Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
KNOWN BY TR|TE NAME
Men of Police Satisfaction
Called "Bush BeaterS."
LOCATED IN ANAC0STIA
Citizens Desire That New Precinct
Be Established.
WANT LIEUTENANT PROMOTED
Sketch of Guardians Of the Peace
Who Perform Duty Across
Eastern Branch.
WANT LIEUTENANT PROMOTED

Bush heaters" is the trite name that
has been given the sturdy policemen Of
the Anacostia substation since their siren
uous search through bush and bramble,
swamp and woods for Andrew Lfghtfoot,
the maniac murderer of st. Elizabeth.
The pursuit of the escaping mailman.
who had struck down genial Patrick Ma
loney and Mile Follin, brought to light
conditions connected with the Anacostia
police force which citizens on. the other
side of the Eastern branch say should be
remedied One Of the developments was
that Lieut.. William T. Anderson, in COM
mand of the across-the-ri river territory. is
not provided with a horse. The lack OF
mount at the time of the killing Of two
persons by the mulatto, Lightfoot, serl-
ously embarrassed the police lieutenant.
In order to reach the scene OF the homi-
eide he had to depend on a citizen to con-
very him to the Government Hospital for
the Insane in a private conveyance. For
tunately, soon after the dispatch had been
received announcing the murders, thirty
five minutes after the occurrence. r. f.
Butterfield, president of the Congress
Heights Citizens Association. happened
to be passing the substation at Anacostia
in his buggy. He gave the ponce heu-
tenant a seat in his vehicle and hurried
It IS the expressed opinion of leading
citizens that Anacostia, Twining City,
Hillsdale, Good Hope and the surrounding
country should constitute separate
police precinct and be NUMBERED ~. II Is
also covers the extensive southeastern
section of Washington.
II is also the desire of citizens across
the Eastern branch that Lieut.. Anderson
should be made an acting captain. In
charge of proposed precinct No. IL. and
that he be mounted. Members of the citl-
zens' associa lions i'll the territory "hlch is
patrolled by his men declare that the mat
ters named should receive the prompt at
tention of the District COMMISSIONERS anu
of Congress, if necessary.
Only Twenty Men for Duty.
Attention was also directed to the fact
that there are only twenty policemen
for dutv at the Anacostia substation
whereas double that number are needed
to properly police the large territory
IF has been estimated that each police
man on the mounted beats In the country
hevond Anacostia and Twinins City is
REQUIRED to patrol twenty miles of road
on an average Also that as rule Their,
are more often only four men fer duly
on each of the three daily shirts or tours
of duty than there are SIN.
This it is explained. is due to aD-
sentees from sickness. detail downtown
or officers goinS to court with cases
against prisoners.
Still another matter that the citizens
are taking up is the failure OF the au-
tborities to erect suitable station house
in Anacostia Congress has Appropriated
for the purpose $4,000. while 5000 has
been paid for the site for the building.
The structure now used as a substation
IS declared to be insanitary and too small
for a notice station. AS an illustration, Ii
is pointed out that twelve policemen have
to usa the four available. beds in the
crowded dormitory.
The policemen on duty at the Anacostia
substation are described as alert and eff
cient patrolmen. Lieut.. Anderson. In
command. has been en- the force thirty
seven years, having been appointed by
DIR. Nichols, formerly superintendent OF
the Government Hospital for the Insane,
at the time he was d police commissioners.
He has made a splendid record as a thief
taker and in capturing murderers and
other desperate criminals in the woods.
thickets and swamps running back to the
MARYLAND line and to Giesboro point, near
ly opposite Alexandria, Va.
Mounted Sergt. Charles A. Stevens and
Acting Serst. NJ. L. Ready have proved
to be valuable assistants to the lieuten-
| ants in running down desperate charac-
| tiers. Both men are brave and fearless
| and are good "bush beaters.' was DEM
| onstrated while they were on the trail OF