Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-08

active. 1t is noted that he, with Officer
Martin Brown, were the last persons to ar
rest Dorsey Foultz, over whom the local
police have spent many sleepless nights.
They arrested him for assault on wom-
an. While he was in the sixth precinct he
was active in a campaign against gam
blers and procured the arrest of many.
While he was in the third precinct he was
commended in general orders for his ac
tivity in detecting and arresting a gang of
housebreakers, who had terrorized that sec
ton of the city in 1901. He also made the
arrest of the man who set fire to the Fen
dali building in 1903, few minutes after
the fire was started. His record was SO
good that he was promoted to a full SER
geantcy at once, on July 1, 1904. He served
first in the second precinct station and was
recently sent from there to the most i'm
portant precinct Of all.
In each precinct there is man who is
detailed to do duty in citizens clothes as
precinct detective. He is chosen for his
special fitness in that line and for his ex-
cellent work as a private in uniform. The
only man so detailed at present in the first
precinct is Robert Watson, who has made
good record as plain clothes man."
He was appointed to the police force In
1893, and served as a private for two years.
He showed his ability as a detective. and
in 1895 was detailed to serve in citizens
clothes, to break up policy writing and
gambling in the city. That this form of
gaming in this city does not flourish is
largely due to Mr.. Watson's efforts and
hard work. In the nine years that he was
on that duty he pursued the policy men re-
lentlessly and broke up some of the best
established policy shops in the city. In the
first year that he was SO detailed he Sc
cured the conviction of lat persons for pol
Icy writing. and that has always been con-
sidered remarkable record.
Joseph Acton, who Is detailed at the Cen
ter market and a worthy co-eperator with
Detective Watson. is better known as
"Sergt." Acton. He has been connected
has done duty In many parts of the city.
but chiefly in the first precinct. He was
at one time at the detective bureau and did
good work there. He did duty at the Penn
sylvania railroad station at another time,
and was there shot and seriously injured
by soldier during the Spanish war. He
was sergeant for many years, but was
reduced to the rank of private with only
day work, about six years ago, at his own
request. He is still active and attentive
to duty
Embraced within the bounds of the first
precinct is the division" When Lieutenant
Aniiss took charge of the first precinct,
nearly twenty years ago, he found that
part of the city south of the avenue in de-
plorably bad state. He began crusade
against what he regarded as the worst
"
saloons. At that time those saloons never
closed night or day. In his reports about
them Lieutenant Amiss scored them round
ly, and. to his efforts largely are due the
strict laws in the city regarding the clos
ing of saloons. When he had put those
places out of business he determined that
the houses of ill-fame must be run on law
abiding principles. He fixed the bounds of
the city to which they must be confined,
and established strict rules CT observance.
Wherever those rules were disobeyed he
raided the house and put the owner out of
business.
The officers of the first precinct are called
upon to do special duty at various times at
places which draw large crowds.
Among the places of great activity where
attention of officers of the law. police pro-
lection and information bureaus are espe-
cially required is at the important street
railway transfer points. which are numer-
GUS ones in the first precinct territory
This service is afforded by the crossing
officers with the powers of policemen. The
corner of 18th street and New York ave-
nue. northwest Is a very busy place at all
hours. and thousands of people pass there
daily Not only liz It an important transfer
point. but IL is ali,o the usual highway for
carriages from the residences OF the north
west to the government buildings or to the
Offices downtown. besides being in the
route of many pedestrians. The men who
prevent accidents save people from injury
every day and direct bewildered strangers,
are Crossing Officers A. c. Putnam and G.
w. Osborne. Another important point Is
9th and streets northwest. The men at
that important crossing are w. C. Boteler
and ]. J. Strain. The busiest point on
intersection with 7th street The officers
stationed there must be active and keen