Hide Article Text (OCR)
SMART WORK SOUTH VANCOUVERBY OUR POLICE POLICE COMMITTEEOn Friday of last wcck Albert Ken ny was sentenced to 14 years’ impris otiment for the attempted robbery of tin* Northern Crown Bank last Christ mas Of all the bank robberies that took place in and around Vancouver this was the only instance of the desperadoes being brought to book, and it reflects the highest credit on tin- et I'm iency of the South Vancouver police. The writer happened to drop into tin* courtroom the day the preliminary hearing took place, and as the story of how the capture was effected and the bringing home of the charge to Kenny never appeared in the public press, I have no doubt it will interest the public of South Vancouver at this time to hear the story as I heard it given in the evidence that day On .1 Saturday ft irenot »n ■ int of tht cm *»tables notit t d a suspicious looking individual coming along the Westminster Road near Central Park. The constable kept him under observation for a time, and when at Collingwood, the constable telephoned to Chief Jackson that he was shadowing a sus picious character who seemed to be heading for the Junction. Chief Jackson hurried to the Junction as quickly as possible, but by the time he got there he found that the policeman had allowed the man to cross the border into Vancouver City As Chief Jackson could then do nothing, they kept the man under observation till they got a City policeman to apprehend the suspcc. for vagrancy. Kenny was taken to the Vancouver police office. Vancouver refused to have anything to do with him, and would have given him his liberty. However, the South Vancouver police were now suspicious that Kenny’s description tallied with that of the suspect wanted for the attempted bank robbery, so they brought Kenny back to South Van couver, without letting the City men know of their suspicions. Arthur Bibbs, the bank teller, and a few• •thers were brought to tht South Vancouver police office and readily identified Kenny as one of the two men wanted for tli«- attempted robbery and shooting. Within a few days the police had completed the chain lt;f evidence that gave Kenny hi- term• »f imprisonment. Never did I listen to a case that was better handled or put in more terse language than was laid before Magistrate McArthur that day The police produced their maps of the place where the outrage had taken place; they also produced a sketch of the inside and outside of the bank. They produced a tracing of how the men had left the bank, also the spot where they separated, and where one of them—supposed to be Kenny—doubled back and met the wounded bank teller, who asked to be assisted, little knowing that it was his assailant he was appealing to. They also showed where the two men again met and ran along the road, also where one of them had fallen over a log and dropped hilt; revolver; hour they had then run out and changed their disguises behind a log Tin n the story was taken tlt;» the home of Kenny. The police had gone there and gathered the damning evidence Bit by l it it was pieced together, and the prosecuting counsel said, when lie afterwards complimented the police on their work, it was as fine a work ed up case as he had ever handled, and reflected the highest credit on all who had assisted to work up the charge.Another case the writer heard tried in the Municipal Hall showed as smart a bit of detective work as ever came under notice From what I could gather from the evidence that day it appe ared that a farmer, whose name I forget, called at the police office about 2.30 in the afternoon and stated that two cows hud either been stolen or strayed from his farm on Lulu Island tlu night previous. \ police man was at once sent out to investigate. He noticed some wheel marks near the place where the cows had been taken from. This at onct amused his suspicions He took care fill measurements and followed the tracks as far as he could trace them Every butcher’s shop in the munici pality was visited, the size and make of the wheels being carefully noted. Not -ingle butcher suspected that the police had been near his place that day Suspicion pointed tlt;* one firm As soon as darkness set in, Chit t f®cl s in dong u ith St rglt; ani Hrnmwell. and accompanied by some of the police, quickly and silently sur rounded tlu* place One of the police men crept forward and reconnoitred the premise*. He discovered that otic of the rigs and the men were gone Patiently waiting, the policemen were rewarded about It) o’clock by hearing the rig drive into the back yard. In a moment the police sprang forward and secured their men. who had gone out to a shack where they had driven the cow's and killed them, and were bringing in the dead carcases at the time they were apprehended The prisoners were sentenced to terms of imprisonment. From the laying of the information till the apprehension of the