USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1873 > Part 18
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The Department is comprised of a force of 50 men, which has been maintained during the year at an expense to the city as follows, viz. :
City Marshal,
$2,200 per annum.
1st Asst .. "
1,550
2d
1,500
Capt. of Night Police,
$3 25 per night.
Day
3 25 per day.
45 Patrolmen,
3 00 “
During the first six months of the year, one of the Patrolmen was detailed as Truant Officer, and devoted his whole time to the business of that office.
The whole number of cases investigated by him during that period, was 1,911, the greater part of which were returned to their schools.
31
236
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
Since the commencement of the schools after the long vaca- tion, the School Board have furnished their own officers, agreea- bly to the law passed at the last session of the Legislature, and in doing this, have taken from this department two faithful and energetic officers.
There have been changes in the force during the year as fol- lows :
Resigned for other appointments and personal interests, 6.
Discharged for violation of rules and regulations governing this department, 6. Making twelve changes during the year.
The places thus made vacant were at once filled, so that the numerical strength has at all times been full.
The whole number of arrests for the year have been three thousand and sixty-two (3,062).
No. of males,
2,837
Adults,
2,528
Females,
225
Minors,
534
No. of Americans,
978
Residents,
2,308
Foreigners,
2,084
Non-residents, 754
The nativity of this number is as follows, viz. :
Born in Ireland,
1,719
Poland,
1
America,
1,044
Russia,
1
Canada,
133
Sweden,
2
England,
92
Prussia,
1
Scotland,
26
Belgium,
1
Germany,
21
West Indies,
1
British Provinces,
11
Wales,
1
Italy,
3
France,
1
Portugal,
3
Denmark,
1
Total,
3,062
The offences for which these arrests were made, are as follows :
Assault and battery,
221
Carrying dangerous weapons, 8
Capies,
6
66 with dangerous weapon,
7
Contempt of court, 4
66 with intent to kill,
1
Common seller of intox'g liquor,
2
66
66 ravish,
1
Charging excessive hack-fare, 1
1
Breaking and entering,
14
1,558
Breaking glass,
17
Burglary,
1
Disturbance of the peace,
125
Bastardy,
6
Disturbing public school,
3
Common drunkards,
27
religious meeting,
1
Cruelty to animals,
9
Deserter,
1
Conveying mortgaged property,
2
Disorderly conduct, 3
Concealing 66
1
house,
3
on officer, 28
Adultery,
8
Common railer and brawler,
Drunkenness,
66 2d offence, 234
237
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
Defrauding boarding-house, 15
Open shop Sunday,
23
Driving away team,
5
Obtaining goods by false pretence, 8
Doing business on Lord's Day,
3 Pedling without license,
8
Dealing in junk without license,
3 Profane cursing and swearing,
2
Desecrating cemetery,
1
Refusing railroad fare,
18
Embezzlement,
4 Receiving stolen goods,
9
Escaped prisoner,
1
Removing mortgaged property, Runaway from home,
13
Fast driving,
5
Reform School,
6
Forgery,
2
66 State Workhouse,
3
Gaming on Lord's Day,
56
66
Truant School,
2
Horse stealing,
4
66 Lunatic Hospital,
1
Insane,
28
Removing small-pox flag,
1
Indecent exposure of person,
2
Refusing to assist officer,
3
Keeping unlicensed dog, 11 66 liquor with intent to sell, 15
Stubborn and disobedient,
17
Keeping billiard tables without license,
1
Swindling,
1
Larceny,
211
Trespass,
30
66 from building,
2
Threatening,
14
66 from person,
1
Truant,
11
Liquor nuisance,
5
Transporting liquor,
1
Lewdness,
5
Violation of city ordinances,
88
Left for safe keeping,
1
Vagrancy, 28
1
Manslaughter,
1
Neglect of family,
11
Total,
3,062
Night walkers,
2
The amount of property taken from and restored to prisoners during the year, amounts to $16,353.58.
