Evening Star Newspaper, July 30, 1922, Page 57

> BY JAMES A. BUCHANAN. OME TIME ago a noted states- wman, in addressing an assem- bled throng of leading citizens. stated that one of the great- est factors for progress was an effi- cient police force. He added that he had observed for many years that the ommunities enjoying adequate po- lice protection appeared to take a position in the front rank of progres- sive municipalities. He believed not only that the success of a police force depended upon the officers and men comprising the body, but that| -no small ‘share of responsibility rest- ed upon the shoulders of the citi- zons. In closing his address he said: “We should not alone be content to sit complacently on the side lines and either watch or ciiticize the ac- tions of our peace officers; we should as citizens of a community co-oper-.| ate in making this one of the best governed towns in the United States, and when 1 say governed I do mot mean despotic rule should exist.” Of course, now and then a member of a police force may break- a law, and the very fact that he is a police- man is seized upon by many as an wxcuse to condemn the entire force. This, of course, is wrong. There is no more reason in condemning an entire police body because one of its members does not comply with the laws of the community than it would be to condemn religion because a minister might elope with a mem- ber of his congregation or commit some other overt act. Policemen have not only their own personal troubles, the same as the rest of us, | but they are thrown daily in contact with the troubles of others, and they are the constant barrier between the evildoers of a community and the respectable citizens of a city or town. * k ¥ X HE police force of the District of Columbia is not perfect. No po- lice force is. But today the force is in far better shape than it has been for many years. It could be much better if Congress provided the Com- missioners and superintendent of po- lice with adequate appropriations with | which to carry on the work that is| far too large for the 935 men that comprise the force. In this number 36 drivers are included, and while the representatives from the states of the Union have granted an in- crease in the police department that provides for 25 additionai men, it will | be seen that the District of Columbia, | large in area and containing about half a million people, has a foroe bf Dut 950 members, and it.must. further be understood that not alk of these men are on duty at the same llm!‘; for even & bluccoated guardian of | the peace must have time to sled end | cat, and occasionally—that s, very oc- casionally—he must have a Nay to spend with his family or to devote to recreation. Washington is far different from the majority of other cities, because | in every other town in the United | States there are sheriffs just across | | the city line to aid the local peace | officers. Here the police dare not go beyond the boundaries of the Dis- trict of Columbia, nor can a sheriif from an adjoining state enter the con- fines of Washington unless equipped with a court order. | * % % % ‘ROM the earliest day of record, the | metropolitan police force has been chaperoned” by Congress. It has been under the direct or indirect super- vision of some “foreign” or almost foreign body. Let us turn back the page of history and see just when and how the police force of the Dis- trict of Columbia came into being. What is known as the District cf| Columbia was first travers:d by a white man, Capt. John Smtih, in 1608, Fifteen vears later it was visited by Henry Fleet. The Potomac region was settled: Capitol Hill, owned by Francis Pope, was called “Rome"; the small body of water known as the Eastern branch was called the “River Tiber.” Georgetown was lald out by an act of the Maryland legislature in 1751, and incorporated about forty years later. It was in this section of the city that the pians of the Capital clty were made. So on, from the ear- ltest days of which we have any rec- ord, down to the act of July 6, 1790, appointing Thomas Johnson, Daniel Carroll and David Stuart as commis- sioners to survey what is now the District of Columbia, we find order coming out of chaos. This law was signed by George Washington. * % ox % HE first peace officer was the con- stablo appoirted by the Prince (Georges court. County constables ap- pointed by Montgomery county were on duty in Georgetown, and similar officers were appointed by the circuit court of Alexandria for that section. In 1803 an act of council, approved by Mayor Brent, created the position of superintendent of police, and Cor- nelius Conningham was appointed to tne office. In 1804 four constables were provided: in 