A HISTORY OF THE SALEM AND DANVERS ASSOCIATION FOR THE DETECTION OF THIEVES AND ROBBERS.

COMMUNICATED BY HENRY WHIPPLE.

IN 1821, a store in Franklin Building was entered in the night by a thief or thieves, and property stolen, to what amount the owner was never able to ascertain; he offered a reward for the detection of the thief or thieves committing the robbery, employed constables to be on the search and lookout, &c. While doing this, it occurred to him that if a society was formed to assist each member having property stolen from him, and relieve him from expense and anxiety in the search, it would be serviceable to all its members as well as to the public. He mentioned the subject to Dr. Seth Low, Rev. Thomas Carlile, Robert Manning, Isaac Newhall, and several others, all of whom were desirous that such a society might be formed. Pursuant to public notice given in the newspapers, a number of citizens of Salem and Danvers met at the Coffee-house in Salem, Jan. 25, 1822, to take into consideration the repeated depredations committed by thieves and robbers in the aforesaid towns, and adopt some measures to prevent a repetition of them, or to detect and bring to pun

ishment the perpetrators. Mr. Isaac Newhall was chosen Moderator, and John W. Proctor, Esq., Clerk of the meeting.

After discussing the subject, it was

Voted, That a Committee of three be appointed to consider the subject, and, when ready, to call a meeting and make their report. Dr. Seth Low, Isaac Newhall, and John W. Proctor, Esq., were appointed this Committee.

Public notice was given for those interested in the object, to meet at the Essex Coffee-house, on the evening of Feb. 7, 1822; at which meeting the Committec reported that they had discussed the subject referred to them, and recommend the organization of a Society, to be called "The Salem and Danvers Association for the Detection of Thieves and Robbers," and had drawn up a set of Articles for the consideration of the meeting, which were read, and, after discussion,

Voted, — To organize the Association, and adopt said Articles for its government. (See printed Articles.) (See printed Articles.) And the following persons were chosen officers of the Association for the present year, namely: —

In 1822, the first year of the Association, there were 159 members who paid their subscription of $1.00 each. Among these, several of them, to encourage the Association, subscribed as follows, namely: Joseph Peabody, $15.00; Henry Appleton, B. W. Crowninshield, Pickering Dodge, and Benjamin Pickman, $10.00 each; Willard Peele,

$8.00; Dudley L. Pickman and Nathaniel Silsbee, $7.00 each; John Andrew, James Brown, and Stephen White, $5.00 each.

In 1823, the second assessment was laid, and paid by 105 members only.

In 1840, the third and last assessment of twenty-five cents was laid, for the purpose of ascertaining who the members were that paid the three assessments, as required by the XIth Article of the Constitution. So few members had attended the Annual Meetings for the last fifteen years, that it was thought necessary to call for this small assessment; a number, however, declined paying it, thereby losing their membership.

The last Annual Meeting of the Association was held at the Essex House, Jan. 4, 1860, when the following officers were chosen, namely:

The Secretary presented the following as the present list of members of the Association who had paid $2.25, being the amount of all the assessments laid upon the members, namely: —

Robert Brookhouse,

Benjamin Balch,

Benjamin F. Browne,

Alfred R. Brooks,

Gideon Tucker,
Jesse Smith,

Caleb Smith,

Henry Whipple, of Salem,

Thirty members only remaining;-all others, who were formerly members, had either deceased, removed from the limits of the Association, or declined paying the second and third assessments, and thereby lost their membership. By adjournment of the Annual Meeting the Association met at the Essex House, Jan. 19, 1860, fifteen members present. LEWIS ALLEN, Pres. p. t.

The want of such an Association now, as compared with the want at the time of its formation, was fully discussed, and the following Votes passed unanimously, namely:

That the Trustees receive from the Salem Savings Bank the amount of funds belonging to the Association, pay all bills against the Association, and to each member his proportion of the funds (even dollars), and any balance remaining, pay to the Clerk of the Association; — That after this meeting, the Association be dissolved; - That the thanks of this Society be presented to the officers of the Society for the satisfactory manner in which their duties have been performed.

The Association paid between one and two hundred dollars to six members, in sums from fifty dollars down to $4.25 cents, being the amount of expenses they had paid in searching for property stolen from them. The Association was formed in 1822, and dissolved in 1860, and during its continuation, thirty-eight years, it is believed that many thefts were prevented; as the amount of funds on hand, ready to be expended in detecting thieves, was generally mentioned after the election of officers, and annually published in the newspapers. At one time it employed two constables. I send you the only copy I have of the printed Articles and By-laws of the Association. Persons from

several States wrote to us for a copy of them, which were sent as requested. Large cities generally have a sufficient police to attend to such matters, but it seems to me that many towns and villages would be benefited by having societies similar to the above; it might prevent lads, and older persons, from finishing their education for the State Prison. In each place, the fact would soon be known that such a Society was formed, with funds ready to be expended in the detection of thieves stealing property from its members. It would, also, relieve members having property stolen from them of the expense they are subjected to, by offering rewards, by advertising, employing constables, etc.

The 6th Article of the By-laws says, "It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to examine all cases of theft, or violation of the laws, that shall come to their knowledge by information of any member of the Society; to give suitable rewards for the apprehension of thieves, and make suitable compensation to members of the Society, who have been at expense and trouble in bringing offenders to punishment." At the last meeting of the Association, Jan. 19, 1860, the Trustees were directed to pay twenty-five dollars to each of the thirty members belonging to the Association. I retain the signatures of the thirty members, acknowledging the receipt of $25.00 from the Trustees.

[The following note accompanied the historical sketch. ED.]

Dr. HENRY WHEATLAND :

SIR, Some time since, you requested me to give you an account of the formation of the late "Salem and Danvers Association for the Detection of Thieves and Robbers;" I now send you a short history of the Association, together with the Clerk's Book of Records, and his Book of accounts of money paid and received by the Association, to remain in the Essex Institute, a suitable place to deposit accounts of societies of past years, and for safety (rather than to remain in the hands of any individual) should any one wish to examine them.

Yours, H. W.

[The "ARTICLES" above referred to are inserted entire. They shed light upon a singular and interesting application of the principle of Mutual Insurance to the protection of property. We have now associations for mutual protection against the discouraging effects of sickness and of accident to life and limb. Live-stock is now insured against theft and death. We insure each other against risks by fire and shipwreck, in various ways. In some fishing towns it is customary for owners to buy into many different vessels, mindful of the adage against putting all one's eggs into one basket. Instead of owning one vessel and insuring her at an office, the capitalist buys, for example, an eighth part in eight vessels, and insures himself. The possible applications of this helpful principle are as varied as they are curious. An energetic police force, seconded by the lightning which now patrols the world as a detec