Whole number reported married,
1,180
66
single,
1,882
The occupations of the persons arrested are numerous and varied, as will be shown by the following tables, and that crime is not confined to any trade or profession will readily be seen. This number embraces as
Agents,
6
Brass moulders,
2
Brakemen,
29
Baggage master,
1
Blacksmiths,
28
Boot crimper,
1
Barbers,
17
Bill poster,
1
Bar-tenders,
10
Broker,
1
Bakers,
8
Carpenters,
65
Boot treers,
7
Clerks,
27
Butchers,
7
Cigar makers,
15
Brick makers,
5
Curriers,
14
Brewers,
5
Core makers,
7
Boot blacks,
3
Contractors,
4
Boot clicks,
3
Courtezans,
Belt makers,
3
Carders,
Box makers,
3
Cooks,
Bookkeepers,
2 Cabinet makers,
Boiler makers,
2 Check boys,
4 43339 3
1
Fornication,
33
Single sale of intoxicat'g liquor,
19
Suspicious persons,
12
Malicious mischief,
21
Witness,
238
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
Car drivers,
2
Melters,
3
Coopers,
2
Master mechanics,
2
Comb maker,
1
Ministers,
2
Conductor,
1 Nail cutter,
1
Cold iron puncher,
1 Organ reedmaker,
1
Card setter,
1 Painters,
80
Carriage trimmer,
1
Printers,
32
Clothes cleaner,
1
Pedlers,
17
Collector,
1
Plumbers,
8
Dyer,
9
Pattern makers,
6
Domestics,
4
Physicians,
4
Dentists,
3
Polishers,
3
Dress-tenders,
3
Pudlers,
2
Dress makers,
2
Pawnbrokers,
2
Druggist,
1
Plasterers,
2
Engineers,
9
Pressman,
1
Farmers,
43
Pipemaker,
1
Finishers,
11
Ropemakers,
3
Firemen,
5
Shoemakers,
311
Foreman,
1
Students,
215
File cutter,
1
Saloon keepers,
53
Gardeners,
9
Stone masons,
40
Gasfitters,
5
Spinners,
17
Gunsmiths,
4
Screw cutters,
5
Gamblers,
3
Slaters,
5
Giggers,
2
Soleleather cutters,
3
Gentlemen,
2
Sailors,
3
Grinder,
1
Seamstresses,
2
Grocer,
1
Spoolers,
2
Gate-tender,
1
Silver-platers,
2
Housekeepers,
229
Sextons,
2
House work,
45
School teacher,
1
Hostlers,
39
Switchman,
1
Hod-carriers,
12
Superintendent,
1
Harness makers,
11
Stable keeper,
1
Hackmen,
6
Teamsters,
38
Heaters,
4
Tailors,
25
Junk dealers,
14
Tanner,
1
Jeweler,
1
Tailoress,
1
Laborers,
1,168
Telegraph operator,
1
Loafers,
44
Trunk maker,
1
Lathers,
8
Upholsterers,
3
Liquor dealers,
3
Undertakers,
2
Lawyers,
2
Varnisher,
1
Last makers,
2
Wire workers,
24
Loom fixers,
2
Weavers,
23
Laundresses,
2
Wood carvers,
6
Machinists,
123
Washers,
2
Moulders,
74
Waiters,
2
Masons,
39
Wool sorter,
1
Merchants,
11
Watchman,
1
Musicians,
8
Wheelwright,
1
Manufacturers,
6
Marble workers,
3 Total,
/ 3,062
12
Hotel keepers,
2
Tinsmiths,
239
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
The whole number of persons accommodated with food and lodgings at the Station House during the year, has been 3,249.
Males,
Females,
3,129 120
Americans,
1,284
Non-residents,
3,113
Foreigners,
1,965
Minors,
563
Residents,
136 - Adults,
2,686
Making a total of prisoners and lodgers for the year, 6,311.
The nativity of lodgers is as follows :
Born in Ireland,
1,399
Germany,
14
America,
1,232
Switzerland,
10
England,
258
Russia,
5
American, (colored)
87
Prussia,
4
Scotland,
85
Spain,
2
British provinces,
75
Wales,
2
Canada,
41
Australia,
1
France,
19
Italy,
15
Total,
3,249
The miscellaneous duties performed by the Police during the year, are of no small importance in themselves, and will show that the officers have been interested in their work, and faithful to the trust reposed in them. The following is but a portion of the duties they have attended to under this head, and this in- cludes only those cases where arrests have not followed :
Disturbances suppressed,
139
Intoxicated persons sent home,
216
Buildings found open and secured,
247
Notices served,
17,855
Stray teams taken up and cared for,
86
Lost children restored to friends,
88
Defective streets reported,
44
sidewalks «
8
Nuisances reported,
17
Value of goods found exposed and restored to owners,
$7,774 00
stolen property recovered, $7,009 00
Fire alarms given,
9
Fires extinguished without alarm,
4
Injured persons provided for,
19
Foundlings provided for,
2
Lights hung in dangerous places,
173
Street lights reported as not burning at 9 P. M.
