The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-10

the sohriety of our citizens. For being
both drunk and disorderly 494 persons
were arrested, or 210 less than in 1902
With such a great difference in the
number of arrests for these offenSes,
it is evident that our citizens are lean
ing more toward sobriety. This fact
was particularly noticeable on Christ
mas Eve night. Usually there is a
great deal of drunkenness on Christ
mas Eve and Christmas. The past
year was an exception, and the search
ty of intoxicated men was freely COM
mented upon. 1 take pleasure in say
ing, and the records bear me out, that
there was little or no rowdyism Christ
mas Eve night.
A decrease is also shown in the num-
Der of arrests made for burglary and
larceny. There were only twenty-nine
arrests made for burglary, a decrease
of fortyeseVen. For larceny sec arrests
We're made, or siXty-four less than 1902.
1t might be said that the detectives
were less active. but such statement
could be easily refuted by reference to
the number of suspicious characters
arrested, and the amount of lost and
stolen property recovered. There were
404 suspicious characters arrested dur
ing the year. an increase of seventy
four over the previous year. We have
a record of ten arrests for cruelty to
animals against one during the pre-
Vious year. While there is no branch
of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals in Savannah the
officers of this department are not
unmindful of the law that requires
the humane treatment of dumb brutes.
Efficiency of the Men.
No more unimpeachable evidence of
the efficiency of the men in this de-
partment, during the past year, can be
shown than by pointing to the fact
that there was an increase of nearly
$4,000 in the fines collected in Police
Court. This is strong evidence of the
fact that the arrests made were war
ranted.
The falling off in the number of
thefts committed is most encourage
ing, and, too, a great many more
temptations We're offered in the bust
ness district. During the year 461
buildings were found open at night, an
| increase over 1902 of 1871. OF the total
number of arrests made the plain
clothes men are credited with 63S an
increase of seventy-seven. There
were 536 persons given lodging here
during 1903, or seventy-two more than
were accommodated in 1902.
Had Strike and Fair.
There were a great many happenings
of magnitude during the year and the
police We're called upon often. / take
pleasure in calling attention to the
fact that there was not a homicide. and
comparatively little disorder, during
the strike of the freight handlers
which began in September and ran
until the close of the year. An extra
detail of uniformed men was kept
on duty in the vicinity of the wharves
and in Yamacraw, and reserves were
held in quarters. 1t was found neces-
sary to put the reserves into service
only once or twice.
During the fair and race meet there
Yet we received but two reports of
theft that may have been committed
by these strangers. One of these rob-
trolley car coming to the city from the
Fair Grounds. Savannah was well
protected and there was no repetition
of the many robberies that were COM
mitted in neighboring cities.
Shooting stopped BurElRries.
An epidemic of burglaries early in
the summer came to a sudden stop
when William Walters. a negro, was
shot by Detective Frank II. Wall
while entering the home of Mr.. Lee
Roy Myers, on CASTOR street. When
arraigned in the Superior Court Wait
ers was sentenced to serve forty years
in the penitentiary. During this period
OF activity Rafe Harvey. a notorious
negro, was under suspicion. III a des-
perate fight in Oglethorps lane, near