Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-28
POLICING THE INAUGURATION

"ASitlNGTON. February 27.--'rhc
visitor To tho inauguration at Wash.
inEton this tth of March is going to he
as safe from thieves and pickpockcts
as deacon in church. in spite of III,
tact that the city becomes something
OF Mecca Of crooks from All partS of
the country at such times. For n few
days the population is almost doubled
IN size; the streets arc crowded. and
tncrc is every opportunity for tho art
ful dodIcr the lcmon-puolcr and tho
confidence man TO get i'm his skilIfuI
work AT least such has been tho ease
with all former inaugurations This
year the police department has made
speciaI arranG cmcntS for tho benefit Of
any suspicious characters who feel in
ciineh I" visit the capital. which prom
Use 10 discourage tho most reckless and
'htrcpld OF the criminal fraternity
IN the hrSt place. detectives from all
INC large cities are going to hold an
informal convention i'm Washington
during tho week Of the inauguration
Ihc hrSt part Of thoir program will he
I" hoid a caucus with tho local crime
'raiicrS ana then take up various in
CONSPICUOUS stations i'm tho railway
"'Po'S. motel lobhics. thcatcrS. depart
mcnt stores and haunts of the tourists
or minclc with the street crowds
others viii be driven through the ont
WING districts I'm motor cars Hence
the pi"k?ocket from Chicago and tho
New y rk confidence man. who former
~ W"lhoa the streets confident that
thcE would not be recognized bv tho
local police force. Will NOT no liz civ
I" escape tho keen observation OF their
own home towns
ms - the first time that the police
81 'hc national capital have requested
me ASSISTANCE. OF identification cypcr;s
FROM "th"r cities. but the commissions
CTS arc determined to insure tho safe
y oil every individual who attends tho
'""uS"rsi ceremonies this year. as far
~ IL Is possible TO do so not only
nave the best detectives hccu bnr.
r"w"d. hut a squad Of 100 picked no.
Itehlch IS coming over from Baltimore
|" hcip guard the line OF parade. and
"'arlN ""o citizens have hccn sworn m
- temporary policemen for specific
LUZ III dincrcn, parts OF tho city.
Moreover. the duties OF tho puhIic
order commit;ce-a commi,toc .i,r.,.
grSahi%cd l" preserve order during thc
i'*uNiticS- have increased 10 formiu
able proportions ''''
divided Into subcommittee,
nc members Of this committee. Yho
ar" recruited from vari,us b,,.i,.sr
aud professional branches a-o
SiiiZcd into subcommittee or u.r;.;,
'Icrc are no less than eight The FRS,
"i 'neSr Is the depot committee I,y
members, wearing tho badge az TON.
r"rarN authority. arc supposed Ia moo,
nc horh"s of incoming "isitors a, ,hc
stations take care Of amy who
arc III or intoxicated, aud advise any
ono. who has neglected 10 r,ecr,.o
commentators, concerning hotels and
"o"idine houses. Heretofore mis- sd
wee mas been proft"rcd by q crew of
sarrulous individuals who often rem
r'sch'cd not the most reputable hos.
'eirles' This year. boarding housc
u H.
"rmation may he obtained cron, the
S"n''ncls Of tho demo. committee or
from regular Information booths.
FOR fear that som" person NAV he
overlooked in this general distribution
al reliable advice however. tho com.
h'i'tcc has also drawn w "a long list OF
pertinent suggestions. with the ,.s,s,
ancc OF the police department, which
arc I" hc handed to passengers on the
trans while sim An hour o. so ON, OF
Washington. Resides hotel and board
inS house Information. this list gives
some useful advice to those who would
keep their jcwclry aud wallets The
visitor is warned, for example. not To
forget the address Of his boarding
house. even 20 the section Of tho city
IA which, he - residing - great
many people debut 10 write il down
ia - little book ana carry il with hin,
every place he goes; not 10 fall asIccp
Va PupIi, places. and, above all. not 10
carry his money IN his hin rockc,
which popular practice keeps the pick.
pockets Of tho nation ia Injury
Inrric>sn~s> Encourages Crooks.
These ar" only a few OF Tho warn
'nSs. rho police department, would
like To issue many more III tho pub
lie would hc more careful with their
Naluablcs" says Ma jor Pullman. chief
of police. there would not be so many
crooks. This il undoubtedly true The
number OF himnam games worked sue
ccSsfuliy every day throughout the
United states is astounding. when i,
Is considered that they have ali been
worked many times before. There IS
tn" lemon pool plot. for example. Two
men enter poolr"om and start a /
pool game before group OF Specta-
tors, among whom there IS always
certain To lie ono rclja bic bait II soon
appears that ono OF the mon cannot
play pool At all although he is Sc