South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-15
SOME POLICE NUTS FOR THE SOUTH
BEND PUBLIC TO CRACK.

Exactly what to think OF an assistant chief Of no
lice who claims to know there are bank robbers in
town; who is able to go into a bank.-exactly the
right bank--seeing all kinds of money laying round
and the cashier to look out for the intruders
get that money out of sight" who does this
just minutes before the robbers arrive, and rob
exactly that same bank. and who then has the
summate to go back to the bank after the rob
berry has taken place. and presume to scold the
cashier taking his advice; we'll exactly what
think of such an assistant chief of police and of
such set OF circumstances. is conundrum for the
public. by whom such assistant chief Of police is
employed TO answer for itself
Add to this advance knowledge, and advance
warning by the assistant chief of police. the fact
that apparent effort made by the police to
shadow the thieves, to be in wait for them upon
their arrival bank. and the further fact that
aside from those joined in the chase, alleged
chase after the robbers other officers of the police
department. were not informed of the robbery.
through the newspapers, and that no descriptions
OF the thieves were given TO the policemen their
beats or at roll call with orders to apprehend them
II possible: we'll. why's and wherefores Of that,
presents another conundrum for the public to solve
Consider the rule Of the police department that
patrolnen shall not modest offenders of the law, on
complaint Of citizens or from their personal knowl-
edge without orders from the chief. thus tying the
hands OF the police and making Of them virtual
nonentities as emergencies; that South Bend has
long been a sort of Mecca for automobile thieves
and other crooks who have made easy escapes; that
there seems 10 be an underground railroad extend
ing somehow from the police headquarters TO GER
tain numerous protected vice resorts-bawdy- houses
blind-tigers and gambling oints,-where thieves
and crooks congregate; consider these things and
again we say the public may draw its own con-
illusions
Perhaps ought to say, particularly at this time,
that Il can be only departmental "inexI ediency;"
should say so just now. for the public guidance, es
peciaIly in view OF the great effort being made by
the city administration, as heraIded by the apparent
" reclaimed administration organ TO hoodwink the
public by fabulous tales of the wonderful guardian
ship that their police force is exercising over the
Bob Jones revival services So many policemen were
employed Sunday and Sunday night, according TO
the administration story Monday. in guarding the
crowds that gathered at the Jones tabernacle, that
maybe we should apologize for them. saying
wonder there were none available Monday shadow
such crooks as the assistant chief warned the s.
Michigan st. bank against: but then as we said be-
fore let tho public draw its own conclusions.
Ordinarily however, IL IS our observation that
while wherever there IS crowd there is likely to
be pckpockets PEOPLE on their way TO and from
church do not need guardians OF course. in this
particular instance, 1t might be expedieut to have