The Washington times., 1901-12-25
Patrol Area Larger Than
Any City in Country.
SYLVESTER PRAISES THE FORCE.
Says Dennis Case Is Only One in
Which Perpetrator of Serious
Crime Has Not Been Apprehend-
cd Force Too Small to Properly
Guard District. EHH

for the recent outbreak OF crime which
Tor a time startled the community and
threatened panic among the feminine por-
tion OF the city's population. This is the
substance of statement given out yes
terday by Major Richard Sylvester, of the
local Police Department
He calls attention to the fact that the
mystery surrounding all Of these cases
has been cleared away and the guilty
parties placed under arrest, with the ex
ception of one case-that of the assault
upon Mrs. Ada Gilbert Dennis on the 10th
instant. Even this. the major believes,
will be soon cleared away and leave
Washington with the enviable record of
being the only city of consequence in
the United States where during an ad-
mil istration of the length OF his. no
erin. has been committed Of which the
perpetrator has not been apprehended.
This the force has been able to accom-
plish through capable and intelligent
work. but the time must soon come, ne
state. when the force at his command
will BE so small as to be not only unable
to prevent crime. but in some instances
to detect the criminals.
Major SyIvc.tcr's Statement.
Stealing will always prevail here. Sew
eral horrible crimes have been committed
in the past three months, and but one of
these remains TO be cleared up. and it is
the first mystery which has challenged the
detectives in late years
Coming all at one time, after months
Of freedom from tragedies, the conditions
alarmed the community.
The Franklin Square assault was a
myth; but the District should be more
numerously policed than any other juris-
dicticn to keep down disasters. as the
fcrce is insufficient numerically now.
The District police area is the fourth
largest in the United States. being ex-
ceeded by that of Greater New York, Chi
cago and Philadelphia. Baltimore has less
than half the area of the District of Co.
lumbia; Boston about haIf: Cincinnati
less than half; Cleveland corresponds with
Cincinnati; Detroit is about one third the
size; Louisville about one fourth: Mil
waukee one third and Pittsburg slightly
in excess Of one third.
Applying the same rule to other mu-
inequalities. the District of Columbia,
when compared with Louisville. should
have a force of 975 policemen; with Gin
cinnati. 1,GiS: with Detroit. l,100 with
Milwaukee. 942. and with Pittsburg. force
OF a least LOCO.
1T might be urged that population alone
should be considered. Is il not just as
important that the lives and property of
the less closely settled portions of the
police territory be guarded as In the
densely populated sections? II so, the
authorities should patrol the whole area.
IL IS immateriAl whether the suburban
homes number fifty or one hundred all
must be looked after, and the more eXtoa-
sye the field the more guardians VIII be
required 10 give it attention.
in jurisdiction penetrated by inyit-
ing drives. which are patrcrized by the
most prominent people in our land and
from abroad. it is absurd 10 sag that area
is not the factor in requirement. for
supervision.
Where population is concentrated IT
Is less difficult to exercise police super
vision than where il Is SCATTERED. and in
municipalities where the population is
confined to ineXtensiye districts. so is The
police force.
Peculiar Conditions LocnIIy.
The District contains virtually two
should not be forgotten that here is To-
Gated the seat OF government with its
employees and patrons, making Il rem
devious for not only the learned scien-
tist. the statesman, the diplomat. and vis-
it0r. but for that unfortunate class who
labor under various hallucinations incl
dent 20 political and other excitement.
THE District is q Southern territory
geographically. usually free from crimes OF
greater magnitude. such as murder and
highway robbery. and which are generally
confined TO the lower and ignorant class.
The IIst-named crime occurs in ten o.
twelve instances a year in the District,
but whea other localities are heard from,
with daily occurrences. the District rat
ing is low.
1T is not made manifest by the statis-
ties pertaining TO arrests or complaints
that crime in the District has increased
in every respect. The number Of cases Of
arrest exceed those Of former years but
this is a result Of the more stringent en-
forcement OF the police regulations.
Losses are unquestionably greater dur
ing the seasons OF abundance, money and
valuables being more plentiful! and more
exposed. In this jurisdiction there are
fewer thcfts OF greater magnitude than
petit larceny has always prevailed on an
extensive scale. Dishonest employees and
children are the factors which contribute
largely to this condition. Social surround
ings in this community are such as to
prompt stringent measures with respect
to their control.
Cases OF assault occur more frequently
than formerly, and the whipping post
might be applied without infringing upon
tho law NJ humanity
"On the principle that violations
against the person are more nur/ rous in
hot weather than cold weather. the in
crease OF such crimes In the District over
the prior year is justified but as to muir
der and assault with intent to kill the
same is not sustained, favorable de-
crease being noted.
''Reyerting to crimes against property,
housebreaking which in this jurisdiction
means where premises Of any kind are
broken into in the daytime, numbered 10
in 1893. IS the next year, and 80 in 1901.
Uousebreaking by night, separate Of
fence here. was the charge in 81 cases
held in 1883; Il during 1900, and I6 In 1901.
OF the latter class 205 complaints we're
made to the police.
Force L. Doing Good Work.
"whGe considering the number of cases
Of arrest. the increase of population, ex-
posure Of slot machines and merchandise,
an Increased police force with increased
vigilance should be taken into considera-
tion. Suburban resorts no doubt contrib
uted to the total of cases OF arrest for
intoxication. and, although there Is no
specific law against an individual becom-
ing intoxicated in the District, unless the
act Is accompanied by disordoriy conduct
or the subject is an babitual drunkard.
IL a penalty of some kind attached to such
conduct, the practice would doubtless be
materially reduced.
ssTha carving of concealed WpaDons Is