“As Thomas L. and Joseph S. left Ald. K.’s saloon early today, S. says he was robbed of $2.45—all the money he had.”
“Robbed in a Saloon.—August J., bound for Minneapolis from Finland, came to Chicago last evening. He met a woman, and the two went to Samuel M.’s saloon on State street, where J. claims the woman held him up at the point of a revolver and took all his money—$25. J. reported the matter to the Harrison street police, and Officers C. and S. arrested Albert B., the bartender. He was arraigned before Justice F. today on a charge of being accessory to robbery. The woman has not been arrested.”
Following this, two men boarded an outgoing railroad train at night, and at one of its stopping stations captured a passenger who was standing on the rear platform of a coach, dragged him away, robbed him of a small sum of money, a lady’s gold watch, took a plain gold ring from his finger, then bound and gagged him and threw him into an empty freight car near by.
Within three weeks after the publication of this effusive compliment to the police, a citizen sent the following communication to an evening paper, which, together with the comments of that paper upon it, is here inserted, as the best criticism of the Mayor’s optimistic view of the efficiency of his police force:
“April 26, 1899.—Editor the J.: Not fewer than 15 flats and residences in the district bounded by West Adams street, Kedzie avenue, Homan avenue and Washington boulevard have been plundered recently. The thieves reside at ----, a fact well known to the police, but all the efforts of the suffering tax payers are unavailing in having them arrested.
“The police authorities will not act. The rascals have been at their present abode (——, first flat) since early last autumn. Their landlord is (well, I won’t mention his name) well known.
“Our community has become so terrorized that no one dares remain out after dark. Can’t you assist us in our troubles? The police don’t act.
“Resident of the District.”
The comments of the paper read as follows, viz.:
“The author of the above is a well-to-do West side manufacturer. He says in a note which came with this communication: ‘Do not under any circumstances couple my name with it. We are all afraid of our lives, believing that the thieves are so desperate that they would murder any one disclosing their method and abode.’