100 years ago in the Saratogian

Thursday, Aug. 15, 1918. Saratoga County district attorney Charles B. Andrus criticizes The Saratogian and Saratoga Springs mayor Harry E. Pettee for allegedly “sending a message to the whole criminal world that we have inadequate police protection.”

Andrus issues a public letter today responding to The Saratogian’s report of last Monday’s city council meeting, at which it was stated that the Saratoga Springs police force is understaffed and underpaid. The council appropriated $1,500 to be used at the mayor’s discretion for crime prevention in response to an appeal from the Chamber of Commerce.

The prosecutor singles out The Saratogian among local papers for appearing “to make a special effort to give in detail every remark of those present” at Monday’s meeting, “This is doing the wrong thing at the right time.”

Andrus claims that the Chamber and the newspaper have exaggerated the crime situation during the racing season. “While the situation here is, as usual, one for serious police vigilance, it is not nearly as serious as one would be led to believe,” he writes.

The district attorney works with the Pinkerton Detective Agency to keep track of criminals in town for the race meet. “They are co-operating with the local police and have rounded out and driven from town every crook of any account,” Andrus claims.

If the crime wave grows worse, the prosecutor warns, “it [will be] due naturally to the fact that an open invitation has been extended to all crooks in the country to come to Saratoga Springs, as our police officials are advertised as incapable of meeting the situation.

“I am not trying to minimize the situation, but I do say that it should not be exaggerated, as you are not only alarming unnecessarily our own home folks but are driving away our cottagers and visitors.”

Elsewhere in today’s paper, Chamber secretary James E. Canfield praises the mayor for his “prompt action in providing for more adequate police protection in our city at the present time.”

Tonight, a lodger at 148 Woodlawn Avenue is robbed at gunpoint of $365 at gunpoint, an amount equivalent to almost $6,000 in 2018 money.

Fellow lodger Fred Kumpf tells The Saratogian that the victim, whose name has not been reported, is a friend of his. The gunman apparently knew that Kumpf’s friend had “a nice little roll.

“I know just about how much it is, so don’t try to hold out,” Kumpf recalls the gunman saying, “Come on, now, shell out, and do it lively or take the consequences.”

In addition, Thomas Calcino has a gold watch and $80 stolen from his room at 86 Ludlow Street.

-- Kevin Gilbert