Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12


i cred by the fifth police precinct
Up until a few months ago, the
fifth precinct was considered one of the
most quiet and peaceable quarters of the
entire city; there were few ripples to dis
tur5 the calm surface of the daily life in
southeast Washington. But within the last
few months few tidal waves of disturb
ance have rolled over the section. Within
the short period of one week in September,
a little girl was Killed by an automobile a
contractor was murderously assaulted by
an inspector at the navy yard and a hus
band killed his rival, almost killed his wife
and committed suicide. That started the
first tidal wave and several have followed
There are few thiclly populated alleys in
Southeast Washington such as are found in
the southwest, and there are few places
where disorderely crowds gat her. The pre-
C.nct territory is the largest of any of
the precincts into which the District is di-
vided, dcscibed in the police manual as fol-
lows:
beginning at the center of the Capitol;
thence south through the Capitol grounds
crossing street south to the middle OF
South Capitol street: thence south along
the middle of South Capitol street to its
intersection with the Anacost.a river; thence
due south across said river; thence west
along the bank of said river to Giesboro
Point; thence south along the east bank
of the Potomac river to the southeastern
boundary of the District of Columbia
thence northeast along said boundary line
to its intersection with the Bowen ro2d ;
thence along the Bowen road to its inter
section with the Ridge road; thence along
the middle Of the Ridge road to its inter
section with The Anacostia road; thence by
direct line to the middle of East Capitol
street to its intersection with the AnacOs
ia river; thence west along the IN ddlc of
a
ginning.
To police this immense tract of territory,
which is thickiy populated eighty police
men are required the largest number OF any
of the precincts in the District. Outside of
the ordinary precincl included in the south
east section of he city TO the AnaCosta
river there Is also included the land of
the District across that r.Ver. embraced in
the jurisdiction Of the substation, which is
maintained a separate police station in
AnaCostia While the number of officers
is large. this precinct has some of the larg-
est beats in the city. In fact there are
beats for patroimen in the fifth precinct
which almost equal in area the entire first
or sixth precincts There is. for instance,
the commons beat. which includes TIL" ter
ritory from South Capitol street to Attn
street, from G street to the river. Another
large beat is that extending from E street
to the river and from Sth street out, known
as the navy yard beat.
Although not regarded as the business
section of the city, the fifth precinct terri
tory contains its share of the government
buildings The chief government plant in
the precinct Is the navy yard. at the foot
of Sth street southeast. There, every day
about 4 100 men gather for work. many OF
them going in and coming out twice each
twenty -four hours. Among tbs crowd of
people there is Nttle disorder and few ar
rests, altogether a remarkable company in
this respect. Other government Institutions
in the precinct are the wOTkhouse, jail.
| Washington Asylum Hospital. smallpox
hospital, detention camp, Tn ted States
| Naval Hospital, on Pennsylvania avenue,
and smaller Institutions In the block
bounded by q, ] Ssh and 9th streets south
east are located the marine barracks.
Providence Hospital is also big institu-
ton located in the fifth precinct.
Railroad yards are one of the features
of the section. The round house of the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad IS located near South
Capitol and | streets and from it goes all
the engines used this division. The
wards extend along the water front for
some distance. There is a coal yard and
DUNN in the outskirts of III" cir" ~ the
water front where boats load. There are
also tunnels through the precinct, one be-
ginning. at ID and Virginia avenue and lex-
Tending TO 18th and Virginia avenue. When
ever the inevitable accidents occur at these
noints the police are required to turn order
ord loss The passenger tunnel begins at
| South Capitol and f. streets.
In the territory of the fifth precinct on
this side of the river there are eight day
beats and sixteen night beats, Tor Whlch
| .,hout Forty men are required for duty.
| About thirty of the remaining men In the
precinct are assigned to the Anacostla
| substation and the other ten in the pre-
cinct are detailed to special duty eise
| where The swing section at the precinct
| goes on duty at o'clock, so that the
| police force is double through the dark
| est hours Of the night for the protection
of the property while the residents are
| asleep.
| y
In command of this precinct is n man
who has had large experience i'm police
| affairs in this city, veteran policeman
| and one who has filled many responsible
positions on the force, Lieut. Francis Il.
| In,