New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-28
Six Murders, $50 BurgIarieS and
Other Crimes Have Escaped
Detection During Last
Few Months.
LACK OF POLICE PROTECTION
Leading Residents Say Appeals
TO Commissioner Waldo Have
Been Without Result, and a
Mass Meeting Of Protest
Is Contemplated,

Six murders. about one hundred AMI
Aftv burglaries and innumerable other
crimes which have been committed in
Staten Island in the last six months
have escaped detection. This Is an un-
rrecedented record for Richmond Bor-
oygh, and. according to the leading men
there. il is due TO the inadequate police
protection afforded the island.
So aroused have the residents Of the
island grown that within the last week
fully q score Of the most prominent cltl
zens have appealed TO Albert c. Each.
the District Attorney, 10 urge him to
take the matter before the grand jury
with a view to determining If criminal
charges could be laid against certain
city heads for official neglect
District ATTORNEY Each has counselled
natience. but there is talk of calling
mass meeting to protest against the con-
dit,ons now obtaining on the island.
Fifty Burnares in Two Weeks.
Within the last two weeks over fifty
hurelaries have been committed in
Staten Island by. presumably. the same
band. In one night nineteen homes In
Westerlelgh were entered. In the three
nights ended last Friday more than a
score Of homes in and around Totten-
VILE have been entered and robbed dur
ing the absence Of the owners.
Among the homes in quaint old Totten-
willie the thieves have visited are those
Of J. A. Simonson, lawyer; r. o.
Sprague, -four merchant; Charles Hig-
bee. jeweller, and Albert La Forge and
c. Delaporte, manufacturers. And In
the adjoining village of Pleasant Plains
several homes were entered, including
that Of George Nance, an inspector in
the Department of Highways
Prominent residents of the borough
told a reporter for The Tribune yester-
day that appeals had been made 10 the
Police Department for more policemen
time and again. but without success.
Instead Of getting increased police
protection with the increase in popula-
ticn." said Edward ". Thompson
senior member of the lumber firm of
James Thompson & Sons, Of Stapleton,
the police force on Staten Island is de-
pleted.
Il understand from one Of the most
prominent officials of Staten Island that
We have at the present time only seven
detectives. or plainclothes men, for Il
population Of 10000 whereas three
years ago we had twenty
This condition Of affairs is a burn
ing disgrace on the management Of the
city of New York, and II is common talk
IN Staten Island that petty personal
politics has entered into the local police
affairs.
Il have particular reference 10 the
case Of Detective James Graham, who
for FIVE years did excellent work here,
apprehending murderers and other crimi-
nails Yet for no known reason he was
denoted two weeks ago to the rank OF
patrolman and sent TO pounding the
pavement in Manhattan.
This means that for five years faith
ful service in running down criminals
on Staten Island Graham is reduced from
nosition paying S2,2JO, the pay Of a
first grade detective. TO the pay Of
parolman, S1,4OO."
II is known, although District Attor-
ney Each would not confirm the story,
that letter was sent recently TO Com
missioner Waldo, signed by the District
Attorney Of the county, demanding to
know the reason Of the demotion Of
Graham and asking for his transfer to
Staten Island
Demands Regarded as Joke.
Edward S RawsCA, former District
Attorney Of Staten Island declared tina :
the demands Of Staten Island for better
police protection were regarded as 4
Joke.
i live in Westerlegh," said Mr. Raw
son. IN one night in this village one
band robbed nineteen houses. There
nave been no arrests. In this little COM
munty there are more than one thou
sand inhabitants, and yet we have only
one policeman, a mounted patrolman,
heard for fully mile on the hard roads
before he arrives.
About two years ago / made "A per-
sonal request of the then Police Commits
sioner 10 i've Westerleigh at least one
other policeman. But so far as / know
my request has occasioned nothing but
mirth"
J. F. Smith, vice-president of the Port
Richmond National Bank, also added his
voice against the inadequate police pro-
lection afforded Staten Island.
OUTSIDE of the North Shore of Staten
island" said Mr.. Smith. the island has
out little police protection. There is no
reason why we should not have proper
police protection. We are paying for IT,"
Theodore S. Tompklns. proprietor OF
large department store, whose place was
entered four nights ago. said IL was
crying shame that better police protec-
tion was not afforded the business peo-
pie Of Staten Island.
William II. ONeill. a -four and feed
merchant, was another who decried the
transfer of Detective Graham and the
Inadequate police protection of the bor-
ough.
The chairman Of Staten Islands
Chamber OF Commerce, William S. Van
ciehf' said it was absolutely necessary
mat more police be allotted TO Staten
Island
We ought to have more policemen" a"
said Mrs Van Cleaf but il seems to be
very difficult matter to convince any
Continued on dffh maze.