New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-12
WANTS REAL DETECTIVES.
Jerome Says They WoHtd increase
Ehciency of His Office.

District Attorney Jerome declared yesterday that
tie assertion OF Frank Moss Saturday that the
District Attorneys office apparently protect
ing Chinese gamblers was ridiculous. he SAID ne
would prosecute any cases which were laid before
him with a reasonable amount OF evidence
"A great many persons think. said MI Jerome.
that I have a private detective force or thirty
men with which to down the crimes and
criminals that escape the police have twenty
eight process servers. but they have no more
power OF privileges :han many messenger boys
''one reason for this misrepresentation on the
mart OF the public is that these process servers
are carried the payros county detectives
they got that title under the Gardiner administra-
ton. but they have none OF the powers OF detec-
tfves. In Brooklyn the District Attorney has
force Of detectives They statutory officers
and have the power and privileges Of n police
officer With their assistance the District Attorney
can. II he likes. do efficient detective work The
law does not provide such officers for this county
and only on act Of the legislature can make it
possible for me 70 recruit such force. The
District Attorney should have force at his COM
T14aad gel evidence against the police and to
take action in OF police neglect
With the Mcclellan administration a change has
come over the Police Department. When Mayor
Low was in Office the police realized that the
administration was FL sympathy and harmony With
my Office. had every assistance from the police
Now It seems that the idea las gene forth that
the present administration is antago7!stic 10 me.
It is Immediately reflected in the servi7e Of the
police in matters come tied with my office
There hes been direct MISUNDERSTANDING on
which I can pu. my finger. If ! could would
Immediately bring charges. II IS the sort or oppo-
sition one feels entering a room where the
reception has not been exactly cordial. One can't
say Just where frigidy lies but ii is there al
the same, and # hurts
only last night spent the entire evening going
about the Nineteenth Precinct. That sort of work
does not properly fall within the duties Of my
Office. II should not be necessary but II seems to
be. therefore II is done.
u 90 not want 10 say thst the police can stop
gambling among the Chinese. but 1t would be an
Exceedingly difficult task. 1t would take detective
ability OF the highest order. The work would be
Handicapped by the difficulty OF getting stool
OF corrobatory evidence necessary to obtain
a conviction the testimony OF Chinese witnesses
makes them almost useless
There are two gangs OF gamblers in Chinatown.
There is not much 10 choose between the two
They organized to get the money OF the China
from all parts OF greater New-York and neigh
boring towns in Jersey who come TO the quarter
There is bad blood between them, which this
recent trouble has arisen. These shooting scrapes
serious and should be stopped II possible. I
believe, though, that there evils in New-York
10 which the police could devote their time more
prohtably than 10 preventing gambling among the
NJ. Jerome said that several times he had found
II necessary make investiga tons. using his
process servers and even in person
He told how few months ago he had been
visited by delegation of Settlement workers, who
declared that the pckpocket evil had become
hesTa bic and that boys and girls were being used
crimes. They had been to the police and had
ceived no assistance Mr.. Jerome could spare only
one o. his process servers.
That man. he said. working private citi-
zen, caused hundred arrests IN a month within
p pistol shot Of where ! sitting. There were
convictions Of eighty-six cases