USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1876 > Part 2
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
had any special charge over it, or been clothed with any au- thority for its reasonable management. Stocks which were passed ~over to the City by the executors, have been allowed largely to depreciate. A large amount of real estate which might and ought to have been sold and converted into money, thereby accomplishing a two-fold object,-furnishing income to the Hospital, and adding to the taxable property of the City,-remains precisely where it did years ago, profitless to the Trust Fund, and a dead weight upon the City's hands. Out of this large estate, the income which is received for the purposes indicated in the Will of Mr. Jaques is, comparatively, the merest pittance. The benevolent objects of the testator have been almost entirely defeated. Those who were intended to be made the recipients of his bounty are scarcely a whit the better for his good intentions in their behalf. We have been slothful servants. We could to-day scarcely return, undiminished, the talent which he committed to us. Prompt measures should be taken to cor- rect this abuse of our trust. The wrong which we have committed should be speedily remedied by us. The whole fund should be put upon a safe and productive footing. The only question for us now to decide is, in what manner this can best be done ; and I submit to your consideration whether there can be any better method than to provide for the crea- tion of a special Commission, partly, at least, permanent in its character, to be composed of our most prominent citizens, to whom shall be committed the whole care and management of the property, and whose character and integrity shall be to our people a guaranty for its safe keeping; that the Ordinance of the City, or the Act of the Legislature, whichever may be found necessary to establish such commission, shall provide that the management of the fund shall be conducted, and the investments of it shall be made, in the same manner and upon the same prin- ciples, substantially, as the statute provides for the government of the Savings Banks of the Commonwealth ;- that, in recognition of the well-known principle that a trustee has never any right to use the funds committed to him in the prosecution of his own
17
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
business, no part of said fund shall at any time or under any cir- cumstances, be invested in the bonds, scrip, or other obligations of the City ; and that the income of said fund shall be paid over to the Trustees of the City Hospital, in accordance with the plainly-expressed intentions of Mr. Jaques.
I should also say, in this connection, that by a decision of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth, made during the past year, we have been, since March, 1872, and are now, incurring a monthly forfeiture of two hundred dollars, for a non-compliance with the terms of the deed given by Mr. Jaques in March, 1872, and accepted by the City, of the lot of land on Prince Street for Hospital purposes. It may become the duty of the Executors to collect that forfeiture. And, although they would be obliged to pay it back to the City as residuary legatees, the only disposi- tion that could be made of it, when paid back, would be to add it to the Trust funds, under the Will.
Gentlemen of the City Council :
I have thus passed under notice a few, of the many matters, which will be likely to come before you during the year. I have purposely abstained from troubling you with many recommenda- tions of my own, or from the use of statistics in dealing with the subjects before us-the former, because with my limited knowledge of the business of the City as it is at present, any suggestions which I could make would be of little assistance to you in your labors,-the latter, because you will have them in detail in the reports of those having in charge the different branches of the City Service.
Our work and our duty are before us. The interests of the City have been committed to our care and keeping. And, while I approach the duty, and accept the charge, with great distrust of my own powers to meet the demands of the public upon any one in this position, I pledge you my best efforts and my whole strength. It will be my pleasure, as it is my duty, to co-operate
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
with you, and to labor with you, in season and out of season, in everything that shall promote the well-being of all our citizens.
For these labors, I shall feel amply repaid, if, when we lay down our trust, we have the consciousness that it has suffered no detriment at our hands, and our constituents shall feel, that the confidence they now show us has not been betrayed or mis- placed.
REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
CITY MARSHALL'S OFFICE.
WORCESTER, MASS., Nov. 30, 1876.
To His Honor the Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Worcester :
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor of presenting to you this, my third annual report of the doings, and general condition of the Police Department, for the financial year ending Nov. 30th, 1876 ; together with brief allusions to some of the requirements, which are necessary, that our department may be of the great- est possible benefit, and to that end, shall ask that some action be taken whereby the labors of the police in enforcing the laws and ordinances, may receive the attention that they deserve.
The past year has been one where the services of the officers have been nearly double that of any previous year, owing in a great measure to the extra gatherings of this the Centennial year, and large and numerous political gatherings, called together on account of presidential and other elections, of which I shall mention hereafter.
The force at present consists of forty-seven regulars and six special officers, which is a very small police force for a City like our own, and much smaller than any other city in New England, compared with the wealth and the business of the City, its num- ber of inhabitants, and the number of square miles to be patrolled by officers.
