New-York tribune., 1901-09-23
A SCHEME TO BLOCK RAIDS.
NEW POLICE ORDER PLACES AN OBSTA-
GLEN THE WAY OF REFORMERS.

When Superintendent McClntock and two agents
for the Society for the Prevention of Crime asked
Frank w May a policeman of the West Thirty
seventh-st. station to serve warrant on some
women the house at No. I2 West tortieth-st'
at midnight Saturday. they ran against an oostacle
in the shape of orders that issued by Com
missioner Murphy a week ago last Saturday. But
for the presence of Mr.. Sandford. Of the District
Attorneys office 1t is certain that the pohceman
would have definitely refused to serve the warrant
which issued by Justice Jerome. without hrst
receiving orders do from his immediate
superiors at the station. Dillon that May
attempted to avoid serving the warrant by making
what seemed to him (Dillon) bogus arrest few
doors below the house where lived the women whom
they desired to apprehend, but that after few
earnest words had been spoken to him ne let MS
prisoner go and served the warrant
a week ago last Saturday ar order was sent to
all precinct commanders that patrolIneh OF
post warrants brought to them by
others than their superior officers or their repre-
sentatives. Several policemen who are familiar
with the Penal Code. well several agents Tor
the Society for the Prevention OF Crime, say that
this order is in direct conflict with provision OF the
Penal Code. and that a policeman obeying it will
he liable to term of imprisonment On the other
hand. policemen who consent to serve warrant
without direct orders from their superior officers
are in danger of-Devery-and II is even thing.
in the minds Of many wearers OF the blue and
brass
did not refuse TO serve the warrant presented
by the officers of the society and that he
did not urge them that he had prisoner ana
must take him the station before doing the work
they asked. He said that he thought a representa-
tive of the District Attorney his superior Of
fcer. just the District Attorney himself. the
Mayor some other responsible city official would
be his superior officer and that therefore he served
the warrant.
Commissioner Murphy was asked about the order
last night.
DO you think it right that officer should be
taken away from his post by anybody who wants
a warrant served?" he asked "He is in charge OF
the lives and property of the people on his post
and should leave it except In the discharge
of duty. I do not consider the serving of war
rants portion of a poceman's duty, unless MS
der affecting this sent out 2 week ago or
more SO far as ! know no provision Is meae ofsa IL.
who shall refuse to serve warrant presented to
fused TO serve the warrant OF which you speak and
under the circumstances related by YOU, ne was
within his right and within his duty The District
ATTORNEY has letter from me in his pocket telling
conditions TO assist him 20 the limit of our ability
That statement Is as good to-day as the day
be taken away from their posts and the latter left
uncovered without due notification of the station
g Wbdn 'mat on m ms POS 'Sa r Is is awavs
time to go to the station and have officer de-
tailed TO the work l am certain that no captain
1t is not however the fear that their request
will refused that prevents officers OF the Society
for the Prevention of Crime from informing the
sergeant the desk In any station of their con-
templated raids. any than Il the reason
why Justice Jerome acted without telling captains
of the raids he made. 1t is the fear that too
many will be put on the case some OF whom
will work with the officers who seek 10 con-
serve the law. but rather with those who are
breaking the law.
There is no doubt that the disturbances in the
Police Department have had bad effect the
Illicit income derived from disordcrly houses. pool
rooms and other gambling dens, and something,
vivify the stunned hen that has laid golden
eggs. If the police cannot afford protection 10
breakers OF the law. the latter will give
up" The money IS there. but the police TO the
immortal words Of the aphoristic Devery have
been caught with the goods on them. There
fore they cannot deliver the goods, and conse-
quenty, they cannot get pay for them.