1805 Richard Spaulding was appointed high con- siable at a salary of $150 per annum— not per month, but per annum—the office of superintendent being abol- ished. As time went on, the police force was knocked and buffeted about vntil August 23, 1842, when there was established an auxiliary watch for the protection of private and public property. the captain to receive 2 salary of $1,000 a year. while the. fif- teen men under him were to receive stipends as follows: Five to receive $35 a month and the balance of ten $860 every year. Capt. John H. God- dard was the first captain of tl el augilfary guard. Until 1361 the police force changed policy and direction many times, and on August 6, 1361, Congress created. o > i .. iy days the reader will, no doubt, be in- terested in the early uniforms. - The superintendent was attired in a frock coat’ with police buttons and dark trousers. The sergeants wore | double-breasted frock coats and blue trousers. The patrolmen were attired in navy blue ¢oats, with rolling' col- lars, two buttons fastened on'the hip and two on the skirt; blue waist- coats and trousers, and white cord down the seams. From the early day pictures and illustrations it will be noticed that policemen of those days ran largely to whiskers. * ¥ * ¥ URING the war period 4here were numerous _concert halls and places of amusement, all crowded nightly! | Washington abounded” with contraband, bounty junkers, substi- tute brokers, thieves and others of like ilk. It was during this period that Secretary -of State William H. Seward preferred chdrges against two patrolmen who were, accused of as- saulting Henry Seymoour, third secre- tary of the British legation. and Count Colbert of the French legation. Congress, of course, was in session and the city full of visitors. People were held up on the streets and money and jewelry taken from hotel guests. Confidénce operators had more “busi- ness” than they could handle. Among the names of the noted characters of the day were Alfred Magruder, Charley Adams, Bruce, Garcia and ‘Meyers. ' Counterfeiters reaped a harvest. While the city was not exactly under martial law; iron- clad military rules were the order of the day. : The latter part of March, 1885, the police force was given full charge of affairs. From this period down until the seventies. gambling had assumed large proportions, and while raids were made the punishments were, as a rule, extremely light. “The tramp nuisance/in 1878 was angther matter that gave the police considerable work t8 do. ~ The yéar :1851 is still remembered by numerous inhabitants of the city, for the winter season was a record- breaker as far as cold weather was concerned. Pennsylvania avenue was the scene of a sleighing carnival, this being conducted.under the direction of the police. Numerous fakers made Washington their headquarters, work- ing the District principally by three- card monte games. It was at this period that Michael Shehan; allas | Sheeny Mike, was arrested jn connec- | tion with the Burdttte store robbery. On the 27th of June W. G} Whitney, son of the late Myra Clark Galnes, New Orleans clzimant; was killed by J. Y. Christmas. "July 2, 1881, was the date when President James A. Garfleld the metropolitsn police force of the’)Was shot down in the old raiiread station District of Columibia. It was at mul time that numerous bands of law-| breakers and persons with criminal tendencies made. it necessary for the police to whip into shape a real or- sanisation. Before entering fnti a description of the work of the police of-those on 6th street, Just below: the ‘Avenue, by Charles Guiteay. The assassin was captured by Private Patrick Kearney, who was_ assisted by John R. Scott, another ‘officer. s v * % % T was not “until: y. organissd THE OLD , NIGHT WATCHMAN i HOLDUP AT THE TREASURY “gangs.” as they are familiarly:known, were committed. These gangs gererally had as their leader some lawless cbar- acter, whose criminal record,.as a rule, was known to the police. ® The first organized gang appeared in 1863. Among the gang depredations’ was the stealing of barrels of whisky. The breaking up of one of these groups was due to the good work of Round: man Plerce. The “Union Restaurast.” which had been a prominent resort since 1861, was known as a spot where a fellow could get his canteen filled or his head cracked. In September of. 1862 a general row took place in the “Union Restaurant” and it was quelled by Offi- cer Duvall, who, single handed, arrested the entire gang. OId timers in the serv- ice still mention with pride the fact that one of their number, alone and un- aided, arrested an entire ganz. One of the early gang-leaders was Willlam W. Bowie, who was capturedy| by Officer ). O'Connell, but not without a severe struggle. The ‘arrest of Bowle did much to break up the gang of which he was the leader. Superintendent Richards, at the head of the police force in 1865, was set upon by John Burns, an omnibus driver. Hackmen and omnibus drivers had per- sisted in obstructing the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio station. Word had been sent to, Superintendent Richards and he found Burns occupying thé track. When ordered to move he be- came very insulting, and when the sup- erintendent attempted to arrest hin'_ the officer ‘was struck with the butt of a heavily loaded whip. Burns was finally arrested and the gang of hackmen and omnibus drivers became quite docile. * x % *x ~HE inauguration ceremonies = of March 4, 1869, proved to be'the magnet which brought numerous pick- pockets and “second-story workers” to the capital. As the result of excellent work on the part of the department, seventeen well known New York crooks were rounded up and sent to jail. In April, 1869, about one- hundred participated in 2~ general free-for-all fight In the northeast section of the: city. In the midst of the battle Lieut. Johnson dashed into the crowd and ar- rested the ringleader, Tony Gray, alias’ Jones. The mob turned upon. the police officer, beating him severely. Gray, in the meantime, escaped, and llthou*; badly Injured, Lieut.. Johnson maniged 10 &0 to his precinct station, and, ob-| taining fhe assistance of other officers, returned to the scene of battle, bat-the crowd had. fled. S A serious election riot took"place in June, 1869, at the corner of 12th and L streets. Charles Stewart, who haid been attacked by a mob, was rescued| by Supt. Richards; who insured him safe condict to bis Home. As Lieut. Talt end his fellow officers were {al ing Stewart down the street, the m which far: outnumbered the “police, commenced to throw stones, sev: of the officers being struck. .The at- titude of the meb became aych thAl SUNDAY WHISKERS AS A BADGE OF COURAGE ARAID ON“RUM ROW " In November, 1870, Officers Davison and Lewis were attacked by Wash Meredith and other well known char- acters. Meredith had openly boasted at different times that he was a real bad man and he did mot propose to Tet any police officer take him. In July of the following year Of- ficer Ryan and a volunteer aid were attacked by a gang of roughs at 24th and L streets. Forced by su- perior numbers, they proceeded to re- treat, when the officer’s assistant ran into a house and secured a shot- gun, the contents of which he emp- tied into the mob. In 1872 Charles Johngon. alias “Black Strap,” and Dick Burnett were arrested by Officers "Clawson and Shepherd. The two were wanted on’ the charge of assauiting a former member of their gang, James Sim- mons, who had turned state's evi- dence against Gassaway and Butler, the highwaymen. % * ok % ok ° AN odd ending marked the case of W. H. Gardner, who had been axrested for the theft of some clothes. TUpon being taken to his mother's house he met his fiance, broke down and ‘attempted suicide. Through the girl's efforts he was prevented from cutting his throat ‘while the officer’s [back was tirned. A minister was called and, in the presence of several officers, the couple were married. Almost at the same moment a tele- gram was received, which read: “Re- lease Gardner; retain my clothes. In 1875 Lieut. Austin, with the as- sistance of Officers McGraw, Sullivan and Fifield, broke up a ‘mob of; strikers. In 1877 Sergt. Slattery, sin- gle-handed, arrested a gang of bur- glars-in the rear of St Patrick’s Church. On the 13th of 'January, 1876, two men entered the United States: Capitol through a window on the Senate side, the third member of the gang remaining as a “lookout.” The men, were taken into custody by Officers R. P. Boyle and J. C. Scott. The thieves had stripped a committee -oom of everything they could’ carry away and were returning fora sec- ond load when taptured. Thé men turned out to be well known crim- inals, Robert Campbell, Sid Henning and David, alias “Cockey” Martin. All were sent to the penitentiary. - . On-the night before Christmas, 1886, | Private David Sheetan saw a man act- ing-in -3 suspicious manner. He com- manded him to halt, but the. suspect, itistead of. complying, fired two shots. into-the. officer’s thigh. Several nights | later Private Boyd unfléd John Jack- sgn, . who provell to be. Sheelan's assall- ant. .The police learned that he-had been burglarising numcrous Livuses, und he was sent to the penitentiary for _twenty . years. . He was known-as the “ghost” ‘robber or “‘slasher.” ! - BT R |~ SENSATIONAL swindle ‘oceurrod | withthe gas bUrAink: ING, | JULY . ’\{'fi ///';‘; ey 2 famed in their day, &t the