merchant police force was first or
ganized in the spring of 1S65 by Daniel Co
quillard, the force at that time numbering
nine men and as many districts. In the
winter Of 1867 Col. a. ID. Rose took charge
OF the force and continued to be its cap
tain until FEBRUARY. 1859. Colonel Rose was
succeeded by II. p: Thomas, who served
as captain for a period OF twenty-five
years. Following Captain Thomas, b. +.
Wilson served two years as captain Of the
force, and he in turE. was succeeded by
Jasper N. Clary. who served for one year.
joan II. Whiteman was then made captain
or the force for two years, and was fol-
lowed by NJ. H. Miller, whose term expired
April i, 1900. At the expiration of Captain
Millers term Jasper N. Clary was again
elected captain of the force. but there being
q controversy between certain members Of
the force with Tegard to the wearing OF uni.
forms. IL was decided to separate into two
organizations. Those favoring uniforms
for the force purchased them at their own
expense and elected NJ. II. Miller as their
captain, while those who were opposed to
uniforms organized under the county, and
were Incorporated under the laws of the
State as the Indianapolis Merchant Detec-
tive Association, and elected Jasper N.
Clary as captain. The best OF feeling exists
between the captains and members of both
organizations, and the only real distinction
noticed is that some are uniformed and
others are not.
II. p. Thomas is the Oldest member Of
the Merchant police force in service, he
having become a member of the force on
the 18th OF October, 1866, more than thirty
nVc years ago lie Is sun a strong and
active man and apparently has not suf-
fered from his long service. John L. FL
lott, another member OF the association,
has served on the force for thirty-one
years, and Thomas c. Moore, Robert ID.
Bacon, Nelson Daubenspeck. Jasper N.
Clary, MILFORD Bristow, Christian Cook,
Thomas NJ. kingsberry, George w. Cheat
ham, Samuel Mcclure and Samuel Nice
have all served on the force for more than
twenty years. AT present there are twenty
eight members I'm the INDIANAPOLIS Mer-
chants Association, whose districts cover
to a great extent the downtown business
houses. There are probably as many men,
bers In the uniformed division of the force