Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-03
Annual Statement Submitted
to Commissioners.
AN INCREASE DESIRED
RECORD OF THE DEPARTMENT
REGARDED AS SUPERIOR.
The Civil Service System Of Appoint
ments Commended-Noted Local
Crimes-Statistical Showing.

Major Richard Sylvester the superinten-
dent of police today submitted to the Dis
trIct Commissioners his annual report. COW
ering the operations OF the police depart
ment during the past fiscal year. The re-
port Is a long one. replete with interesting
detail Major Sylvester discusses many
subjects. He urges an increase in the
force, explaining the necessity for such ac-
ton in his estimates for the fiscal year
1904 With regard TO the force itself, Major
Sylvester says that as organization 1t
has been free from scandal and it's good
name has been preserved through proper
action being taken in cases where there
were Just grounds for the iufliction of PEN
alties. In all large bodies of men the SUI
perntendent says there will be found per-
centage requiring incessant supervision, but
1t is claimed for the police force of the Dis
trict that its members have been guilty of
fewer dereiictions than ever before, and
that its record is superior one when COM
pared with similar bodies in other cities.
Discusses Prevalence of Crime
Coming to the subject of. crime, Major
Sylvester says during the past twelve
months the country at large has suffered
more from depredatfons upon property than
ever before in It's history. THESE exasper-
ating offenses' he continues have oc-
CURED IN prosperous times, WUeN employ
ment was easy TO be had and money plenti-
full. There is no doubt that carelessnesS
and recl<lessnesS prevail to greater dcgrea
during such periods. when business aCcumu-
lations furnish a more inviting and broader
field for the craftsman and rubber. All the
large cities suffered more or less, and while
the District had some few cases of profess
sional burglarizing, the number was COM
paratively insignificant.
"A comparison of the report of this de-
partmeut with those of other localities re-
fleets great credit upon the local force, for
while from forty to seventy per cent OF loss
es were recovered elsewhere. no department
IN the United States presented so remark
able a record of money and property re-
Coveres as that Of the District Of Column
bia. The estimated money and property
losses by theft recorded by the department
aggregated SS4 SO, while the estimated
amount of the same recovered, including
what had been lost but not stolen. agSre-
gated $ST.92i. unprecedented and most
creditable showing.
The Offenses Enumerated.
The records of this department show
DPS eases of HOUSEKEEPING, but it should
be remembered that under our law who
ever enters house, room, premises. boat
or car TO commit a criminal offense, even
II he does not break in. may be charged
with housebreaking. In other words, a
thief who sneakS into a hallway and steals
an umbrella, or into chicken house and
carries away a fowl. IS guilty of house
breaking On this charge there were pol
cases of arrest during the year, 125 of
which were held by the courts. In 1901
there were 2J1 similar cases reported, for
which us persons were arrested, 115 of
whom were held by the courts.
During the year in 3t5 instances citizens
reported grand larceny cases at headquar-
rs; 1870 arrests followed. Of of which were
itld The year 1901 showed 32S complaints,
1+H cases of arrest and 100 convictions.
BY far the greatest evil existing in the
District is the constant pilfering by dishon-
est servants, clerks, other employees and
by juveniles. This constitutes petit lar
Ceny, and thefts under this law were noted
in 1913 Instances; apprehensions were had
in 2,l2l cases. of which number 49, paid
a penalty.
''Twenty-nine charges of highway rob-
berry were received. Tweuty-three arrests
followed. sixteen of which We're proved.
There were twentyfour cases reported in
1901. for which seven arrests were made,
five of whom were convicted
Fourteen more cases of enlightenment
We're held by the courts on arrests made
than there were complaints, there being but
forty-tive recorded. This due to sew
eral charges growing out of a single case
of arrest. Out Of siXty-nine entries of false
pretenses. ffty-three convictions followed
and of forgery there were seven cases,
seven arrests and all cases made.
Fifteen Arrests for Murder
and fourteen Of these were held on pre-
liminary hearing. The most depIorable af-
fair OF the year was the assault made upon
Mrs. Ada Dennis at her home on X street,
between midnight and daylight, during the
month of December last. In the absence of
a declared motive or evidence pointing to
the assailant. the police were the recipients
of a distressing task. The investigation
was perslstently pursued and events at the
end OF continued efforts warranted strong
belief in one direction, which has led to an
arrest
Minor offenses were more numerous than
for the year preceding, and there were
many more arrests. Good times. with
money to spend new regulations, nearby
Sunday resorts. and n more active and in
telligent enforcement OF the laws by an
increased police force account for the
growing statistics. There were %, 543 cas-
of arrest during the year of which li45S
were white and 1J,Us5 colored. slightly
lower percentage OF coiored than for many
years.
The Liquor Law.
There is a general observance Of the
law on the part of proprietors of drinking
places. Those who have licenses for such
places show a disposition to comply with
restrictions that do not prevail in most Of
the large cities. although the temptation to
evade the law is very great. Difficulties in
enforcing the liquor law arise in those sec
II
are located. where a drink and drunk can
be had for one price. Speak easies' and
walking bar rooms are known here and
frequent arrests OF parties engaged in this
business have followed during the past
year. To this class of offenders belong
those who purchase supply on Saturdays
To be sold either from a satchel or in rooms
where their friends may gather on Sundays
Reference to Gambling.
Public gaming houses do not exist in the
District, but poker playing Is carried on
occasionally, under cover. IN rooms hires
for such purposes. Our courts distinguish
between card playing for amusement I'M
der social auspices and that for gain, where
there Is what Is known as a 'rake-ofT,' and
the police have been alert to bring the pro-
prietors or conductors of such places to i,Is-
tice. In many instances raids and arrests
have been made. but the infection Of the
highest penalties has not always prevailed
The only cure for the disease Is the i'm
position OF heavy fines and Imprisonment.
and the police will continue their efforts
10 bring a. bout a compliance with law
Progressive euchre parties for prizes
when co1dCc ed in a manner to'invfta the at
tendance Of the general public Is In the
opinion of the United States attorney con-
trary to law, and the department has re-
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