criminals scarcely eight hours had elapsed. During a long experience seldom have I met with a case that was more cleverly dealt with than this one was.A GRUESOME REMINISCENCERobinson’s Return Cost $144A meeting of the Police Committee was held at tlu* Municipal Hall on Tuesday morning Councillor Thomas presid'd, and there were also present Councillors Third. Klliott, and Campbell, with Mr J. B. Springford, clerk, and Chief Jackson.Police Expenses i hief Constable Jackson submitted two accounts amounting in the aggregate to $144 for travelling expenses,, food, etc., in fetching School Trustee Robinson from “Frisco.”Councillor Thomas said he went into the police station and asked for some information respecting Robinson, and he could not get it. He simply could not find out anything— all sources of information appeared to be shut up. He did not know what tlu* •• u of the Council thought about it When he was in the City he was the first man the Chief of Police came to. Until the Chief got back he could not ascertain anything. He wanted to know who paid the police, and what were they paid for? If the Council was not entitled to know what the municipal officers were, doing; he want, d to know h ho was?Councillor Third ; I think the Reeve made a communication on the matter, that the Chief was not to say anything until they had some idea where Robinson was The Reeve told me he had given instructions to the Chief not to say anything.Councillor Thomas That may be all right as far as it goes, but I want to know how statements get outside before we can get them inside Councillor Third : I knew nothing until Robinson came back.Councillor Thomas ; I came in here to ask a question, hut I got the information outside. That is what I am talking about now.Councillor Third : The police were instructed not to give anything out until a letter or some communication was received I do not think the out-side information came from the police.Councillor Thomas ; Where did it come from, then?Councillor Third : I do not know.Councillor Thomas . I think the Council has just as much right to know as anybody else.Chief Constable Jackson : If votiwill tell 11- v.hat tlt; dlt;• we will dlt;- it.I do not take these things on myself, anyway.Councillor Campbell : The chairman of the Police Committee should have access to the informationCouncillor Thomas : What are we here for?Councillor Campbell ; It was ‘aken up by the Reeve, who did not intend to slight you in any way. I believ-*.Councillor Thomas : In the City I was the first man to know. The bills were then passed for paymentPolice Holidays A report of the Police Committee recinmendid that II sergeants on the force be granted 21 days’ leave of absence, and ordinary nstabb- 14 days.Councillor Elliott, in the course of a discussion, pointed out that the nature of a constable’s duty gave him 'thought 14 days lor the sergeants and 10 for constables would be reasonableChief Jackson said they only allowed one on holiday at the same time.It was d'ecidcd to allow all sergeants of otic year’s service, or more. 14 days’ leave, and constables in days.Sunday Trading The committee again discussed the question of Sunday trading It was stated that several merchants were st lbng groceries as well as soft drinks on SundavsPolice Chief Jackson said it was unfair to th« man who only ^ Id drinks.Councillor Thomas, the chairman, .oil they wen* up against the Attorney-General, to whom all violations had to be reported.Police Pay The committee adontt d the recommendation of Chief of Police Jackson as t the new police scale of pay The rates will in future be as follows, per month First year, $75; second year. $80; third year. $0n fourth year. $100.The increase will only be given in cases where the men have clean records.Dogs in Houses SafePolice Chief Jackson stated that a man can not he prosecuted f«*r keep ing a dog without a licence, provided In* l eeps it inside his house This st ffaiithe chief, to their antiquated bylaw. Tin* committee decided to instruct the municipal solicitors to amend the by lav to compel all owners of dogs to take out a dog licence or be prosecuted.The chief said that one man recently threatened to blow off the head *f a constable who entered his grounds to collect the dog taxCross Trading The Chief of Police reported that several bakers in the City were delivering bread in the municipality. One member of the Council replied that South Vancouver bakers traded with the Citv No action was taken. This concluded the business.
Newspaper Details
Vancouver Chinook
Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Sat, Jun 08, 1912
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Paul C.
GB 25 Feb 2024
Other Publications Near Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver Building Record
Vancouver Express
Vancouver Trades Unionist
Vancouver BC Trades Unionist
Vancouver British Columbia Lumberman