There has been but four vacancies in the department during
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
the year,-one for neglect of duty, two for conduct unbecoming an officer, and one resigned to accept a situation of greater per- sonal advantage.
But one of these vacancies has been filled by appointment, the others being supplied by men detailed from the "specials," who have performed the duties in a manner every way satisfac- tory ; still they would be worth more as officers, were they clothed in the police uniform.
The whole number of arrests made for the year, has been two thousand two hundred and forty-seven.
Number of males,
2039
American born,
802
Females,
208
Foreign born,
1445
American, (white)
763
British provinces,
6
60
(colored)
38
Sweden,
5
(Indian)
1
France,
4
Ireland,
1224
Belgium,
4
Canada,
99
Wales,
3
England,
48
Holland,
2
Scotland,
19
Norway,
2
Germany,
15
Italy,
13
Total,
2,247
Of this number there were,
Adults,
1831
Non-Residents,
563
Minors,
416
Reported married,
1072
Residents,
1684
Reported single,
1175
Number committed to the House of Correction and other reformatory Institutions, 867
Number discharged from arrest without complaint,
6
Total amount of property taken from and returned to prisoners,
$8,367.77
The offenses for which the arrests were made, are as follows, viz : -
Assault and battery,
143
Common nuisance,
9
Assault on officer,
17
Capias,
6
Assault with dangerous weapon,
4
Cruelty to animals,
5
Adultery,
15
Carrying concealed weapons,
3
Arson,
4
Contempt of court,
3
Aiding escape of prisoner,
1
Common railer and brawler,
2
Allowing goats in public street,
1
Collecting swill without license,
2
Breaking glass,
36
Conveying mortgaged property, 1
Bathing in view of public streets, 13
Concealing leased property,
1
Breaking and entering,
6
Drunkenness, 1106
Breaking, entering and larceny,
16
Drunkenness, second offense, 138
Bastardy,
9
Disturbing the peace,
81
Burglary,
5 Doing business on Lord's day,
14
Bigamy,
1
Driving away team,
7
Breaking jail,
1
Defrauding boarding house,
6
Common drunkards,
37
Defrauding hotel,
3
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CITY MARSHAL.
21
Disturbing public school, 5
Neglect of family,
2
Disturbing religious meeting,
2
Open shops on Lord's day, 8
Disorderly conduct,
1 Obstructing sidewalks, 6
Deserter from army,
1 Obstructing streets, 3
Deserter from navy,
1 Obtaining money by false pretence, 3 Obtaining goods by false pretence, 2 1 Opening vault in day time,
Fornication,
33
Forgery,
4
Picking pockets, 4
Fighting birds,
1
Peddling without license,
3
Gaming on Lord's day,
15
Perjury,
1
Horse stealing,
2
Refusing R. R. fare,
7
Highway robbery,
1
Receiving stolen goods,
5
Insane,
22
Reckless driving,
5
Illegal voting,
1
Run away from home,
2
Indecent assault,
1
Run away from bail,
1
Keeping liquors without license,
46
Stubborn and disobedient,
11
Keeping dog without license,
Suspicious persons,
8
Keeping pawn brokers' shop without license, 3
Sturdy beggars,
1
Keeping noisy and disorderly house,3
Trespass,
28
Keeping house of ill-fame,
3
Threatening,
14
Larceny,
143
Truants,
9
Larceny from building,
12
Using profane language,
2
Larceny from person,
5
Using indecent language,
1
Lewd and lascivious cohabitation, 3
Vagrancy,
41
Malicious mischief,
22
Violation of license law,
10
Murder,
1
Night walkers,
2
Total,
2,247
The trades, professions and occupations are represented as follows : -
Agents,
5
Clergymen,
3
Actor,
1
Compounders,
2
Boot makers,
236
Contractors,
2
Boot treers,
3
Combmakers,
2
Boot clicks,
3
Carpet weavers,
2
Boot crimpers,
2
Confectioner,
1
Boot siders,
1
Collector,
1
Boot blacks,
3
Coachman,
1
Blacksmiths,
29
Cooper,
1
Brakemen,
24
Carriage trimmer,
1
Barbers,
11
Carriage painter,
1
Bakers,
10
Clothes cleaner,
1
Boiler makers,
10
Domestics,
64
Butchers,
9
Dyers,
9
Bar keepers,
6
Dressmakers,
4
Bookeepers,
3
Drummers,
2
Bookbinders,
2
Dress tenders,
2
Brickmakers,
Driver,
1
Boxmakers,
2
Dentist,
1
Basketmakers,
2
Engineers, Enameler,
1
Carpenters,
26
Farmers,
69
Clerks,
18
