Evening journal., 1912-09-11
POLICE HIT
BACK AT MEN
WHOCRITICISE
Admit RObberieS Are Frequent
But Resent InSinuatiOn That
They Are Planned
WILL INVESTIGATE
ONE CHARGE MADE

ternoon considered the letter sent to
the board by DR.. Paul /. Murrill and
H. e. Kaighn, employees of the dupont
Powder Company who complained OF
their houses being robbed in August
after they had notified the police to
watch them, as their families would
be away After reading the com
munication the commissioners de-
clared It to be a deliberate and un-
warranted insinuation that the mem
bers Of the police department are in
collusion with thieves and burglars.
They also declared that the writer's
of the letter showed the board little
courtesy by giving the communica-
tion publicity before the members of
the board had received It. President
Jones was Of the opinion that the
commissioners should ignore the let
ter and confine 1t TO the waste basket
as II was an attempt, he asserted, to
discredit the entire police depart
ment. Commissioner Stayton, the
other member present, Mr. Bowers
being absent from the city, voiced
Mr.. Jones sentiments.
the four patrolmen and two street
sergeants on duty in the section. Of
the city where Dr. Murrill and Mr..
Kaighn live, brought before the board
next Tuesday afternoon and also have
Dr. Murrill and Mr.. Kaighn appearsat
the same time when a full and COM
plete explanation will be demanded
from the officers and writer's of the
letter.
Following the reading of the let
ter yesterday afternoon. extracts Of
which appeared in THE EVENING
JOURNAL on Monday, the commits
missioners took up for discussion
each allegation as made by the writ
ers. In reference to the statement
that the police we're notified that the
homes of the writer's would be va
cant during their vacations, President
Jones said it was not within the prov
ince of the police department to ap-
point private watchmen for any
house. He pointed out that the pa
trolmen have districts to cover and
that they cannot remain in one place
He said the department may be no
tilted Of a vacancy and that the pa
trolmen on the district may see that
the doors and windows are closed as
they pass.
Mr.. Jones called attention to the
big district in that section of the
city two policemen are compelled TO
cover and added that this should be
a matter for City Council to consid-
err He said the commission had no
power to appoint additional patrol
men and that the only thing the
board could do was to get along as
best It could with the number Of men
at present in the department
Referring to the charge made that
the officer who went to the houses to
investigate the robbery was under
the influence OF liuuor Mr.. Jones said
this was a serious offense, II true and
the complainant should have notified
Police Headquarters that such was
the case The man would have been
suspended and charges preferred
against him. The board decided,
however, to investigate this phase Of
the matter on its own responsibility.
Chief of Police Black reminded the
board that the police had caught a
man who was nov In the workhouse
who had admitted robbing some
houses in the section complained OF.
He said that practically all the goods
stolen BY this thief had been recover
ed and he did not think the police
should be criticised when they are
demonstrating that they are doing all
they can to protect the citizens and
their property.
Mr.. Jones remarked that it would
be we'll not to allow any policeman
10 enter a vacant house, for If the
occupants upon their return missed
anything the officer might be accused
of stealing II
In reference to the statement mad'
by the writer's Of the letter that Chic
Black referred DR.. Murrin to the po
lice clerk when he made complain
of the robberies. when in the opinion
OF Dr. Murrill the chief himself shoul'
have taken enough interest in tn
matter to personally interrogate tn
complainant, the chief said that h
was busy with court duties when DR.
Murrill appeared in his office
He left the court, however. to re
esive the visitor and after hearing tn
complaint turned his caller over Z
his clerk. the chief being obliged 4
return to the court room, where hi
presence was demanded Chief Blac
said he treated DR.. Murrill courte
ously and as soon as he was throug
court he took up the matter and In
short time had sent lists Of the stole
articles to the police OF various cite
and instituted a search in the loca
pawnshops for the stolen articles
Chief Black thought the criticism wa
unjust and uncalled for.
In reference to the statement mad
by the writer's of the letter that onl
those houses the police had been nc
titled would be vacant we're robbie.
while others whose occupants had M
reported their absence, escaped a Wis
from the thieves, President Jone
said this was an unwarranted insint
alton of collusion between the polio
and thieves, and he thought III
writer's intended to convey this in
preston. Mr.. Jones thought that II
officers on that district could recovs
damages on such a charge
The commissioners made II cles
that as far as the inadequacy Of Il
Police Department is concerned. Cii
Council alone is responsible as tt
commissioners have, on frequent o
casions, asked for additional patro
men to properly patrol the city. Coul
ell has refused this request
SOCIALIST MEETING.
George H. Goebei. of Newark