Congrega- tienal. - Church. - The..alleged - agent | took in the money at the door and thén vanished. After a hurried in- vestigation, one of the trustees of | the church stated that he had a- dis- agreeable favt to announce, namely, that the agent had absconded -with all the money and that the Fisk troupe was in Europe. Among the most noted burglars of olden days was a man named Meyers, who was particularly well known in some of the southern states. His throat had been partially cut: whether ! by an assailant or by his own hand was never known to the police. The wound healed, leaying & tiny hole in the windpipe, and when Meyers be- came excited the air, rushing through the orifice, caused a whistling sound. Dr. James Hall, who resided for many years on Pennsylvania avenue, had a custom of sitting up late at night studying. One evening the doctor, hearing a noise in hig cellar, picked up a heavy cane and candle and descended the stalrs to investigate. He found a man groging about the cellar. The intruder knocked the dpe- tor's candle from his hand, the men came to grips, and during their strug- gles Meyer's windpipe began to whistle. The intruder escaped, but the description given by the doctor to , the police quickly resulted ,in Meyers' arrest and: conviction. Two notorious safe workers were “Rory” Simms and “Yank” McLaugh- lin, who were arrested for having robbed Frank Hoffa's safe of $10,000 worth of jewelry. Simms was sen- tenced to ten years in the “pen” aid McLaughlin died while awaiting trial? * K X X N the early part of October, 1893, a serigs of depredations was begun in’the District which, for'a time, baffled all ‘efforts of the police, frightened men, women and children, and resulted in the destruction of a large amount of personal property. = 5 | The first residence to be Invaded! was that of President Nick Young of{ the National Base Ball League. Thé| interfor of the houde showed that the intruder had entefed not alond for , but for the purpose of doing age. Walls afid pictures -were ruined by mud and.flith; carpets, 5 were slashed The’ i brought to light the fact that similar depredations had. been committed In Maryland, - Virginja™ and Fort Myer. When' “the excitément had partially sutsided the miscreant .entered the ‘home of Judge Miller of’ ‘the ; Poliee | ‘Court: Exciteméntranhigh. -In some | fntances servantsand others seeking révénge were gullty of similar out- rages, but were ¢aptured and.sent to Al AnonymbUs_Wotes™ s{Ened *Jack | { the Siasher” were loft in”the: places visited, Citizens satup’all biht Jong “aif eftort to 6" off .the intruder. Among cer- iose arrékted: BCATS 0 n “suspigion publishing “of .this ocourrence N L 30, 1922. : Guardians of Today Deal With Brainier Crooks Than Those of the Earlier Days, But Have Developed More Effective Methods of Fighting Crime—Force Has Grown With City, But Still Needs Additional Provision—Has Been *“Chaperoned” by Congress From the Beginning—Lacks Aid of County Officers Which Other Cities Have—Interesting Stories of the Battles of Former Days—Gangs Which Were Broken Up by Courageous Men—Some Notorious Criminals. A D T AT D T DI A DD D DD TS ST DS SISO TITI IS SISO OSSOSO 7 Coearw ALiew i After they were sent to jail for car- rying concealed weapons the rages suddenly ceased. A well known character of the early days, Janssen-by name, was arrested for grave robbing and sent to jail for eleven months and twenty-nine days. ‘While New York’s criminal element has often boasted about its guamen, ‘Washington, in former days, was not without its quota of killers. Among the noted gentry who packed “smoke wagons” were Eddy Welsch, Drury Falkner, “Skinny” Daugherty and Charley’ Goodman; also Billy Wil- liams, a notorious thug. who in many respects resembled the real East Side tad man. * ¥ ¥ ¥ PILLT WILLIAMS was what was known “as a. “houseman’ He was perhaps one of the first to in- troduce the use of chloroform in the rcbbing of 2 home. Williams used to make his hiding place at times in the old St. Patrick burial ground, and this gave rise, no doubt, to his being accused” 6f being the “ghost” robber Anyhow, - he laughingly took credit for being this particular nocturnal prowler. He had as a “side kick” Johnny _Curran. Another gang Was known as Yeatman's mob, comprising mostly yeggmen and “soup pourers.” the name for safecrackers who use nitroglycerin. ) Wash Meredith, mentioned in a previous part of this article, was the leader of the gang in the northwest- ern section of the city. He was a big, powerful brute and used to have as his ‘companion a man named Thad Hall: It is rolated that upon one oc- casion, . not being able to enter a houss, Meredith picked up Hall in his afms and tossed him through an open window