Firemen,
4
Courtezans,
14
Finishers,
2
Curriers,
10 File cutter,
1
Cigarmakers,
7
Grocers,
9
Cabinetmakers,
7 Gas fitters,
4
Coremakers,
7
Gardener,
1
Carders,
5 Gambler,
1
4
2
Brewers,
2
10
31
Snowballing in street,
5
Embezzlement,
4
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
Gunsmith,
1
Porter,
1
Glazier,
1
Pressman,
1
Housekeepers,
96
Peanut vender,
1
Hostlers,
24 Rope makers,
6
Hackmen,
6
Reed maker,
1
Heaters,
5
Rubber worker,
1
Harness makers,
4
Rag picker,
1
Hotel keepers,
2
Saloon keepers,
67
Horse shoer,
1
Spinners,
18
Helper,
1
Stone cutters,
16
Iron rollers,
8
Stone masons,
8
Junk dealers,
12
Sailors,
6
Keepers of houses of ill-fame,
3
Slaters,
4
Laborers,
612
Sturdy beggars,
3
Loafers,
48
Soap makers,
3
Lathers,
3
Stable keepers,
3
Last makers,
3
Stokers,
3
Loom fixers,
2
Seamstresses,
3
Lumber dealer,
1
Sole-leather cutters,
3
Lawyer,
1
Soldiers,
2
Machinists,
85
Stage drivers,
2
Moulders,
35
Shoe packers,
2
Masons (brick),
15
Superintendent,
1
Manufacturers,
11
Steward,
1
Merchants,
6
Teamsters,
27
Musicians,
5
Tailors,
25
Marble workers,
4
Truckmen,
15
Master mechanics,
1
Tinsmiths,
4
Milliner,
1
Tinkers,
3
Mastic roofer,
1
Tailoresses,
3
Nurse,
3
Tanners,
2
Organ makers,
2
Thief,
1
Overseers,
2
Upholsterers,
5
Painters,
39
Undertaker,
1
Printers,
23
Vagabonds,
5
Peddlers,
21
Weavers,
35
Polishers,
6
Wire drawers,
15
Plumbers,
5
Wheelwrights,
3
Pickpockets,
4
Wood engravers,
3
Piano tuners,
3
Wire workers,
2
Photographers,
3
Waiters,
2
Physicians,
3
Wire plater,
1
Pavers,
2
Watchman,
1
Pawn brokers,
2
Plasterer,
1
Total,
2,247
TRAMPS.
The tramp nuisance still continues, and during the year four thousand seven hundred and sixty-one (4,761) have been fed and lodged, at the expense of the city, being five hundred and thirty- six more than in 1875.
The larger portion of these are miserable creatures, with apparently no greater object in view than to live without work, and consequently go dragging themselves from city to city and
Hod carriers,
2
Students,
164
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CITY MARSHAL.
town to town, too shiftless to even keep their own persons clean. That they are in this condition from choice is often demonstrated by their flat refusal to do even the slightest work offered them, by those who would give them food and shelter.
It is no uncommon thing for them to leave the Station House in the morning with their pockets filled with crackers, and after passing one or two corners, throw them away, and go begging from house to house, and if refused, or offered food when they shall have done a certain amount of work, to be insolent, and in some cases to even assault the party befriending them.
Very many of the crimes in this part of the country are no doubt committed by this class of persons ; and that the law has yet to deal with them with greater severity than has been done, is inevitable. There is in this city to-day a little girl nine years of age, that for the past six months has lain entirely helpless, being paralyzed from head to foot, by being frightened by one of these wretches, -the lives of the whole of them not being worth that of this little girl, the idol of her home. Where or how is her father to be reconciled to this fact, or how can that mother make up her mind to send the rest of her little ones to school, and not be in constant fear during their absence, least a like calamity befall more of them, for it was in returning from school that this little girl was insulted and chased by one of these tramps, the fright of which has left her in the condition she is in.
It is clearly the duty of every town to find some means of employment for them, even at some expense to the towns. The legislature has provided that they may be worked until 11 o'clock the day succeeding their stay over night, and if this could be done, and done every day, it would soon stop this army of vagrants from preying upon the community, for they hate work and will no more expose themselves to it than ordinary beings would to a pestilence.
