The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-28
THE VANGUARD OF CROOKS.
Detectives Coming From Other Cite.
Check the Onslaught.

: All paths lead to Washington in the
| eyes of the crooks. and they are fiocking
] toward the Capital City. 1t Is asserted
| they are gathering in Baltimore, ready
| to swoop down when the rush begins Sat-
urday night and Sunday. The police are
making unusual preparations for their
I reception. in itself q warning of the COM
| ing of the light-fingered gentry" the
safe-blower. the second-story worker and
the professional hobo"
Indications are not wanting of the
gathering of the clans, for already sus-
ricious characters. the advance guard of
the army of rascals. has arrived. Arrests
are becoming more frequent daily. and
strange faces to the local sleuIhs are
much in evidence. 1t has been arranged
that thirty-five detectives from outside
cities will be here Saturday to look over
the crowd and pick out familiar :aces as
the crooks appear. Despite this precau-
ton. many thieves will enter the city by
every conceivable means. Only the bold
est will march through the dep DIS, where
many detectives will lie in wait. Others
will make use of the electric car lines
reaching into Ine suburbs. where they will
ind it convenient to quit the trains and
board car. because of this. however.
all the principal suburban railway sta
tiCnS will be watched by one or more
slouths. the steamboat wharves will be
under surveillance. and the tunnel of the
Pennsylvania Railroad in the extreme
southeast section of the city, will have
its detectives to pick up any stragglers
OF the rascal army who may appear. Be
sides, several policemen viii be stationed
at Benning. where the freight cars come
AID go. for that is fas orite landing
place for the hobo" In this way. ii Is
hoped a Gordon will be drawn about the
city.
While the names of the detectives COM
I'M; from other cities are withheld. they
are coming from New York. Philadelphia.
Boston. Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis.
Cincinnati. and other cities. These men
all over the country are looking over the
faces in the various rogues galleries. to
acquaint themselves with criminals CT
every class and section. With each local
sleuth two or three detectives will be
been prepared, but not made public.
Once within the city, the crooks. es-
pecially the pickpockets, card sharks. and
gamblers, will mingle freely with the
crowds along the Avenue, and Seventh
and f Streets northwest They will fire.
rade Monday afternoon may be expected
to sit beside YOU on a reviewing stand. or
jostle you iii the push along the street.
The burglar and second-story worker. on
the other hand and also the safe blower,
will quit the jam and visit the residence
section, where he will ply his trade dur
ing the absence down town of the family
households If an opportunity offers. the
safe blower may get in his work, possibly
crack big safe in business house. and
then HE himself out of town on the first
train
Many OF the special policemen to be
sworn in for the celebration will be as
signed to suburban districts. and this fact I
will be known to the crooks. While the
regular policemen are massed down town,
thieves will get In their work.