The San Francisco call., 1905-06-04
POLICE CHIEFS
DISCUSS CROOKS
Congress of Stars at Wash
ington Will Result in I'm
proved Police Systems
CONVENTION A SUCCESS
Well Known Officers Tell In
teresting Stories of Ex-
periences With Thieves
CONVENTION A SUCCESS
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CALL BUREAU, POST BUILDING,
WASHINGTON, June 3. - interest
ing indeed was the session of the
Chiefs of Police of American and Cana
dian cities, which was held here. From
the standpoint of betterment os the
American police system, creation of an
understanding OF the manner of dealing
with dangerous crooks. and improving
the personnel of police departments
throughout the North American Conti-
nent the congress of stars of the first
municipal magnitude was highly i'll
structive
Routine business was not all that
happened. Several surprises were in
store liz tnc way Of banquets, special
trips TO poinEs of interest about the
capital and few enjoyable chats in
the loHngine rooms and lobbies ard
hote,s, where tales of the men of the
road, the dangerous train robber and
all manner of gentlemen of the cracks
men s. craft were told and retold as
never Bunny on Raff1es could have re-
lated them
Two of the most interesting charac-
ters who attended the convention were
William Pinkertnn, the noted private
detective. and J. n. Iillard, Chief of
Police of Altoona. Pa. who was at one
time private detective in the employ
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The
rough and ready section of Pennsylva-
mia. over Which Chief Tillard travelled
when he was hunting train robbers.
brought him constantly in contact with
that nomadic cian of thieves known as
the "YeGss." who are the tramp species
OF thug, ready for any crime from
petty larceny 10 murder.
INQUIRE FOR WHITMAN.
Western chiefs were not in number,
and Chief Hamiil of Los Angeles was
the only one OF them who cared to
come so far to attend the convention.
Frequent inquiries were made for for
mer Chief Whitman of San Francisco.
and there was great deal of regret
expressed that the convention coulo
rot have been held in the Western me-
tropolis. as. was originally planned.
However. Washington did nobly-sl-
most as well as could have San Fran
cisco
Before relating the story of the
"yeggs" aud "Throwouts" as told by
Chief Tillard, / want to tell a little
yarn of finkerton's that he unfolded to
q group of us at the Hotel Shoreham
The famous detective unconsciously IL
lustrated the quick wittedness and de-
cision of a man trained to meet puz-
zling and dangerous emergencies.
leran of Memphis, Tenn, who is one of
the best-known Police Chiefs of the
Southern States. Pinkerton was re-
joiced to sec his old friend and fell to
talking of dangerous Characters
That reminds me- said Pinkerton to
O'Halloran. ''of Roxie Cannon and Huy-
ler. the hotel sharps.''
The two exchanged "reminiscences and
Pinkerton continued:
INV kDOWlpdpp of tl,a -
these men was once rewarded in most
unexpected manner. l was in a Southern
city, in which had been committed a $1,000
diamond robbery. The Chief, who was an
old friend of mine, told me of the Job that
had come off and he was without : -icw
We were walking up the street in the
shadow Of some trees at about 10 o'clock
at night when ahead and approaching lis
were two men, whom l noticed wore rub
ber-solcd shoes. As they drew nearer /
recognized Roxie Cannon. and rapidly
communicating this fact to my friend l
hailed Roxie as he was about to pass US.
RECOEEPS THE DIAMONDS.
:" Hello, Billy said Roxie, what are
you here for?'
.'T felt certain that he and Huyler, who
was the man with him, had done the trick
of the diamonds, but / also realized that
they were two of the smootilest crooks in
the 5Unltcd states ana could never be
made to sweat out a confession. even ii
caught with the goods on them.
Taking Cannon aside I said Now,
Roxie, / know that you turned that trick
and the Chief here, who is a good friend
of mine, is dreadfully worried because the
diamontls were the property of a man
who can i'll afford to lose them. The loss
will break his heart. Put me next now,
and give me tip so can go and get
them
For a moment the thief hesitated. He
would admit nothing. He said evasively,
but assuratively: i don't know where
they are. Billy. but | may find out.
Think | heard something about the lift,
but the goods are In New York by this
time
Now you get the back. Roxie.' !
said. IF you don't you'll have to fight me,
and you know that l will not give you
q minutes peace. for in this case l am
personally interested
We'll. tell your friend 10 wait until
tomorrow night or the following morning.
and ] will see how far can so with the
deal I'll do the best l can
"All the while | was absolutely certain
in my mind that the rascals had done
the work, but l was aware what hard
case VIC would have had on hand had we
tried to force them to give up and the lit
igation of an uncertain nature that would
have followed an arrest.