Year: 1860

tain demonstrations the Marshal of Police addressed
the following communication to the Board of Police
which has induced them to provide every man in
the force, not previously armed, with the most
effective repeating pistol now known, being of the
Dean d Adams patent:


BALTIMORE, Sept. 18th, 1850.
To Charles Ho,oard,


President ofthe Police Board:


SGR-l have the honor to invite your atten-
tiOn to the several abstracts of occurrences
at the statiOn-houses on the night of the 18th
instant. In this connection, | respectfully beg
leave to recall to your recollection reports
which have heretofore been made from this office
in relation to the conduct of various citizens,
who, from their business relations to this commu-
nifty and connections of various kinds, occupy posi-
tions of respectabilitv, and have it in their power
to exercise very considerable influence for good or
evil. 1t will be recoected that the conduct of
some OF these persons subject of consideration
before the Board of Police some time ago, upon an
occasion on which, during midnight bacchanalian
revel, they ndulged in all kinds of Incorporate
language, with the view of putting insult upon
some Of the members of your force, ,oho, from an
apprehension Of seeming too rigorous an the exercise
Of their po,cers, and partly from motives of kindness
and sympathy for the families of the parties, alb
stained from arresting and locking them up as was
clearly within their power, and as the conduct of
the said parties richly merited.


Instead, however, of their approaching this for
bearance on the part of your officers, it appears to
have had quite contrary effect, some of those





occasions sought to insult your men, and then in
the most shameless manner made their disreputable
conduct matter of bar-room bravado.


Such conduct on the part of a class of our cti-
Zens, from whom there was every reason to expect
more reputable course, has emboldened the more
reckless and depraved of the community in that
section of the city, to open resistance to the
officers of the law.


The forbearance of your men has been most COM
mendable, and that forbearance and the frequency
with which they have submitted to such language
and acts on the part of the individuals referred TO-
it was hoped would have made the latter regret the
past and improve the future.


In these hopes, however, l regret to say that we
have been disappointed. In the part of the city,
east of the Falls and south of Baltimore street,
from which such numerous complaints of the prev
aence of such disreputable conduct have come,
you will find by the reports of the captain of the
police of the second station, that on the night re-
ferred to a most unprovoked and ruian-like attack
was made by number of the lawless frequenters
OF one OF the notorious drinking saloons in that
vicinity on one of the members of the Police De-
partment, in which "billes'' and other murderous
weapons were used, and that he was most seriously
injured before his assalants could be conquered
and arrested. When this bold and reckless out
rage is taken in connection with the fact that MANY
of these desperadoes have heretofore been guilty
OF offences of a most aggravated character, for
which the penalties of the law are now suspended
over them, and for which, but tor the influence OF
the better class of their aiders and abettors pun.



you will see the necessity CT the most decided ac-
tion in order that the police may be prepared
promptly to resist repetition of such assaults,
and to suppress unlawful resistance from any
quarter With that view most respectfully and
earnestly recommend to your Board that every
man in the force be Immediately armed with a suit
able weapon for effective service.


have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir,
your obedent servant,


GEO. P. KANE, Marshal.


IN loe
negroes were illegally abducted from this city, and
sold into slavery for life. They had been convic
ted of crime, and by order of the Court were d
rected to be sold for a term of years. But falling
into the hands of bad men, they were sold with
out any reservation. They were eventually pur
chased by General Gideon j. Pillon, of Tennessee
and sent to his plantation in Arkansas. Soon after
reaching there the General discovered, in a con
versaton with them, that they had been free, and
the sale for life was fraudulent. He immediately
wrote to the Mayor, informing him of the fact tha
two negroes were in his possession, but also assur
ing the Mayor that he was anxious to return then
to the proper authorities in this city. No steps
however, taken for their recovery, unit
within short time, when the Board of Police
Commissioners was informed of the transaction
and deeming it subject worthy of their attention
gave orders to the Marshal to take immediate steps
to secure their return. Accordingly, the Marsha
wrote to General Pillon, relative to the case, and
the General promptly replied, stating that he was
ready to deliver the slaves to authorities appointed
to receive them. In his letter he deprecates the
system, which has lately gained prevalence, of i'm
posing on Southern planters, by the sale of negro
convicts, as unj Just to both purchaser and slave
and considers it reproach to the community that
suffers it. The Board of Police Commissioner
have given pointed orders to Marshal Kane in re-
gard to the enforcement of the law against thi.
class of offenders, who are, for most part, stran
gers in our city, and from States that profess 20 be
the especial guardians of the negro race.


ATTEMPTED BURGLARY.-About one o'clock Sun
day morning private watchman Hamilton observed
several suspicious characters lurking around Hoi
day street and Gay street, and suspectng that al
was not right, went into Tripolets alley and tool
a seat where he could not be observed. In tht
course OF twenty minutes two men came down tht
aliey and were nearly upon the officer before they
observed him. On seeing him they dropped guam
tty of goods which they had and started to rum
The officer commanded them to stop, and on fail
ing to do so, he drew his revolver and fired three
shots at them before they got of the alley anc
one more shot after they reached the street. The
burglars crossed Baltimore street and entered Hol
liday street, the officer still pursuing them. One
the two snapped pistol at the officer twice, bu
the cap did not explode. They continued through
Holiday to Fayette, and down that street to Fred
erlck. Two young men, who were on Fayettt
street. Joined in the pursuit, and of them gained
rapidly on the burglars, so that on reaching Fred
erlck street he within few feet of them, wheI
one OF them threatened to shoot him if be did not
stop, and he accordingly slackened his pace. The
burglars turned into Frederick street, south, until
they came to Etna lane, which they entered and
made good their escape. On examining the prem
ises at Tripolets alley it found that they had
entered by the rear the store of George P. Stein
bach, from which they had taken a quantity o
toys, but did not succeed in getting money or any
articles of value. Most of the articles were recov
cred, as they had to drop them in their fight
WOMAN SHoT.-Y esterday morning about 2 o'clock
two men, named John Sigefoos and - Martyr
alias Hamill, visited house of i'll repute kept by
Mary White, on Holiday street, near Bath street
They raped at the door, which was partially
opened, but they were refused admittance Sigle
oos attempted to force his way in, and at the time
grasped at watch which one of the girls wa.
wearing. Failing to secure it, he drew pisto
and fired at a girl named Susan Burris. The pisto
contained two balls, both of which took effect or
her right eg-6ne entering near the anke, and the
other the knee. As as the shot was fired
they both fled, and have not yet been arrested -
DR.. III. P. p. Yates extracted the balls and dressed
| the wounds. Siglefoos is most notorious charac
ter, and was a prominent ember, and at one time
one of the officers of the Tiger Club, which was
the terror of Federal Hill. He was one of the
party who, led ON by officer Lennon, made the
assault ON the house of Charles Fisher killing him
He was tried for that offence and acquitted IL j!
said that he and the girl whom he shot were for
merly what is called lovyers" but she forsook him
and this act was one of revenge. No doubt he viii
be arrested shortly.