Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-01
POLICEMEN ON DUTY
LARGER FORCE READY FOR THE
INAUGURATION.
More Men to Be Added Tomorrow and
the Next Day-Ofncials
Kept Busy.

There are naturally more policemen on
duty in this city today than there has been
at any time since the last big gathering of
people from other sections of the country
There win be stia other names added to
the list tomorrow and Friday, and, II Is
believed there will be about fifteen hum
dred wearers of the police insignia of office
on duty Inauguration day. Three hundred
members of the committee on public order
were sworn in last night and today ana
are wearing the shield These business and
professional men are full-fedged arms of
the law" and are expected to do their duty
as such The members of the committee
who are special policemen will wear but
tons with red, white and blue streamers.
red committee badge and a general com
mitee badge These, together with the
shield of the police department, will give
the committeeman many privileges. as well
as placing upon them many responslblh-
ties.
Officials Kept Busy.
Everybody was busy at police headquar-
tiers this morning and officials had but lit
tie attention to pay to trifiing routine mat
ters. At 8 o'clock Major Sylvester was on
hand to swear IN one hundred of the spe-
cials. each of whom is to receive So a day
for his services. These men were not re-
Quired to pass an examination. but were
given an idea of what is to be expected
OF them. They assembled in the detectives
room and were addressed by the superin-
tendent of police. Major Sylvester told
them they would be expected to give strict
and Intelligent attention to the rules of
the department as laid down in special
order and would have to perform almost
continuous duty from Friday to Sunday
night. He also told them they might ex-
pect substantial recognition for meritorfous
service, such as apprehending burglars,
or lraro AVID frh doc of
All the men in the party expressed them
selves being willing to undertake the
duties and subscribed to the oath. Each
man was then given a badge, club and
whistle and they went away from the
building armed with all the authority of
regular policemen.
Then They Go on Duty.
AS they went away from the building to
go to the precincts in which they are to
do duty some of them carried their batons
with the swing of a regular copper" while
others wanted to give the impression that
they were old in the business, but did not
know just how to manage 1t. Some wore
their shields on their overcoats and seemed
conscious of the change that had been
wrought by the authority that had been
conferred upon them.
THAT man." said one of the older police
men, pointing to a colored extra, reminds
me of one of the specials who did duty
four years ago He went upon his beat and
had been there but a short time before he
met one of his girl friends. She accused
him of being one of them police and he
promptly denied the accusation. He told
her he was not ordinary policeman,
but was something special, and told her
that he was. therefore, way above the
others
'"The girl accepted his explanation and
went away with the understanding that her
friend was far above the men who had been
arresting some of her companions"
Out-of-Town Detectives.
About the time the special officers had been
disposed of the detectives were appearing
at headquarters Among the first of the
put-of-town men to arrive this morning was
Roger OMera of Pittsburg, Pa. He was
director of public safety in the smoky city
a number of years and gave up the
position because of a change of administra-
ton. He is now conducting private
agency. Major Sylvester recognized his
abilities in the line of looking after crooks
and sent for him to help out during the
inaugural period. With him was Detective
Tied" johnson of Allegheny. He is also
we'll and favorably known to the sleuths of
this city. There were many detectives from
other cities and they were present at the
morning roll call. which was conducted by
Captain Boardman. After roll call Captain
Boardman assigned the strangers with
local men and sent some of them to the
depots for duty. Police reports indicate
that traffic on the railroads has greatly
increased during the past twenty-four
hours and the detail at them will probably
be increased tomorrow.
An Arrest by Pinkerton Men.
The first detective arrest was made this
morning by Detective Dimairo of the
Pinkerton force. He arrested William or
.rBill" Northridge. a Washington man. and
locked him up on suspicion. Northridge re-
turned TO this city recently after an alb
sence of several years and was arrested LOT
Az pbiIadelDhia authorities He was
turned over to the authorities Of that city,
but returned here few days later. Upon
his return he called at police headquarters
and saw Captain Boardman. Ihat omclal
7ofd him he would not be troubled unless
he kept bad company. 1t is now alleged
that he has been seen in the company OF
people of questionable reputation. He may
be taken to the Police Court tomorrow