Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-08
GUARDING Skinner CROWDS
TOLD OF BY HASKIN
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Hasktn

WASHINGTON, June S:-Police
officials all over the world know that
a big convention, an exposition, a
fair or any event which causes
large numbes Of people to congo
gate in one place is likewise a signal
TO the people of the underworld
that a fresh hunting ground has been
arranged for them.
In the first week of June Wash
ington witnessed probably the larg-
est gathering of people which ever
came together in one American city
for a brief convention. The Shriners'
Convention at the national capital
in that week was expected to bring
to the city from $780, QUO to 5000
visitors and, understanding the at
traction which such a great crowd
holds. the police of the city organic
ed carefully to protect the Shriners
and Washingtonians from the army
OF crooks which was certain TO turn
up.
What such a tremendous Influx
of people Eiedns is difficult TO lCal-
ize. Washington is a city of approx
mately 100000 population. Popula-
ton includes in its numbers every
man woman and child. That is, the
statistics of a city take into ccoun
not only the adult men and women
seen about their daily business in
the streets but infants, invalids and
very old people. In q city of 800, 600
population there would actually be
no more than two-thirds OF that
number engaged in the active life of
the city. Therefore, in Washington,
there are only about 330, 600 adults
who make effectual demands on the
facilities of the city.
With from 100000 to 100000
Shriners, the active population of the
city would be at least doubled. There
would be twice as many people in
the streets, twice as many in the
stores, on the street cars, at amuse-
ment places, in short, everywhere.
They would nearly all be fairly pros
porous people with plenty of money
to spend during this holiday period,
In other words, Washington, with
out the efficient work done by the DO
lice, would be a crooks paradise.
The story of the more or less I'M
sophisticated visitor to the big CITY
is n of the Oldest in experience
and literature. 1t is repeated at every
great gathering and probably al
ways Will be as long as human ma
ture remains the same.
JS "JhD AAoAAC
One of the most remarkable cases
Of the gullibility of visitors was fur
nlshed at the very start of the Sbrin-
ers' Conyention-in fact some days
before the beginning of the onven
tion, AS n of the special features
OF Washington sights, an exact re-
plea of the old homestead of John
Howard Payne, the author of Home
GVUnaf Hnron - hoe hon, L,,sIA = a.
park just south of the Treasury
building. The building has been care
fully copied from the cosy old farm
house which inspired the immortal
song, and would make an attractive
home for anybody, especially in view
OF its extraordinary location-near
the corner OF Pennsylvania Avenue
and Fifteenth Street, and less than
a block from the White House
grounds.
1t seems that one of the advance
guard of %swindlers got hold of an
early Shrine Week visitor, showed
him over the house while It was still
in course Of construction-and sold
il to him.
The customer was delighted with
the house and paid over every cent
he had, 1920, to bind the bargain,
and agreed to make subsequent
monthly payments. His disillusion-
ment, when he discovered he had
bought a public monument. resulted
In the relating of his story to the po-
lice but by that time the willy real
estate salesman had decamped with
the $120 first payment.
This recalls the once famous in
cldent Of the farmer from northern
New York State who went to the Pan
American Exposition at Buffalo
twenty years ago and while there en-
countered a swindler who sold him
the Erie canal for $500. Later, when
the State Government passed some
law affecting the Canal, the purchas-
er raised a strong objection to the
liberties the State was taking with
his property.
Officers From Other Cities
One very interesting and impor-
tant expedient which the police al
ways adopt in the case Of big gath
erings is to invite the police depart
ments Of all principal cities to send
at least n member of their local
detective forces 10 be on duty in the
convention city during the height of
the activities. This is regarded by
police authorities as one of the best
means of keeping crooks away and
,oESkEn{ting OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES