Evening journal., 1912-09-18
POLICE CHIEF
BELTEVESCOPS
ARE DERELICT
Tells Commission Men in
Ranks Have Walked by
Suspects Whom
Law Wanted
PROBE CITIZENS LETTER
REGARDING MANY ROBBERIES

Chief of Police Black yesterday af-
ternon criticised the police depart
ment generally and several officers IN
particular when he told the Police
Commission when complaints or rob
berries and the like are read out to
the men by the police captains. the
information goes in zone ear and out
the other" In fact it is only rou-
tine work the chief said and the men
do not pay enough attention TO their
work AS an Illustration Chief Black
cited an instance where a man who
stole an automobile had passed an
onlcer but the officer did not notice
The machine or occupants. Another
case referred TO by Chief Black was
where a thief had slept two nights
in the Washington street park pavil-
lion but no officer ever noticed him
there
These facts were brought out be-
fore the commissioners when the
communication received last week
from Or. Paul t. Murrill and II. r..
Kalghn, residents of the section near
Twenty seventh and Boulevard was
considered The letter made some
criticisms of what the writer's term
ed lack Of proper attention by the
police Or Murrill and Mr. kaighn
as well as Sergeants Massey and Bay
ley and patrolmen Cilling Todd,
Solomon and Frank Kane who cover
the district, were present
Following the reading of the let
tor and hearing the officers tell of
their work in The district the commits
sioncrs assured DR. Murrill and MIR.
kaiehn that all that was possible
with the present force would be done
C protect their homes and the ne
cossity Of placing a reporting box I'm
that ncighborhood Will be considered.
Both Dr.-AHtrrill and Mr. Kaighn
were asked by Commissioner Jones
II they cared to prefer charges against
any officer and as they said they were
not present to accuse any individual.
the matter was allowed TO drop. The
gcrgcnte and officers then were sub
jectcd to a severe arraignmeat for
their alleged lack of attention to
their duty which It was charged ham
pered the work OF the department.
Had they been more attentive and
observant of conditions it was charg-
cd they could have discovered the
tobherios at the houses.
Following the convening of the
heard. Commissioner Jones told DR.
rril and Mr. kaighn that they had
asked TO be present that the
~ mission might get better under
nc OF the case. As for pro.
& additional officers for duty IN
lity Mr. Jones stated the Com
oners could not give something
have not got The men can, ne
laesrled, prevent rohberies as best
tsay can, arrest thieves, II possible
and recover stolen property. He
thought the only thing that could be
done to relieve tho conditions was tho
placing of reporting box In the VII
cinity
This, according to Mr.. Kaighn
would be very material assistance
Or. Murrill said he had lived In tha
section since last April and while h'
had been away for some time. h'
never saw an officer north of Tho
Brandywine creek or west of Wash
ington street lie was oorrohorate,
by Mr. Kaighn. who said he did no
think the officers were supposed L
bc IN that section, although he woul'
not say they had not been. but n
never saw any Since the robbery
however. Or Murrill said he has seeI
officers about his neighhorhood.
II was also stated that an Office
never goes into a house unless ther
is serious trouble or suspicious cir
crmstances evident from the outside
Nr. Kaighn said tere We're such cir
cumstances at his house and told q
glass from a cellar window being o
the ground, as we'll as a large piec
Continued on Page Nine.