Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-23
Stores GET GUARDS
TO PROTECT BUYERS.
Spread Of Crime in Central Sec
tion Causes Business Men
to Engage Detectives
SEE RELIEF UNDER MOORE

Business men in the central section
OF the city have been forced to hire
rlainclothes men to protect their pa
irons from the crooks who have been
operating on Chestnut and Walnut
streets in spite of the police.
J. Warner Hutchins. Walnut street
diamond merchant. was one of several
prominent business men who complaincd
today of the necessity which compelled
them to hire guards to do the work FOR
which the police force is paid.
"This lawlessness seems an cxtraor-
dinary state of affairs in such com
munity as Philadelphia, said Mr..
Hutchins today. While ! think the
authorities are doing what they can,
there still is something radically wrong.
i do not know where TO put the blame.
"Therc seems to have been an influx
of criminals into Philadelphia. | do
not know what induces them to come
here unless it is that their friends have
been successful in their criminal pur-
suits. There have been few arrests OF
the men guilty Of some of the bold rob
berries and hold ups.
Wants More PlainclOthes Men
al think the city should increase its
plainclothes men in the central part OF
the city and patrol that section more
thoroughly.
"I believe Mr.. Moore will make n
special effort to clean the city OF
crooks. | have great confidence in him,
as have in the new director OF public
safety. Mr.. Cortelyou.
''The epidemic of crime is costing
both the merchants and the public heaV'
. haE tn pmnInN
private detectives to protect customers:
This increases the overhead expense OF
doing business. naturally. and the pub
lie ultimately pays the bill. The, new
administration offers the remedy. =,
Ellwood Chapman. president OF the
Chestnut Street Business Men $ Asso-
citation, confirmed Mr.. Hutchins' state
ment that it had been necessary to hire
plainclothes men.
Detectives Constantly on Duty
1--WE have them" said Mr.. Chapman
SIT has been necessary because there
has been a great increase in pocketbook
opening. They are on duty in our
store constantly, and as soon as they
sec crook worming his way into ,he
crowd, they tell him he ism wanted
and turn him out again.
II have never known robbcries to
be so numerous and daring in the cen
tral section. Why, l know of one in
stance where in broad daylight. at 10
o'clock in the morning, and in Il
crowded store, thief cut the telephone
wires of a public phone and carried
away coin box and instrument.
''The Chestnut Street Business Mems
Association will take no action until
the new administration goes in, and
then our action will be entirely
Friendly one
.'The trouble is that these crimes can
be perpetrated so quickly that it is hard
for the police to prevent them. With
n motor waiting at the curb with engine
running, it is not difficult for a crook
to make his getaway.
No Fault Of Policemen
"We have no fault to find with in
dividual policemen. The traffic squad
and the reserves are fine set OF men
and are doing their best under the cir
cumstances.
''The members of our association were
glad to see Mr.. Moore appoint SO good
a man as Cortelyou.
William Spiece, secretary of the Wal
nut Street Business Association, said
today that no answer has been re-
ceived to a request made by the asso-
citation some months ago, and recently
reiterated. that a deadline for crooks
be established from the south side of
Walnut street to the north side of Arch
street and from river to river.
No such deadline as Mr.. Spiece sug-
gests has been established. according to
Captain Souder's office.
The police have just put a special
squad of twelve men, in six sidecar mo-
torcycles, on duty in the central part
of town. Their job will be to run
down motor bandits. This is the first
of the "hying sluadrons" authorized by
Councils.