1,743
240
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
The expenses of the Department for the year have been :
Salary of Marshal and assistants,
$5,121 67
Pay roll of Police,
50,261 14
J. B. Sibley, as per bills, 233 61
Safford, Nute & Wilson (cloth),
1,621 96
D. Evans & Co. (buttons),
50 00
· C. H. Stearns and Plaisted Bros. (crackers),
242 00
Advertising, printing, &c.,
100 36
Cleaning, repairs and painting,
546 25
C. Foster & Co.,
30 90
Matches, brooms, ice, &c.,
93 44
E. J. Leland (photographing rogues),
8 75
Blank books, telegraphing, &c., &c.,
170 44
Total,
$58,480 32
The resources of the Department for the same periods, are :
Appropriations,
$52,000 00
Officers' fees from courts for 1872,
6,818 00
Received for cloth,
1,490 82
66
use of teams,
439 20
66
outside officers, for care of prisoners,
37 50
Cash for advertising,
7 50
Total,
$60,844 77
Leaving balance on hand of $2,364 45
Making the entire expense of the Department above the earnings,
$49,635 55
Some better and more satisfactory arrangement should be made for giving each and every administration of police affairs the benefit of their own management. Under the present system the earnings of the Department for 1873 will not be paid the city until after this report is required, and consequently will be placed as revenue to next year's management ; and where changes occur in such rapid succession, as is usually the case in this city, the error as mentioned above should be remedied.
In connection herewith, I would state that the fees arising
66 extra service of Police,
51 75
241
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
from the services of officers the present year, are as follows :
Fees on warrants,
$5,722 00
Witness fees of officers,
1,785 60
Fees for maintaining prisoners and use of lock-up,
1,302 50
Total,
$8,810 10
Feeling as I do, a deep interest in the success and general usefulness of this Department, I hope a few suggestions, em- bodying somewhat the results of my experience and observation, may not be deemed inappropriate by your Honorable Body.
While we have been very fortunate during the year just passed, it should not be lost sight of, that as the force now stands, they have had the experience of at least one year's ser- vice, and I can conceive of but few things more detrimental to the efficiency of a police force, than a constant change of its members, and I think you will agree with me in saying that its usefulness is never enhanced by making it a reward for political services, or any other consideration, save true merit in this di- rection.
Probably not one man in a hundred, on an average, is adapted for a good police officer, and consequently a longer or shorter term of service in this business must be had before a man can be qualified to perform its duties.
It is by no means all that is necessary, that an officer may be able to arrest a drunken man, and perhaps be able to disperse a noisy and disorderly crowd, or to maintain a certain degree of order upon his beat, to fulfill the requirements of a good officer.
The standpoint from which to judge, is the amount of crime prevented, as well as the amount punished, the amount of stolen property recovered, compared with the amount stolen ; and it is therefore of the greatest importance, that men selected for this business should possess some natural ability in this direction, and the more this quality exists in a police force, the more effi- cient will the Department prove ; too much care can not be taken in making these appointments, and when the right men are ob- tained, too much care can not be taken to retain them.
An officer does not take the interest in his business that he otherwise would, were he to understand that his term of office
242
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
depended entirely upon his own exertions, and the degree of in- terest shown in the discharge of his duties.
OUR PRESENT CONDITION.
The patrol force is now divided into three reliefs, and with the proper number of men, would work much more satisfactory than at present ; although I think that experience derived from the ten months that this arrangement has existed, shows conclu- sively that it is a long step in advance of the old system.
The first division goes on duty at 8 o'clock in the morning, and remains on duty till 6 P. M., when the second relief goes out and remains until 1 A. M., when they in turn are relieved by the third division, who remain on duty until the time of starting the first relief.
By this method the officers are at all times on their beat, and much better order has been maintained than by the old method, when the officers were sent out at 9 P. M., previous to which no patrolmen were on duty; and at that hour the energies of roughs and loafers had been expended, and they were ready to retire to their homes.
One of the results of keeping officers on their beats all of the time, is, that if an officer is wanted, the people know where to look for him, and not be obliged to wait until a messenger can be dispatched to the station house. Consequently the complaints made at this office are few, compared with former years.
If the force was large enough to divide the second and third reliefs into equal numbers, each night division would go on duty at 6 P. M. every other night, alternately.
Now the third relief goes on duty every night at 1 A. M., which is not so desirable, and can not be made so.
