The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-16
WHO CALLED STATE POLICE TO BRIDGEPORT? Largely Augmented Local Po- lice Able To Do Work WOULD MOVE WHEN
 MAYOR ORDERED Albert J. Merritt Issued Jane Doe Warrants "By
 Request

Since the raid on the Hotel Royal, last Saturday night, in official circles inert has been much comment. discus sion and even criticism of the methods pursued. Little by little it has be- come the prevailing impression that the raid was directly over the heads of the local-police.
 To a reporttr of The Farmer present at the roundup, the local police freely admitted that the raid was made un- der direction of Thomas F. Egan. su- perintendent of state police declaring that they were mtrely requested to guard the tntrances. At that time none would declare what charges would 1be preferred against the women rounded up. The state police remained reticent upon specific instructions from their chief.
 Since the raid it has been definitely established that the state police were in1pelled by local incentive to secure evidence against the Hotel Royal.
 Whether this local incentive was in spired by the police commission, the, liquor prqsecutor or other interests is not as yet made known, but is believed to have been inspired in an effort to inJure Eugene Birmingham, the local chief.
 Questions which are today asked on every hand are hard 10 answer, as AL bert J. Merritt, the prosecuting attor- ney who issued the warrant for the arrest of Jane Doe'' denies that it was through his instrumentaHty that the state police were brought upon the scene, President George s. Hill is ab- sent in New York city upon business interests, and Chief Birmingham is naturally reticent upon the>subj ject.
 Among the pertinent inquiries being fndav the fn1l0UUinor. Tn when the state police constatbu1ary were organized by act of the Iegisla- ture it was intended that this body of men should be used in the protection of rural communities which were mad eGunately po1iced to cope with higher crime. It was then advocated thai the state police be not allowed to con- f1ict in jurisdictions covered by organ ized police bodies. It is today asked why the state police walk into this city if not sanctioned by the local au- thorities?
 In the event of this request being made by the police commissioners, it is asked why they add to the burden Of expense the transportation fees and expense of securing evidence by large corps of the state officers when Q, largely augmented force of captains, Eeutenants and patrolmen were but recently installed for the purpose of propertly policing the town?
 Explanations to the effect that the local detectives and offlcers are well known to resort proprietors is met with the answer that where vfo1ators in the past have been notified how they shall conduct their places, under the strict enforcement or the law by the superintendent never has Q case been lost through the securing of proper evidence upon which to convict.
 Great stress is today being laid both
 
 Iarged body of police state officers should be called upon by the autnori- ties to incur extra expense and per form the functions which rightly be- long to the men here who mereIy wait the administration orders in such cases.
 In denying his participation in the scandal which is becoming public in the Royal raid, Albert Merritt liquor prosecutor, today said: There is nothing in the report that author ized the state police to secure evidence and raid the Royal, I understand that they were working on the case before I was called in last Friday was asked to issue the warrant and of course had to comply upon the infor- nation which was presented to me.
 ''I cannot say whether Or not the police commissioners were responsible for the bringing of the state police into city affairs and have no knowledge that complaints of the Royal had been made to the local police"
 City Prosecutor Alexander Delaney when seen by a reporter for The Far mer refused to discuss the question, intimating that he had no previous knowledge of complaints about the place which would have warranted his action, or he should have issued war rants which would have been served by the local police.
 State detectives in discussing their recent activities in larger cities where paid police forces are maintained, are of the opinion that their department is now intended to cover any hamlet, village, town or city, where violations of the laws are found, irrespective of the original intent or the legislature.
 A growing belief since the raid is that an administration move to throw a cloud upon the local head of the po- lice depa rtnent inspired the bringing of the state police here. That this will not be effective is assured by the well known fact that no such bulldog ten acity in pursuit of ev1l-doers was ever shown by any other officer than Flu gene Birmingham in this state And that the move will prove a boomerang. upon an administration that has spent large sums in augmenting officers and men upon the local force to be shown up in this manner seems highly prob able.