The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-22
NO PLACE FOR CRIMINALS.
EviI-DOers Regard the National Cap
itaI With Apprehension.


The good record made of late by the
Police Department Of this city has been a
matter of comment among police officials
of other cities. and has resulted in Wash
iugton becoming known as a city to be
avoided by the members of the criminal
classes, who for q time have been giving
the District of Columbia wide berth in
their journeys about the country
There's no use in trying to turn
trick inWashington, one Of them was
heard to remark the other day. for
whether you DO anything or not YOU are
sure to be nabbed. II You are wanted in
China they would find out about it
Practically no fugitive from justice Of
note has escaped the vigilance Of the
local police for any length Of time and
the percentage of arrests. compared with
crimes committed, is greater here than
in any other city Of the country This
condition Of affairs is Iargel,-- due to the
excellent system in vogue, although as
the police admit. an element OF luck en-
tiers into 1t also. There is probably no
police official in the United States who
has a greater conception Of the value Of
time that Major Richard Sylvester, the
Chief Of the Washington force, who has
remarked that if n could only ade-
quately impress upon every man in the
department the value of time it would
be practically Impossible for any criminal
TO escape
Although the force is hampeTed by the
lack OF a sufficient number of men to
properly cover the sixty-four square
miles of territory that is embraced in the
police district. they have been enabled
To thoroughly cover every avenue of es-
cape in every instance of consequence.
1t is interesting to watch the methods
pursued in the apprehension of a muir
derer- The moment news reaches Head
quarters of the commission of such
crime and it is learned that the perpetra-
tor has escaped, practically the entire po-
lice force of the city is called into action
at once Every detective is summoned
from whatever case he may be working
on and assigned some special duty in con-
nection with the apprehension of the fu-
gltive- Major Sylvester takes control of
the work ard personally directs the dis
position of the force, some of them be
ing sent to the various points where their
services are likely to be required and
others being sent to such out-of-toyn
points as are likely to be reached by the
murderer in his flight All Of the reserv-
IS of the various precincts are called out
also and are assigned to various posts
OF districts, some OF them dressed In Cltl-
zeHs' clothes The avenues 81 escape are
thus covercd-the depots, every road,
bridge, or footpath-and it Is practically
impossible for anyone to pass out OF
the city without one of the various Off
GERS seeing him
L q reasonably accurate description of
the person has been secured and sent out
apprehension is certain
At the same time the Office force is busy
preparing and sending out circulars to
other cities IN case an escape should have
been effected. Every device for the rapid
dissemination Of orders and prompt re-
turn Of reports is quickly adopted by the
Police department and eternal vigilance
IS constantly impressed upon every man
IN 1t There is no offenC" against the
rules laid down in the manual that IS
more certain TO involve the appearance
Of an officer before the Trial Board on
charges than his failure TO promptly mott
f. Police Headquarters Of any important
nappefiing that may come under bis no
tiCe-
The new Tenth precinct has been
equipped with a number Of new devices
looking to the prompt handling Of police
business. among them bsiug q sliding pole
from the GOTmitoTv floor to the stable. In
case OF .re- riot. or other emergency the
police in this station Jump from their
beds. much as the fremen do and jump
ing into their clothes slide down the pole
70 the floor Of the stable. where they fad
the horse already haTuessed to the
wagon and ready to carry them to what
The reconstruction Of the older stations
viii permit it is the intention Of Major
Sylvester 70 provide similar devices for al
OF the StaJiouh0useS-