Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-29

and their followers matters became worse.
and not few good-sized riots took place
Among many of the troopers there was
belief that any one living here was
southern sympathzer, and as q rule all
citizens were guarded in their language FOR
fear of attack or arrest. ShoOtng cases
were common, and on more than one oc-
casion was lynch law proposed, and only
prevented by strong appeals backed by
provost guard established by military
authorities.
Chased a Guardsman.
One of our three months District soldiers
was killed on Pennsylvania avenue below
AZ street, it was thought by an auxiliary
guardsman, and the latter was chased
through the streets by an Infatuated mob
of soldiery and citizens with cries OF
Lynch him He reached the central
guardhouse and for an hour or more the
mob clamorei FOR his life. while Capt. God
dard of the Auxiliary Guard and others
expostulated. Finally the provost guard
was called and cleared the street me
suspected man was proved innocent
through the arrest and conviction OF an
other.
A house on Maine avenue near Az street
in which a soldier was killed was attacked,
sacked and fired by a newly arrived regl-
ment and on the fire company responding
it was prevented from going into serV-
ic, by the Infatuated soldiers until the lat
ter were charged by squadron or the
United States cavalry.
Tn addition to these things the colored
population was furnishing much police
business, and was being rapidly increased
by arrivals of runaway slaves. Some OF
these were followed by their owners and at
tennis were made to recover themt some
times lawfully and at other times Dy Iorce
not infrequently leading to disorder Ihe
hulk of these coiored people We're seiueu ~, IN
camps or barracks on the outskirts OF the
,ity Then there was the strong arm OF
the military to be seen in the regular pa,
troll subject to the army regulations ana
the civil law was administered under q
n,ixture of the old common law of England
some cid Marylan nd law. United States stat
utes and the ordinances OF the corporations
forming the code
IT is not, therefore strange that the pup
lie found it difficult to discern what was
la wfuI or otherwise, especially when arrests
were being made by the military anu sef-
eral firms of Independent aetectlNss Gun
missioned as county constables, ana secret
agents as we'll as our regular ponce Be
tween the provost guard and the auXiilary
Guard and city police for the most parI
there was harmony. The military patroi
and the local police had the central guard
bouse ON louisiana avenue near 9th stree,
as headquarters 1t was not always ioVeIs
AT this guard house, for IN adoitioH " coli-
att of authority where soldiers were
concerned. the suspicion that some mem,
hers of the civil force were disioyal did
not tend to friendly relations
In view Of the ,f fofeg e 1ser sea Was ever
nariod for a Uniform police force LOT tte
district that was the time. II ca.i i "
doubted that the necessity TOT action ~
ward that end was Increased by .ne euIui
t;ons which resulted from the hrSt Dattie OF
prII Pun. July 81, 1861. Churches ana
other buildings were pfesseu iar.o rr;,,sd
for hospital purposes more .roupS a. "a
and barracks and camps estapi,sIea anu
government depots for supplies an lea 70 a
% mid increase of the population, ana IN q
short time Washington harbored every coh-
ceivable specimen OF humanity
Metropolitan Police Organized.
Tho art To establish a metropolitan police
roroa was approved by President Lincoln
August q 1851. and shortly afterward the
commissioners were appointed, Zenas c.
Robbins. Richard Wallach. Joseph F.
Brown. SayIes J. Bowen and w. M Tenney
being selected. James G. Berret and Henry
Addison mayors of Washington and
GEORGETOWN, respectively, were ex officio
members of the board. The displacement
of Mr.. Berret and the election of Mr.. Wal
ZACH as mayor led to the latter becoming
ex officio member, and the vacancy was
filled by the appointment of G. S. Gideon
The headquarters and offices of the board
were established on Louisiana avenue. west
Of Az street. with Mr.. William b. Webb
as superintendent of police and Thomas ].
Lazenby, clerk, George r. Herrick being app
pointed assistant clerk subsequently,, and
Thomas J. Frazier messenger But $50
patrolmen under ten Sergeants constituted
the force which entered on duty September
H. and of these some few had had police
experience under the old corporation, but
a large majority had but recently served
in the District three months service. It
may be supposed that in these selections
the commissioners were more than usually
fortunate by the fact that some of the
early appointees still retain their connec-
ton with the force as pensioners, few
-. <~kt~z sks-x. -