New-York tribune., 1907-07-24
CALLS POLICE TO ARMS.
BINGHAM VISITS HARLEM.
Don't Spare Nightsticks, He Says
IN Personal appeal.

How great is the present wave of crime and how
great also is the that 1t has thrown INTO
the police officials could be appreciated yesterday
when Commissioner Bingham. in speech TO the
men of the East 126th station, ordered them
not to spare their nightstcks in breaking up the
lawIessness, but to handle the situation without
gloves
"Rowdyism and lawlessness must STOP. said
General Bingham. land to stop IT. you men use
your clubs from the neck down II you nave TO- III
sci f-defenCe use them upon heads"
The visit of the Commissioner to the station
house occasialed by the number or orutal
crimes which have been perpetrated lately par
ticularly the east side Of the Harlem dlstrlCt'
The Commissioner was accompanied by Father F.
H Wall. the Church of the Holy Rosary, East
1l9th street and Pleasant avenue, who, In a ser
last Sunday. denounced the existing cond-
tions and advised the members Of his consrega-
tion to write letters the Commissioner asking
for assistance.
The two men drew up in front of the station
house in the large red department automoohe
shortly before o'clock when ono platoon comes
In from duty and another takes us place N,
spector Thompson and Captain Walsh were In the
station house at the time and the men were drawn
up in front of the desk to receive their lnsrucons
for the tour of patrol. .
Father Wall took seat behind the desk but
General Bingham, walking with his cane, stamped
up and down, up and down before the line or cop
pers," again and again pleading with them 10 GO
their duty and stand by their captain
7 here at the request of Father wall salo
the Commissioner He told his congregation IasI
Sunday write letters to urging that the law
lessness in the Harlem district be stopped Ihere
have been rumOrs that Inspector thompson cIlu
Captain Walsh to have their heads cut on nut
that is damned lie. They have both done spleh-
didly,"
Turning to Captain Walsh the Commissioner
continued: When these so-called political leaders
come into this station house and try 70 dictate 10
You what you shall do. why, damn II, throw theun
out push them back into n CELL
do your duty men,. he said, more directly 70 the
by political leader for doing your duty VIII
rescnd the rule for your laying the complaint pc
fore the Deputy Commissioner. and VIII near
IL myself"
General Bingham asked Father Wall TO say some
thing TO the men. but he declined. Inc CoInnis In-
sioner then left the station for Police Headquarters
still boiling with Indignation.
Father Wall had a few moments talk with Inspec-
tor Thompson. and then left also. He was asked II
he had heard any political Interference with po-
licemen IN the discharge OF their duty, and the
name of a prominent political leader was brousht
up, but Father Wall refused to commit himself
He said however, that the fathers OF young slrts
IN the neighborhood were threatening TO take the
law IN their hands. and that owing to the
desperate state Of AFFAIRS something radlcdI HlusI
be done
The visit OF Commissioner Bingham yesterday 10
the East l26th street station and his address 10
the men recalls the visit of Commissioner McAdoo
the Tenderoin police station during the regime
of Captain Robert Emmett Dooley. Tho Commis-
sioner then begged tho men to stand back OF their
captain and try to quell the spirit Of lawlessness
but before much could be done Commissioner Nc
Adoo had been removed by Mayor Mcclellan.
Shortly after Commissioner Bingham left the sta
ton house yesterday Joseph Casselle twenty six
years old, pedler. OF l09th street, near Second
avenue brought into tho station and arragned
the charge Of disordery conduct. preferred by
Ina Virana. twelve years old OF No 1A East l20th
street She said the prisoner had made insult
ing proposal TO her He will be arraigned In court
this morning
Two Italians. representing Italian newspapers IN
this CITY, called Commissioner bingham Po-
lice Headquarters yesterday morning and asked
him whether he had been correctly quoted a fow
days ago in certain papers as holding Italians for
the most part responsible for the present OF
crime sweeping the city.
Commissioner Bingham said emphatically that no
had not referred in any recent remarks 10 Itllans
as class, nor TO any other nationality particu-
larly His remarks, he said. had been OF a general
broad character II is expected that Commissioner
Bingham's denial VII be We'll received among Ital-
ians generally. The italian newspaper representa-
uves left with a good impression Of the Commits
sloner's judgment and discrimination.