The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-29
CHARGES POLICE
ARE IN LEAGUE
WITH THIEVES
AFFIDAviTS MADE
BY PRIVATE DETECTIVE,
WHO FURNISHES DETAILS OF
ALLEGED MISCONDUCT.

Following Police Commissioners
Smiths action in taking away from
Edward Smith, head CO private de-
tectiye agency with headquarters In
the Bull block, a special police badge,
rather sensational disclosures are
made by the latter, who produces al
fidavits in support OF some OF his al
legations. One of the charges made
is that police officers. in certain in
stances, have not only encouraged
the theft OF property from the rail
roads but have actually been bought
OFF by peddlers caught with stolen
junk.
Samuel Grant. a detective In Mr..
Smiths employ swears in an affidavit
now In possession OF The Times that,
on the morning of Nov. Z. a certain
junk peddler who had been held up
by mounted policeman as he was
about To drive away with load of
railroad iron and brasses he had just
purchased in an alley back OF South
ST.. In old Delray, was permitted to
drive on with his load after he had
passed something out of his pocket to
the police officer, who then said "all
right" Grant swears that when he
attempted to follow the junk dealer
at a distance the police officer stop
ped him and wanted to know his bust
ness
That I refused to tell him, out.
side of showing my identification
card which he refused to recognize,
the affidavit continues. He then start
ed TO abuse me and after calling me
all kinds of names, including thief,
| was requested to follow him TO the
Delray police station, which did.
was afterwards released by the lieu
tenant in charge"
In the meantime, Grant had lost all
trace OF the junk dealer and was un-
able to learn what disposition was
made of the contents OF the wagon.
Grant has the number OF the police
man and also the license number OF
the Junk dealer, both Of which are Civ
en- in the affidavit.
In another affidavit Grant tells of
shockingly immoral conduct on the
part OF man In citizens clothes. but
wearing a police badge. toward a
woman he had caught stealing coal
from a factory near the Solvay spur
track. Afterwards this same man
Grant asserts, took her to a Wabash
coal car. permitted her to fiji a sack
with coal and helped put the load on
her back.
Grant Is the young man who, one
night last week, was taken TO the
Scotch station by Patrolman Nestor
when the latter found him lurking In
the shadow OF billboard. II was
this incident that led Commissioner
Smith to confiscate Detective Smiths
special police badge. after the latter
had written Letter TO Capt. Burt Cir
ardin protesting against the way his
operative had been treated.
Grant was working under my or
ders when Patrolman Nestor interior
ed" says Smith. "He was watching
for a certain junk dealer, who. accord
ing TO Information we had received
was expected In that locality shortly
after midnight to buy a quantity OF
railroad iron and brass. We had
been laying for this man for some
time and the police officer had nc
right to interfere.
But the attitude OF the police will
not deter my agency In the running
down OF the railroad thieves. | repre-
sent the Detroit, Toledo & Irontor
railroad and we are going TO protect
our property at all hazards. Hun
dreds OF tons OF coal are being stoler
weekly along the various railroad
lines between Detroit and the outly
ing suburban towns, and the police
are not doing their part in trying Il
stop this wholesale thievery. II Com
missioner Smith finds any satisfaction
In depriving me Of my badge an,
handouts and keys--yes. they mad,
a clean sweep-he Is welcome to II
/ But he can't deprive me OF my com
mission as representative OF the raj
road company and he'll find me RICH
on the job the same as before. Tn
D.. T. & 7. is a taxpayer and is er
titled to as much protection as othe
taxpayers"
Smith declares that a regular cod
OF signals exists between junk dea
ers and the railroad thieves. Fac
dealer has his whistle. and az h
drives through the alleys at night tn
thieves, in response 10 his signal
carry their loot TO his wagon. The.
meet later, at some appointed place
and settle up.
Smith deplores the fact that conTc
tons Of junk dealers for receiving
stolen property are rarely heard o
nowadays and attributes the fact u
the inactivity OF the police.
The taking away OF his badge will
not inconvenience the detective in tn,
least. He will be sworn in as a spe
cial deputy sheriff after the first o
the year, he says.