Of the tramps accommodated this year a larger number than ever before are minors, which is not an encouraging fact, after so much has been expended, and so many humanitarians have pleaded for and maintained schools, courts and agents to provide for them. I hope the City Council will consider this matter, and
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
make an effort to relieve this city at least of this evil, and I would recommend that the Highway Commissioner be directed to provide some work for them, in some of the gravel-pits or stone quarries, where one or two men could superintend the work of these men in a body, and compel them to work the length of time allowed by law. Of this army of beggars,
4,074 were Adults.
3,136 were Foreigners.
687 Minors.
115 Residents.
1,625 Americans.
4,646 Non-Residents.
Making a total of 7,008 prisoners and lodgers cared for during the year.
THE LICENSE LAW.
This part of the Police business, so far as enforcing the law is concerned, has been looked after faithfully by the officers, as will be seen by the table of arrests, but the comparative ease with which violators of this, as well as other laws, escape the punish- ment which they deserve, is not an encouragement to the officers. It is the rule and almost invariably carried out, to appeal from every decision of the Central District Court in these cases, and in so doing make the business very profitable to themselves.
His Honor Judge Williams, is not in sympathy with crime or criminals, and could he but have the settlement of offences con- fined to his court, but few parties could be found violators of this law.
The greatest difficulty found in enforcing the license law, is the clause pertaining to doing the business on the Lord's day. Very many of the licensed places are where the store or saloon is a part of the dwelling, and if the law could be so amended, or the Mayor and Aldermen take the matter into their own hands, and absolutely refuse to grant a license where the shop of the applicant was under the same roof as the dwelling, very much would be gained in this direction.
We have made search for liquors, armed with the necessary papers, in fifteen dwellings, and seized liquors and vessels in eleven. No store or saloon in this city is engaged in the business
25
CITY MARSHAL.
without a license, and in nearly every case where seizures have been made, the goods were being sold from kitchens and bed- rooms, and confined to the poorer classes.
That the law is working well, and the sale of liquor being less than formerly, I think no one will doubt, who will take the trouble to carefully consider the matter.
Many of the places licensed are not doing a paying business, some have given it up entirely, and others are striving to live through their year, merely because they have paid for their license.
I do not believe that any succeeding year will find so many licensed places as this, for the reason that experience will teach the dealers better.
EXPENSES, ETC.
The gross expenses of the department for the year have been fifty-one thousand, two hundred and thirty-six dollars and three cents ($51,236.03) as follows, viz :-
Salary of Marshal and assistants,
$4,545 82
Pay Roll of Police,
45,076 53
Paid for cleaning station and repairs,
283 71
" cloth, hats, badges, etc.,
949 63
66 " horses for mounted police, Jan. 1 and July 4,
113 50
66 Sanford & Co., blank books, &c.,
19 43
for Printing and advertising,
93 50
Protective Union, Div. 42, brooms, matches, etc.,
21 03
Worcester Ice Company,
10 26
W. A. Brigham, Boston Directory,
5 00
G. W. Elkins, repairing clock,
1 00
E. J. Leland, photographing rogues,
3 00
66 Plaisted & Milliken for crackers,
47 32
66 Postage, telegrams, &c.,
47 35
Kinnicutt & Co., for rope,
17 65
C. Foster & Co., for rope,
2 30
Total,
$51,236 03
The receipts in favor of the Department for the same time amount to $53,450.21, as follows, viz :
Appropriation,
$47,000 00
Officers' fees from courts for 1875,
5,939 70
Received for cloth,
448 01
66 extra services of Officers, 62 50
$53,450 21
Balance on hand Dec. 1, 1876,
$2,173 45
Making the net cost of the Department for the year,
$42,571 64
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
In connection herewith, I will state that the earnings of the Department for the year have been $5,748.70, as follows :-
Fees on warrants served by Assistant Marshals, $4,331 60
Witness fees of Officers before Central District Court, 1,344 60
62 50
Extra services of Officers,
$5,748 70
MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES.
The business done under the head of miscellaneous duties by this Department grows larger every year, and is of great import- ance, as any one will observe by a glance at the following items and figures :-
Disturbances suppressed,
141
Defective sidewalks reported,
53
Defective streets reported,
19
Defective water pipes reported,
21
Dogs destroyed,
76
Fire alarms given,
5
Fires extinguished without alarm,
12
Foundlings provided for,
1
Value of stolen property recovered,
$6,211 00
Value of goods found exposed and returned,
478 00
Gas lights (street) not burning at 9 P. M.,
270
Gasoline lights (street) not burning at 9 P. M.,
722
Intoxicated persons sent home,
89
Injured persons cared for,
9
Lost children restored to friends,
66
Lights hung in dangerous places,
43
Nuisances reported,
28
Stores found open,
321
Stores found broken open,
2
Teams put up and cared for,
99
CITY ORDINANCES.