several feet above the ground. Meredith also one day was caught carrying a barrel of flour away on his shoulders. ‘He gnd Sarah Curtis worked on the principle, “Go in and take anything.” Others who werc regarded as being dangerous crimirals wére Georgia Parker, Lum Sewell, Pat Wayman, Mutton Brown and Yellow Waiters, the last named, according to the police, ‘acting as a l“]eme." or recelver of stolen goods. Another man well khown to the po- lice was Columbus Fearson, who at times worked with the Curran broth- crs and Billy Connell. ¥ ¥ % URING the time that Coxey's army was making its march onto ‘Washington, numerous green goods men and other crooks had attached Fthemselves to the group led by the doughty general from Ohio. ‘Scat- tered’ In among the members of Coxey's army were several of Wash- ington's bept detectives. They had learned as t6 who wefe the danger- ous or vicious characters. who were just: “c§mp-kitchen followers,” and as to wiip Tenlly believed In the teach- ings of Carl''Browne.' 8o when ‘the army reached the city limits' they able to pelut out to the waiting IN THE OLD DAYS out- | gathered in “wotld Police Force of the District Has Record of Bravery and Ski ¢ s ¢ ¢ ¢ 9 9 ) i | and who should be given the “right- | about face.” There was at one time a gang in the | Iortheast called the “Hay Scalers,” but | they were not in any sense criminals, being merely an aggregation of young men who liked to fight for the sake of a fight itself. Another crowd was called “The Press.” and held the same view of -life as did the Hay Scalers. The Press members made their hang- out down on the Island, as a certain section of the city was known at that time. Two men, named Tolson and Wi liams, respectively, held up a Texan near the iron fence that ran around the Treasury. The attack came so suddenly that the mah from Texas did not have a chance to draw his gun. Both Tolson and Williams received penitentiary sentences for theoffense. Among the old-time police officers were John F. Keily, .a lieutenant (there were no captains at that tme); Lieut. Swindell, now dead: Lieut. Guy, “Fighting Dan Sullivan,” now Maj. Sullivan and superintendent of police: Lieut. Tepple, Eq Horn and Ed Boyd, “Dick” Sylvester, Willim G. Moore (bath of the last two namied attained the highest office possible in police circles),. Ned Wecdon, .Capt. Flathers- Maj. Gessford and numerous other brave men. * % x % JA/HILE it is true that the police of earlier days did nof have as brainy crooks to deal with as those of the present era, neither did they have the advantages possessed by the present-day police. Even after the telegraph came into being it was siow and its scope was limited. Today the modern pol‘sa officer has an interstate method of communication that is ex- tremely vatuable, and has the photo- graphs of criminals, their finger-prints and their chief characteristics so ar- ranged that a wanted nfan can be picked up. much more easily. On the other hand, the criminal class has not been negligent in keeping apace with progress, and some of the cunning- est criminals are really men of sclen. tific attainments’ whose energy, if directed in proper channels, would make them valued members of so- clety. . H In the &y when “Fighting Dan: ! Sullivan” was pounding bricks: thisi being the police term for patroling 2} beat, he very seldom used a club orl any artificial means of defense, reu--; ing largely on his prowes: handed fighting man,” and when some day vou sit in his office, look into his keen eyes, hear his carefully ehnunl words anfl si will realige ‘that” here is a man of strength and an officer that knows not the meaning of the word “fear,” and’ yet in many respects is as gentle as a lamb and, dally practices the “golden rule.” Fellow officers have recounted how in the early days when some good fellow would take a drop lor, two too-much and would be slight- 1y betuddled, -but quiet, Sullivan ‘hack and sead Ppack him inte | done | than the Christian era. a “two- , e him.up generally, you | him home, in many instances paying the man's fare. Ok ok % ME day when you want to know something about the police and how today e greater state of har- mony exists_ than has prevailed for some time, %% with some of the men connected x4 the department, or, if you want to get modern police chief’s view on life, sit down and talk with Sullivan. He will probably say to u what he said to the writer, h is as follows: It is our aim to onestly and faithfully serve the public. It is to the public's ~wn good to fully co- operate with #s. We are ever glud (o welcome jumt criticism. When any one can offer fis ¢ cism that is con- structive we are glad to listen to ii 1 have found, however, that a great majority of