New-York tribune., 1907-04-17
LOSING GUN" HABIT.
POLICE IN CRUSADE.
Magistrates Join in Work of Making
the Cifu Safe.


revolvers daggers. siungshots sandbags and
make complaints against them in the police courts
~ such weapons found on them The search
FOR concealed weapons is to be prosecuted vigorous
II by the detectives par,scuiary among the ltai-
fans. The arrest OF thsn one hundred such
offenders on Monday night IS only the beginning OF
police crusade that win so on indefinitely
II any further Incentive reeced 20 make
tie police active IN the search il was furnished
yesterday morning bv the death OF Pat-olmaa A.
fred Sellecl in 81. Eincents Hospital Among his
comrades Selleck known big Manly Al"
TTs had proved his courage two occasions before
he shot down by Italian in dark alley
near Washington Park Sunday afternoon.
Honorable mention FOR bravery ard medal re-
Warded seleck for saving several lives at fire in
jackson street tenement house some years ago.
5e climbed ~ a balcony OF the doomed house and
passed women and children down safety until
his uniform almost burned from his body.
Last December he was wounded severely by an in
sane man whom he found hiding behind the storm
door OF a department store in 18th street. The
crazy man opened fire him with revolver.
seleck did not draw his own revolver. but beat
the man into submission with HIS club after
oeivng two bullets in his body
While the shooting OF the two patrolmen started
the present crusade against the practice OF carry
lng concealed weapons. General Bingham told
Tribune reporter yesterday that he had been try
ing for some time 10 find a way stop the prac-
tlce. He had tried he said. 10 get legislation
by which he would be authorized to destroy the
large collection OF pistols and daggers in tho keep
ing OF the property clerk at Police Headquarters
There upward OF four thousand reVolvers IN the
collection now. because General Bingham has re-
fused to authorize their sale al public auction. Il
has been the time honore6 custom 20 sell such
weapons once year FOR the benefit OF the pension
FUND. with the result that most Of the weapons
found their way into the pawnshops 10 he sold
again at cheap prices 10 the Italians.
IT had the authority" General Bingham said
yesterday Il would have the entire collection Of
pistols snd knives taken six miles beyond SANDY
Hook and sunk 10 the bottom of the That
would have some effect IN limiting the supplies of
cheap and deadly weapons now being sold in the
paEnshops."
Two months ago General Bingham wrote his
hearty approval Of Aill introduced by Assembly
man Prentice authorizing the destruction Of
weapons coniscated by the police and not needed
as evidence in the courts. He wrote to Assembly
man Prentice:
The destruction OF these weapons is. in my ;ndg-
eToissbIe T!ould suggest that If necessary. your
SIN be amended so 10 cover the destruction of
n thousand or TWO such weapons now IN me pos
session OF the Police Department
Assemblynlan Prentice's bil which stil IS before
the Legislature would make it nuisance TO carry,
without authority "a pistol. revolver or instru-
raent or weapon ~ tie kind usually known as
Elungshot billy. sandclub. metal knuckles, or OF
dagger, dirk or dangerous knife The destruction
of such weapons is also authorized by the bill.
so Car as Il goes General Bingham said, "As-
Eemblyman Prentce's bill is q good and de-
serves TO pass. We need more than that. however.
We need legislation 10 give us more power OF
supervision OF the pawnshops. 10 compel the keep
ers OF such places 10 furnish 10 the police daily
lists OF all articles pawned, with such descriptions
os property may be needed to enable the police
10 trace stolen goods. Too many detectives have
been standing IN with the paEnbrokers to conceal
rObbsrsss Since the bin authorizing reorganiza-
zion Of the Detective Bureau passed the LeSis-
lature. I am told that hundreds OF pickpockets
Ff f7aee fsz-nzT IN 1naEn
business for them here is going to be mighty
Improbable.
we need toe legislation 10 limit the sale ~
firearms in the city. II viii be we'll think. 10
compel all sellers ~ deadly weapons 70 take out
licenses at such high rates that rerolvers could not
~ sold at pawnshOps or By small dealers. Tie sug
gestion Of M McAdoo. quoted in The Tribune this
morning that the State Of New York adOpt The
law Of the District Of Columbia IN respect to the
sale of such weapons IS excellent heartily agree
with n With such a law IN force here, II would
be possible 70 trace weapon used ia a crime r!ght
20 the buyer OF H.
7 have insisted cutting down the list of per-
sons who have police permits 20 carry revolveTs.
There were about four thousand such permits out
when ] came here. There about twelve hun
dred now. believe only about three hundred per
sons at the most. who not officials authorized
70 carry pistols, should have such permits. Many
holders OF such permits have no good reason for
ssrrying revolveTs. but the pressure to issue
these permits IS tremendous. Every bank messen-
ger wants permit and seems 10 think he Is TO be-
come a target for highWaymen II his application is
turned down. Many persons clamOr for permits
because IL satisfies their vanity 10 have permits.
n they have for revolvers.
y glad 20 that the gistrates are sup
porting the police in the tight against this nuisance
OF carrying concesled weapons. but Of the
decisions little perplexing. A detective placed
on my desk this afternoon seven ugly looking
knives that had been taken away from seven of the
italians arrested last night. He said the magis-
had held OF the Italians for carrying the
knives the ground that the knives were murder
weapons. and had discharged the other five
the ground that their knives were not weapons All
the knives looked much alike 10 that il
they had been mixed up 1 couldn't have picked out
the two bad ones. They all found IN the
pockets OF Italians and all were sharp as razOrs
The decision was by OF the good magistrates.
hoo-one OF the magistrates who help the police to
enforce the law"
coroner Aoritelu said yesterday that Italians Of
fhe better class IN this city had conferred about
the situation ana were about 10 ask the Italian
Ambassador and consul general for advice and
suggestions. lie added:
Ny experience as a coroner has opened my eyes
ciai sessions as well as General Sessions and the
Criminal Branch OF the Supreme Court. shows that
crimes OF violence are Italians. Two-thirds OF
TIE list OF homcides in the Tombs are OF Ital-
murders and assaults is followed by an arrest.
Even when an arrest has been made in a murder
case n the prisoner IS an Italian. you can't get
the relatives 10 testify IN the coroners
psoher Tor Tie action Of TIE grand jury G But ' in
nine cases out Of ten according 10 my observation
oes when the case comes 70 tTial OF have left the
We al depore. as much as any other class Of citi-
zens, this situation But now tia! the community
fearing an outbreak similar 10 that at New Orleans
a few years ago. must suggest the Initiative.
Magistrate House, IN the Tonbs court, held for