The Washington herald., 1907-10-18

Mrs. Edward F. Qualtrough, whose
residence, at 1901 + street northwest, was
robbed recently OF bronze candelabra,
chandeliers, panels, and figures, of great
intrinsic value, has added her piaint to
the storm OF criticism OF the local police.
growing out of the frequent robberies OF
vacant houses in the District. Mrs Quail
trough says the police have deliberately
tried 10 belittle the theft, and that the
robbery given to the press was reported in
the early summer, when the plumbing
fixtures and bathtub Innings were stripped
from the house
She reiterated statement previously
made by her. to the effect that the more
recent robbery was Of a number Of hand
some bronze pieces and panels. that in no
way could be mistaken by the police for
plumbing fixtures. Among them she said
were a number Of handsome panels, that
had been in the house for threescore or
more years. These had been taken from
the walls, leaving the raw pIastering.
She criticised the police severely and said
she did not expect to see any Of the pieces
again.
Citizens Are CritIcizing.
Many other residents Of the District
have also been outSpOken in their criti-
cism, saying It is preposterous there
should be a continued series Of these rob
berries of vacant houses going on without
any apparent interruption Hundreds of
houses have been entered in the past
few years. and the plumbing fixtures
stolen throughout every section Of the
city. and apparently. these robberles
have been on the increase in the past
few months Why, II Is asked, are these
thefts undetected until agents or others
go into the houses, and those committing
the depredations seldom. II ever, caught,
and then by the merest chance? To them
il seems almost impossible that in a
metropolitan city. with weI-lghted and
we'll guarded streets. or az least sup
posedly so thieves can, with consistency.
enter houses and cart away this heavy
loot, that could in no possible way be
concealed. and in most instances has TO
be carted off.
Crimes Cf this nature have been re-
ported with surprising regularity. the
books at headquarters showing. in q
number Of instances. several OF them
within a few weeks. Ii has come 10 be a
harder proposition for the police to han
die than the wave Of bicycle stealing.
that has not yet subsided.
In commenting upon the deBredating OF
unoccupiCd houses. Capt Boardman. act
ing chief Of police. said last night that
with the utmost vigilance. il was pracri-
cally impossible 10 wipe out entirely
crimes OF this nature. Washington IS the
most difficult city in the United states
TO guard in this respect as during the
summer months one-trird Of its pOpuia-
uon Is away, and houses are closed for
months al a time while their tenants are
absent. In these cases the houses are
never visited by real estate agents or
others until the family returns in the fail.
10 ind that. no matter how securely
doors and windows had been fastened,
was gained and fixtures stolen.
Can't Watch Them All.
1T is impossible, he said, Ito have a
man watch every house unoccupied. and
the best we can do is have every man
on the street watch closely all vacant
houses on his rounds. This is, OF course.
not satisfactory. as many Of the beats
are long ones and thieves Of this char
acter are clever enough TO have watch
ers. and know when the officer Is on the
other end OF the beat.
Every officer has been instructed 10. and
does. report every house he finds open or
unlocked or in any condition so that ac-
,ess is easily gained. And in many in
stances rubberies are due 10 the careless
ness OF tenants and agents. There have
been instances where officers have report
ID houses as unlocked. and the matter
has been called 20 the attention of agent
1r owner, but nothing has been done by
hem, with the result that sooner or
ater they notify Us that the house or
2OUses have been robbed Of plumbing fix
lures
When you stop to consider that there
ire probably 5000 or more houses in the
,ity, and that the year around an average
# 5000 Of these are vacant, you may be
l0le to grasp the difficulty Of watching all
IF them.
Hard to Convict Them,
"Thefts Of this nature are more difficult
10 follow up than any other. with the
possible exception of the bicycle, and in
many ways the two are similar. For in
stance, the only charge practically that
We can convict on is 'depredaung private
for the reason that the booty
,annot and has not in any instance been
IDENTIFIED. and the only sure way of catch /
ng these thieves is 20 catch them in the
let Plumbing and gas fixtures and bath !
ub lining are hammered or melted in
mass, which makes them impossible OF /
Identification.
Despite these facts, we have, however, !
made a number of arrests, and half /
Iozen men are serving terms for crimes !
# this nature to-day And 1 consider il /
good record. There are several evils we I
.an never stamp cut, but have to do our I
oest to control. and this IS one of them. /
n my opinion, the surest prevention is in /
he passage of a law forbidding the sale 1
If such things except by a registered /
,lumber."
WANTS FATHERS PLACE.