The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-12-04
Adequate Protection Assured Citizens by Board of Police
Commissioners - Drag Net Out for Suspects in
Cheap Lodging Houses.
ALL SUSPECTED PERSONS ARE TAKEN
BEFORE THE CHIEF FOR THIRD DEGREE
One HOdup and Two Homes Entered Last Night-Sae of
Firearms Continues.-Make First Arrests in Drastic
Endeavor to Protect Life and Property

! = Thoroughly aroused TO the necessity
! of extraordinary effort 10 check the
spread OF crime in this city. a commit
/ tee OF representative business men
called upon Chief of Police Gormon
today. They learned the chief had
mapped out a campaign which he
hopes will be effective in stopping the
numerous robberies and hold-ups
which have terroriZed citizens since
| Thanksgiving.
Edgar Hin. chairman of the board of
police commissioners, was also called
upon by the committee. He said he
recognized the necessity of drastic ac-
tion to check the crime wave and that
! Chief GOrmOn would have the active
support of the board in any campaign
he inauguTated.
Mr.. lliff called a meeting of other
members of the board and a resolution
to employ squad of extra policemen
for both day and night duty was pass
ed without delay.
Throw Out Drag Net.
Chief Gormon informed the business
. men who waited on him that he had
already thrown a police dragnet over
the city and that patrolmen had been
OF the city, especially of the cheap
lodging houses, and to bring in every
suspicious character found. This work
began this morning.
Tonight all the officers, including the
extra men who will be assigned to
beats, will be expected to bring to
headquarters after 8 o'clock all per-
sons unable to explain their business.
Obtain Auto Service.
An automobile will also be stationed
at police headquarters and will be
manned by reserve officers to make
prompt responses to emergency calls
from any section of the city.
Householders are asked promptly to
notify headquarters by telephone of
the presence of any suspicious charac-
ters. Persons with criminal records are
being closely watched and will be
brought before the chief if they do
anything of a suspicious nature.
The vigorous policy which Chef
Gormon has decided on to suppress
criminal activities in Richmond met
with the hearty approval of the busi-
ness mems committee and they are
confident that it will result in the
stampin gout of the epidemic of crime
If the number of extra officers
which are TO be placed on duty today
is found insufficient the police board
is prepared TO swear in more men.
HoIdup and Two BursIaries.
A hold-up and two homes entered
were the additions to the work of the
gang of highwaymen and thieves oper-
ating in the city, after the many ru-
mors afloat today were sifted. Leo b.
Lahman, a railroader, living at 206
North Eleventh street, reported TO po-
lice headquarters that two cOlored
men knocked him down outside the
Kelly saloon in Elm place at 9 o'clock
last night and took S32 from him,
which was part of his salary, drawn
yesterday.
While the family of Martin Swisher
430 South Tenth street was attending
lodge last night some one entered the
house. ransacked the drawers OF china
closets and dressers, but disturbed
none of the silyerware. All that has
been missed was a small savings bank
containing about 81.
Presenting a card to show that he
belonged to the Eagles, a stranger pre-
vailed on Albert McLear, National
Road. East, to allow him to spend the
night with him recently. McLear &C
commOdated his supposed brother Ea-
gle, and for his trouble found out the
next day he was robbed Of a pair OF
shoes. gold tie pin and some other
trinkets.
| PatroIman Shoots.
Residents of the South Side were
aroused about IL o'clock last night by
| Patrolman Schlangen who fired twice
at suspicious characters. prowling in
yards near Fourth and South Z streets
Officers believe they were members OF
| -
ed by persons living near the c. & o
railroad. a band OF fifteen has been
seen about the bum Camp" on New
mans Hill. Another crowd not large
has been operating on the South Side
Pot Of Tar Ready.
a huge pot of tar and several bags
OF feathers, which will be applied tC
"Jack-the-Peeper" who has been peer
ing through windows in Fairview, has
: been prepared by the young men OF
, the neighborhood. For some time
Jack" has been annoying the resi-
dents. and they have determined tc
catch him When tarred and feathered
which treatment the young men pro
] pose he will be marched through MaiI
street
Nearly all the men in that vicinity
: carry guns. which they say they viii
use 10 cdtCn IAe Keeper on slknL
r Since the crooks began their whole
: sale operations in the city hardware
: dealers say calls for small firearms
: have more than doubled. At one down
town store showing and selling revol
: vers occupies almost the entire time
OF one salesman. Men visiting bust
l ness houses last night, carried small
j.. arms of some kind.
Women Stay at Home
Few women were seen on the