The officers comprising the second relief are mostly the only ones that attend the courts, as the principal part of the arrests are made before midnight, and the benefits an officer derives from the instructions of the courts, cannot be shared by the others without great inconvenience to themselves.
All officers should, as often as practicable, attend the
243
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
courts, and thereby become familiar with the law, and the rules and practices pertaining thereto ; and also to become familiar with the faces of those brought there, for it is their duty to know them, and know them thoroughly.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
The number of this class of criminals is something that is alarming, and something that calls for wise and judicious legis- lation.
I am thoroughly convinced that the law that now exists for the trial and punishment of juvenile offenders is a failure, and is working more harm than good, with the young of both sexes. Previous to 1870, a child between the ages of 7 and 17 years stood a very good chance for punishment, when brought before the courts, and I fail to see that the punishment usually awarded was harsh or excessive, when we consider the fact that a child is usually known to be bad, before an arrest is resorted to.
Now, a child cannot be tried, without some one of the Board of State Charities being present, and, acting as counsel for the defence, generally succeed in convincing the boy or girl that they are more sinned against than sinning ; and instead of being sen- tenced, are frequently turned over to the agent as aforesaid, to be farmed out, with the care and discipline usually given to hired servants. The School Ship, which used to be considered a good institution for very bad boys, has been done away with, and nothing substituted in its place ; so that all classes, where they cannot be cared for otherwise, are associated together at the Reform School, and consequently a young boy is very apt to get initiated into various mysteries of life, by the older and more hardened ones, that should be kept out of his reach.
Another thing in connection with this is the injustice done juve- niles while under arrest, by compelling them to remain in the station house from one to three days, waiting for trial. As they cannot be brought before the regular courts, a magistrate is appointed for that purpose, and a legal notification must be sent
32
244
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
to the visiting agent of the Board of State Charities, and he will set a time for the trial. Then other notices must be served upon the parent or guardian, all of which takes up the time and adds to the costs, so that by the time the child is tried, the costs amount to more than the fine and costs in the regular courts. I hope and trust that the time is not far distant when the Com- monwealth will feel able and willing to add to their institutions of learning and reformation, until our boys can be brought up for some purpose other than State prisons.
The practice of letting out the boys from the Reform School at Westboro, or discharging them outright after a few months stay, is entirely wrong. I believe that the officers of the law, who have known the boy for perhaps a number of years, and who have found to a certainty that he is a fit subject for a school of reformation, or, in fact, for a House of Correction, and has had him properly tried and sentenced, should not be imposed upon, or insulted even, by seeing that same boy again at his haunts, and again plying his avocations, for which he was before arrested, long before any change has been wrought upon him. His mind is still bent upon vice, and the idea of being sent to Westboro is to him only a little excursion, pleasant in itself, and easy to bear. Examples are not wanting to prove this theory.
OUR COURTS.
It seems to me advisable that our representatives to the Gen- eral Court should be instructed to use their best endeavors to divide the court in this Central District, in order that the busi- ness of the criminal department may not be hindered, and in fact neglected, in order to attend to civil cases.
This part of court business has increased, both in number of cases and extent of jurisdiction, so that instead of having a court every day in the week, we are allowed only five ; every Saturday being devoted to civil business, and is frequently dragged through the entire week, besides the numerous cases where jury trials are demanded.
·
245
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
The injustice done prisoners arrested Fridays, by being com- pelled to remain in their cells until Monday, or be subject to an additional penalty by procuring bail, is an argument in itself in favor of this much needed improvement.
ORDINANCES.
The ordinances of the city need a careful revision, according to some of the decisions recently given. There should also be an ordinance drawn in regard to Building Permits, whereby they can be regulated to some extent by the officers. The rights of the builders and the interests of the citizens conflict so much, that officers are appealed to, and yet in most cases are powerless to act. An ordinance requiring the laying of the sidewalk as soon as the building gets above the level of the street, would do much towards remedying this evil.
We also have an ordinance against depositing ashes, &c., in any street, &c. Now, another thing is much needed to help the citizens in this matter, and that is, city teams, to call regularly at stated times, and collect and carry away all ashes and rubbish of every nature, that finds its way into our streets, yards, alleys, &c.
During the past year the city has taken it upon themselves to gather the swill and offal, and it has proved a decided success. Not only are the citizens able to get rid of all their swill and refuse matter, but the thing is done decently and in order ; and no accumulations of the same are now found to cause alarm on sanitary or other accounts. I will also here state, that the en- tire number of complaints made at this office during the year, for neglecting to remove swill, do not amount to as many as have been made heretofore in the short space of twenty-four hours. Now that this is so, give us the dirt carts. It will be another step in the right direction.