That there is to this day no ordinance to compel any one to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks in this city, is something not to be proud of. Many of our citizens are ready and willing to remove ice and snow as fast as it accumulates, and it is neither right or proper that they should be made to wade through that of their neighbor, or run the risk of life and limb, by falling on some icy pavement, over which they must pass in going to and from their places of business.
If we are to remain through this winter without such an ordi- nance, I would recommend that the Street Commissioner be directed to have this work done; and it is questioned whether this is not the best and most effectual method of keeping the sidewalks in a safe condition.
A plenty of help can always be found in front of City Hall for such emergencies, and the cost would not be as much as is yearly paid for accidents arising from this neglect.
27
CITY MARSHAL.
JOB WAGONS.
An order was passed by the City Council, early in 1876, directing the City Marshal to remove from Main, and other streets, all job and baggage wagons, and providing a stand for them at Salem Square. The order has been complied with so far as standing in the streets is concerned, but they do not accept the stand offered them, and are continually driving up and down the main streets, in the way of everybody, and of benefit to but a few. I would recommend that of this class of licenses, only such a number be granted as the wants of the city require ; and also that the ordinance which was approved during the year, whereby a Superintendent of Hacks and Job Wagons could be appointed, should be enforced.
I also recommended, in my last annual report, that all news- boys and boot-blacks be licensed by the city, and since that time, the same recommendation has been made by the Superintendent of Schools, and also by the firm of Easton & Pratt, the news- dealers of this city. For the reasons thus set forth, I would renew the request, and hope the matter may receive your atten- tion.
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.
It is not pleasant to see the amount of lawlessness and crime that is committed, not only in this city, but in all cities, by a class of young persons booked as minors, and very many of them under the age of seventeen years ; and, although courts are especially provided for them, as well as counsel, their number increases, and will continue to until they are made to feel that there is a penalty for their transgressions. To be sure, these subjects are personally insignificant, and do not usually associate with the adult class of criminals, but their work among the children of their own age, renders them a very dangerous ele- ment. If they are not controlled in some more efficient manner than at present, society must suffer seriously. It was to this class that Jesse Pomeroy and John W. Murphy belonged, and no city or town of any considerable size is free from them ; although the magnitude of the crime of these two are such as to place them out of reach of further trouble until such time as the executive clemency shall place them again in our midst.
With the complicated machinery now in use for trying juvenile offenders, and the immunity from punishment that usually fol- lows these trials, the boys are not slow in learning that policemen are of no consequence, so far as they are concerned.
With adult criminals, other practices are followed, which tend to encourage rather than suppress crime-and I now allude to
28
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
the large number of appealed cases, which are allowed to remain on the docket, some of them for years. I would recommend that our representatives in the General Court be instructed to see if some method cannot be devised, or some law enacted, whereby a criminal who has been convicted before the lower courts, and has appealed, should not be brought to trial, or suffer the original sentence. This would be a long step in the right direction, and would tend very much to lessen the number of cases before any court.
THE POLICE.
That the Police force of Worcester, is as large as it should be, or that it has proper facilities for doing its business, no one will attempt to maintain, and especially those who are petitioning for Police protection.
It will be seen, by referring to the Auditor's figures, that the Police Department has not grown in proportion to every other department of the City, and in no other are there so many calls for assistance and service.
During the year there have been more and larger gatherings than ever before, and I would especially mention New Year's day, and the night preceding ; also the 4th of July, when more people were gathered together in our streets than upon any other occasion since Worcester became a city ; besides numerous gatherings, such as took place for the first two or three days after the breaking away of the Reservoir Dam, and the great political demonstration September 4th.
The labor performed by the Officers of this department, upon those occasions, can be better imagined than described, and that perfect order was maintained upon each of these occasions, is something that we feel justly proud of.
Petitions have been presented to the Council during the year, for police protection in the Village of Quinsigamond, and also at the South End; the latter of which in now patrolled during the night, the former only on Sundays, as that is a day when most of the trouble arises in that vicinity, owing to the law- lessness of parties who make the Sabbath a Holiday, and spend the time in drunken carousals, and interfering with peaceable citizens.
In regard to Quinsigamond, one of two things is absolutely necessary, and that is either to furnish mounted police for this district, or provide a Station House for police business ; the latter being the most advisable. One officer can do no good in a locality like this, and even two could not make an arrest and . bring their prisoner to the Station, unless he was willing to come. The distance is full two miles, with no public conveyance
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