Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-15
MAIN LINE POLICE
| FEAR CRIME WAVE
Radnor Chief Asks for More
Aides Following McFadden
/ Jewel Robbery
II MEN COVER 62 MILES

Captaiu Sweeney. of the Radnor
township police. today declared he must
have nm additional force of men to patrol
,be suburban towns Of the township.
Ills statement follows the $300, 900
towel robbery at the home Of Mr.. and
Mrs, George II. McFadden, Jr., in
yillanova early last Saturday morning.
Unless his force of men is augmented,
Captain Sweeney declared, he will be
unable to combat the crime wave this
winter which is being anticipated by the
nolice throughout the country.
Towns policed by Captain Sweeney
and his men include Radnor. Bryn
Mawr. Rosemont. Wayne. Villanova,
Garrett Hill. THAN, Vauclain, St.
Dayds and Stratford.
At present there are eleven members
of the Radnor township police. includ-
ing a captain. sergeant, two emergency
men and seven patrolmen. They cover
siyty.two miles of roadway twice every
day.
Taptain Sweeney wants at least five
moro men aud he believes their pnr
shc,!d be increased from S105 to $l2J
a month.
Thirty two Men at Ardmorc
"A crime wave such as never before
experienced is expected this winter by
nolice throughout the state" said Cap
tain Sweeney. 1--WE have now eleven
men and that force is inadequate for
our work. l will be forced to ask for
more men soon. Captain Donaghy at
Ardmore, has thirty-two men covering
n territory as largt as ours, which Is
sixty two miles of roadway.
AT the next meeting Of the police
commission | will ask for at least five
more men, two automobiles Of high
mower to combat with automobile
bandits who pass on our roads from
Philadelphia and from Pittsburgh and
for n pension for the men. will also
ask for an increase for them from 500
monthly to Sl2o.
The one chief thing in police work
Is to prevent crime and this cannot be-
done with n small force such as VIC have.
II We are to prevent crime in our ter
ritory we will need more men so as to
cover tine territory oftener.
John Kent Kane. one of the COM
miSsioncrs commenting on the situa =
tion. said: 1--WE could use four or
typ kOOl llltl 1T S,S
force as it stands is very efficient in
the prevention of crime. If any one
wants policeman he can readily
have one by calling up headquarters.
The men are satisfied with their pay.
We have increased it gradually.
Means More Taxes ,
"If the community wants more pro-
lection and cares to give the men higher
salaries il will mean more taxes, and
] think we are paying enough now. |
have received no complaints, every
one seems satisfied. and ! don't relish
increasing the taxes. / am more than
willing to let the future take care of
itself. The estates all have watchmen
and can easily protect themselves
Mrs George II. McFadden, .Ir.. today
expressed the belief that the theft of
her pearl necklace and other jewels
from her boudoir last Saturday morning
was the "chance work of an outside
man.
Mrs. McFadden said she has re-
ccivcd numerous letters concerning the
theft Of the gems. but that they had
apparently been written by cranks.
No trace of the costly jewels, in
Guiding the internationally famous rope
Of pearls. has been found. Captain OF
Police Whalcy, of Rochester, n. Y,
noted for his ability to trace jeweI
thieves, is assisting two Philadelphia
detectives and Captain Sweeney in their
investigation.