HACKS AND JOB WAGONS.
This branch of business is at the present time creating an
246
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
amount of disturbance that is wholly unnecessary, caused by allowing licenses to all parties asking for the same, without reference to the needs of the city, and without assigning stands for the same.
An attempt was made during the summer last past, by the Superintendents and agents of the several railroads in this city, to rid themselves, in a measure, of the army of drivers and vehicles, but did not succeed in coming to a satisfactory settle- ment of the same. I would recommend that not more than 25 hacks and 10 or 12 drays be licensed by the city, and if others wished to engage in the same business, let them do it at their own risk, and not under a license or sanction of the city govern- ment.
JUNK DEALERS.
There is no reason why this branch of business should be licensed at all in this city, for it is one of the worst promoters of crime among juveniles, and even adults, that exists.
The parties usually applying for licenses as junk dealers, are not those by whom the city would materially suffer, were they to engage in other occupations or in other locations. So much has been said upon this subject during the past year, and so many cases brought before our courts from this cause, that it is need- less for me to add anything further.
CAPTAIN OF DAY POLICE.
I would also recommend the abolishing of the office of Captain of the Day Police, as the force of day patrol is quite small, and the duties of that office can be safely and properly managed by either of the Assistant Marshals, as one of them is required to be present all of the time, and in place of Captain, I would most earnestly recommend that a Clerk of Police be appointed.
There are several reasons why such an office should be created, as everything pertaining to this business should be a matter of
247
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
record, and what is allowed to "be every one's business, is no one's business," is as fully demonstrated here as elsewhere.
The table connected with this report would make a much more favorable impression, and show a much larger amount of miscel- laneous labor performed, was the result of each day's business fully recorded.
STATION HOUSES.
This subject has so often been brought to the notice of the City Council, during the past ten years, that I will only say, that the advantages derived from having two or more branch offices, would amply repay for the outlay. It is the most natural thing in the world, for outlaws and roughs to live as far as possible from the surveillance of the police, and consequently the general resort for them is from one to two miles in either direction from the City Hall, the northern and southern extremes being the places that now demand the most attention. A station house should also be maintained in the vicinity of the junction of Grafton and Temple streets, as officers have to be stationed in that locality all of the time. Other parts of our city are complaining, and not without some cause, that their property and dwellings are too much at the mercy of petty thieves and pilferers, especially during the summer and autumn months, when fruit and flowers are so temptingly exposed. The idea conveyed by those com- plained of seems to be, that what he or she may take will do no harm ; but when the aggregate is summed up, the result is anything but pleasant for the owners.
It is to be hoped that the City Council will recognize the want and speedily remedy the same. To be sure it will require an outlay, but I think the ends will justify the means. Police ar- rangements must necessarily be either costly or dangerous; costly if maintained, and dangerous if not. Let us consider, if we can, the condition of this our city, for the space of one month, with- out a police force; the next thing to that, is a force that is crippled, and allowed to live only in name.
248
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
In reviewing the work done by this department during the past year, I take an honest pride in comparing it with the records of any previous year ; and one fact more I would call your at- tention to, and that is, that no special police have been employed during the year. And in addition to the work accomplished by us in our own line, a great deal has been done for and in connec- tion with the State Constables.
The aggregate of labor performed with those officers would make a handsome exhibit in itself, but no record or account of the same has been made. Both forces are on the most friendly terms, and favors are changed and interchanged, as is right and proper they should be.
The best of order has at all times been maintained throughout the city, and the number of complaints made against the Police Department, or any member thereof, is perhaps as small as ever before. What have been made were of the most trivial charac- ter, as the accompanying incident will show.
A petition, signed by ten citizens, was handed me early in the season, for the removal of a certain officer from a certain beat.
I took occasion to see each and every individual that signed the same, to learn exactly the cause of complaint against one who had the appearance of faithfully attending to his duties. Not one of the ten could say 'aught against the officer, or find a word of fault with him, save the one who seemed to have cir- culated the same, and that was, " he did not want to be watched so d-d close as that man watched him." But few honest men would take so much pains to get a faithful and vigilant officer out of their district. The thing speaks for itself.
The character of the force has been at all times good, and the discipline and order all that could be asked for, and the men have acquitted themselves upon all occasions in a manner worthy of commendation, and I consider them a credit to themselves and the city they represent.
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