the people who complain are those who do the least to help “The average policeman want the thing that is right; the a officcr takes a pride in his job and is a brave man. You must remember that he can never tell at what hour of the day or night he may be se- verely injured. it not killed, and vet, despite that fact, he never falters in doing his duty. “Of course, there have been police- men, from time to time, who have broken the laws, and no one has been more bitter about the transgressions than their fellow officers. It should be the duty of all of us, every morn- ling. to see if we can do something during the day that will help our fel- lowmen. What a wonderful place the world would be if every one would do this™™" Some time when vou feel peeved at the police for something they have or something that you have heard they bave done. go out and walk a beat with an officer. Prowl into the dark alleys and dismai cor- ners of the city, or cast vour lot with one of Inspector Grant's detectives and sta® out in the rain all night, “f; while the cop” is watching for the return of a much-wanted man When you have don these things you will realize tha a policeman's life is not exactly a Lf~ of roses. The Big Trees. (QVUR sreat parks. the Yosemite. Yel- lowstone, Sequois and General Grant, must be kept under military supervision in order to preserve their natural wonders ax#mst injury from trespassers. Of a’} .hese miracles of nature, the “big tices” are the most astonishing. There are two species— the sequioa sempervirens, or ordinary redwood, apd the secquoia gigantea, which is, strictly speaking, the “big tree” of California These stately ctratures ure so im- pressive that it seems quite fitting to honer them with dlstinguished tities. Nearly every state in the Union and all the distinguished gencrals of the civil war have mes among them The “General Grant” and the “Gen- eral Sheridan” are inlividuals of the largest size, and, wih the “Grizzly Giant,” are probably the biggest of all trees. Before one of the nutional exposi tions the governmen: ordered a sec- tion of redwood thirty feet long foi exhibition, and for this it agreed to pay $7.000. Before the lumber com- pany had succeeded in delivering it on the cars it had cost nearly that amount. for a mountain wagon road five miles long had to be built to get it out, and a trench was dug as long and as large as the tree itself to set it in. The same company also furnished another tree for another exhibition. which was cut in General Grant Park not a hundred yards from thc pot where the “General Grant” stands in all its majesty. In the same grove lies the “Fallen Mon- arch,” through the burnt-out heart of which a mounted horseman can ride with ease. In the Yosemite is the “Wawona." a tree with a hole burnt in its base, through which the road runs and big automobiles are driven without difficulty; and on the “Mark Twain” stump of the General Grant Park eighteen full-sized cavalry horses have easily stood. It is twenty-six feet in diameter. It is supposed, from such evidence as is afforded by counting their rings, that some of these trees are older It should be a to destroy accounted sacrilege them. Store of Future Wealth. THERE is reason to hope that the world may be greatly cnriched through the results of observations and experiments to' determine just how certain plants manage (o assimi- late nitrogen from the atmosphere. It Mas been discovered that such plants as peas, beans and clovers have their roots invaded by myriads of minute organisms which may be either bacteria or parasitic fungi. These organisms in some unknown way incite the plants to increased ac- tivity so that they are able to assimi- late free nitrogen from the atmos- phere and thereby to supply, through their own subsequent decay, an abun- dance of nitrates, nitrites, ammonia and other nitrogenous substances 1o the soil. Efforts have been made to deter- mine whether some other stiz:uius besides that furnisted by the organ- sms referred to may not be szpplied to plants which wjll enabla “hem stn: more effectually to assiliate mitro- gen trom the air for the ultimate en- richment of the soll. The importance of these investiga- tions may be judged from the follow- ing statement made by a leading au- thority on the physiology of plant “This question, be it emphaticail stated, promises to be of more !mn- portance to agricylture in the future than any legistation as to prices. ett. that we can conceive; for if it turns out /that with the acquisition of free itrogen by the land, or, what amouni® to the same. thing, the plants grow- ing on It can bd geonomically pro- moted, the farmer gnd forester mas have the controi 2! sources of wesitk not y«t dresmad % L A e