Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-30
An Interesting Letter concerning one of the
Pictures the ..R0gae.' GnlIerY.,,

Mr. Frank G. Chapman has been for some
months past been a contributor to the New
York National Police Gazette and in the
course of his communications has several time $
taken occasion to ''eOms down" rather So
yerely on one OF the detectives Recently il
has been known that he was an applicant for
the office Of Captain Of the Police at st. Louis
circumstance which has oeeasioned many a
sneer IN certain quarters. About two weeks
since the daguerreOtype of Mr.. Chapman ap-
peared IN the gallery of noted s.oundrels hun,
up Tor inspection in the Chiefs Office. to the
indignant Astonishment of some of his friends.
Chapman says the likeness was taken from a
private house, sent up to Quincy. and from
there forwarded to the Police Oficc here He
hss.written "A letter to the head Of the Depart
lnent, vi which the following is a copy:
Sr-LOUIs, May 20. 1859.
DEAR SIR: Learning incidentally few days
since that you had procured and placed in
your = gallery of fac arts a picture Of myself
that does Inc great injustice inasmuch as the
likeness Il such poor one that even my most
intimate friends are unable 10 recognize any
resemblance of me in it, very naturally fell
Indignant, not that it i, any disgrace 10 have
my mug placed in that collection known ss
the "rogues gallery for you are perfectly
well aware that many persons whose faces
are thero displayed are men of character and
reSpeetaoillty, and against whom there has
except upon the part Of some three or four of
your very high-mindcd virtuous and honest
''petS. aids or detectives :; while sucb
persons rs Bill Clifford, Ed. Adams and Jim
Clark. who have amassed fortune during the
past two years in ST. Louis, simply by steal
ing house-OreSklng. and robbing, are dishon-
ored by having their we'll l-knOWn HkeEesses
slowed away out Of sight in your safe along
with the recovered or stolen jewelry and VAL
uables that should long since have been deliy-
cred to the proper city authorities Then
again. the course that you adopted to obtain
my daguerreOtype | cannot endorse. Had You
bat applied to me personally could have fur
ntshed you one that would have done not only
credit TO the artist who took it, but would have
given behOlIers a better chance of recognizing
He Oy NY picture whenever they might wish
T. communicate TO me facts for the National
FOilee Gazette concerning your above named
pets 1Ou will perceive u vast difference
between The likeness which you now have and
The one that L herewith send to You. The old
one was taken over one year ago by very poor
aTtlSt, and was taken. too, when / was very
much emaclGted by long sickness and anxiety
concerning the very questionable course
adopted hy You IN your police matters was
then. ~ you will perceive by referring to the
picture. dressed in very light colored summer
clothing. aud was entirely destitute of cappu-
larry substance upon my face
The likeness L now send you you will ac-
knowledge Is precisely as / appear at present.
except the hickory cane, which is not shown in
the picture. as | reserve that for another use
To enable people to more easily recognize me.
L append personal description Of myself: Five
feet ten inches high; weight 1872 pounds by the
new market scales; dress, fine brOadcloth coat,
black pants checkered silk vest and black silk
neckerchef, fine silk hat. French calf boots. |
am now also enjoying excellent health. owing
TO DR. FGnt's chemical baths My beard al
low to grow as nature dictates and my hair
keep ''r'mbei. crimped and curled, after Cla-
In1TganS best style
L send You this new and. n you must ac-
knowledge very accurate Likeness. in conS,Ie-
ration ot your anxiety to procure n large col
lection ~ line representations of notable men,
ard beg You 70 accept il rs slight testimonial
"t the HeSaiiyed esteem in which YOU have ever
been heid by Inc. and request you to remove
the old one from your collection and place this
one Us stead You will notice that il has been
taken with head erect, (my natural position. }
and stand where you will you see the eye is al
ways upon You. | have also labeled it to suit
You. think, l. G one of the ecorrespundents Of
the National Police Gazette.
Yours, truly. FRAyK G. CHAPyAy.
i"u are at liberty to furnish copy of this to
the reporters of the daily apers-RepDJiiran.