The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-16
THE BOSTON DETECTIVES.


Of an Ex.Aiderman and Former Chairman
Of the City Police Commit ee-PossibIe Clear.
ing Up OF the Mystery Of the Joyce Children
Murder.
Boston, April IA, 1869
Few events have created more pubic interest
hereab0uts than the disclosures which are being
made from time TO time concerning the past and
present corruption OF the detective branch of the
Boston police service The English language Is de-
fcent in words to express with sufficient force and
emphasis the condemnation and disgrace which
seems now to attach to every man connected with
it. 1t Is possible but not probable, that
some OF the charges may have bean exaggerated.
but The conduct OF the officers while the various
hearings proceed Is far from indicating iLno-
cence. At the numerous disclosures OF their disre-
putable completely with thieves there Is generally
burst or applause from the spectators, aud their
heads are OF course, bowed in shame ana grief; but
once In while, when there Is q stray word 0: SEN
tence IN their behalf, there Is forced attempt 70
gain the sympathy OF the audience, which reminds
one very much OF "drowning men grasping az
stiaws."
The last OF these hearings, where so many extra
ordinary facts have been developed, took place Ia
the Green Room OF the State House last evening.
There were as many as thousand specta-
tors present, and very many came al far
as the door, and went away disappointed
Sennott appeared as counsel for the friends OF u
change In the police system OF the present day;
Judge Foster CORNER Attorney GeneraD appeared
for the accused officers; and Mr.. Healey and Mr..
HILL city solicitors, appeared to defend the officers
and the city OF Boston generally against the mputa-
tions which the legislators are so Wiling TO listen TO.
Thomas Gafeld was the first called to tell wllat
lie knew Of the alleged corruption. Mr. Gai1ed ~
gentleman OF high standing In the community, ID
has for number OF years been connected with tho
city government, and has frequently served as Chair
man and in other capacities on the committee Of the
City Council having the supervision Of the police
department. In response to questions of Mr.. SEN
Police Polio Kart 1 IN connection with fobpery com.
mitted some TWO or three years since. 1t seems
that Thomas Hedge, Appointment citizen aud business
man OF Burlington, Iowa, was taking the new
YORK train at the Providence depot one day, ami
he got upon the train two or three men crowded
roughly against him. lie thought nothing of 1t until
a few minutes later, when he found that his pocket
book, containing $4,000 in bonds, had been taken
from his inside coat pocket The circumstance Of
crOwoing occurred TO his mind, ana the time and
place of the robbery were fully explained to him. lie
left the train and Immediately informed the police
and the result was that two noted thieves were ar
rested, but not until after Mr. Hedge had returned
whole matter IN the hands Of Chief Of Police Kurt
When he obtained their arrest the thieves were kept
four days IN station house. and not br0ught before
Incarceration they were visited by the Cher
OF Police and Boston criminal lawyer.
was that the end or four days both of the thieves
were given their liberty Alter this extraordinary
thought he could recover $4,000 of the bonds, II Mr.
Hedge would In turn give bill OF sale and reCelps
letter, that some unknown person had placed
envelope under his private onlce door containing
to MIR. Hedge he should retain $1,000 as the re-
ward which he had offered. At this juncture OF Mr.
aed maria no a wo Ss se ssksS
placed the bonds under the door, Mr.. Gdnield
sa he o ad n' ra to- pS % san0 saGn
adding that the whole community knew Ii
was him. 10 which Mr.. Gaffleld replied that in
view Of that he did not care 70 correct such an I'm
preston II the community entertained It. In Com
tinuing his statement MIR. Gateld read letter from
that the conditions OF recovering the stolen bonds
rather hard but that he wanted some OF them to
and he was wiling to make almost any sacrifice
$1,000 rs reward the receipt for which Mr. Galeid
had in his possession and showed to the committee
At later date Hedge wrote to the Chef asking him
what success he was meeting with In getting the
balance OF the bonds, to which kurtz replied that
he was using every means In his power. ana
| N the thieves ever came to Boston lie would
pinch the bonds or their equivalent out OF them.
one Of city officers knowing OF the transaction
| that the thieves paid over the whole OF the
receiying it paid their expenses to New York. Mr..
Hedge also heard Of this aud came o frvm Iowa To
see Kurtz about H. and when he called at his Office
lie rushed out OF his private once and told one OF
his officers IN an adjoining room 10 go and find Ben
Russell soon as possible and tell him TO come and
| see him at once. russell could not he found and
Mr.. Hedge. knowing that the thieves were at thai
moment IN me c Io as t9e Gner 70 nave war
delay Incident TO this, however, the thieves were
| advised Of what was going on and only one of them
| man, who has just commenced i0ur years sen
tence In the state Prison for the Gooding gold rob-
taai the Chief had denied to the Mayor
| that he ever received $1,000 from Mr.. Hodge, but
he had AZ that TIME colonel kurtzs receipt Tor the
same rs shown above. All these statements Mr.. CAT
| field substaniiated with documentary evidence
| which had come 10 hun from Mr.. Hedge. while
chairman OF the Committee or the City Council on
Police, and when the matter was investigated by his
committee he was The only one OF the whole Board
| who voted against the conduct OF the chief
Another case rejecting upon the Chief was related
| by Mr.. Gailied. young man was robbed OF his
watch and $3.50 In gambling saloon In Howard
street. lie reported the TACT to Kurtz and said that
| lie would complain OF the place unless his watch
and sloO OF the money were restored to him. While
| the young man waited IN Kurtz's Office the latter
| sent one Of his officers out, and, was SUISSE
quenty learned told him to 20 and the propric.
Money but when he came back to pretend th
he only got the watch. The offcer did directed,
the watch and then the Chief generously loaned the
youth twelve dolars to pay MS rare home and after
| the $3.50, less twelve dollars.
And still another case. A man lost his watch and
5000 In money and reported e to the police. Ger
Of the money were made him by tue Chief and some
Of his detectives, but he did not accept them. FL
nally Mr.. Cafeld then alderman) heard OF the
and the Offers OF partial restoration by the Chief and
took the man with him 10 Kurtz and informed him
| that unless all the property restored severe
| measures would he TAKEN The result was the rcstO-
ration of the watch and the entire 5000 inside OF half
an hour, thus demonstrating that alderman could
accomplish more In some directions thirty minutes
than Kurz and his detectives could In three four
weeks.
! And still another case. A man came here from the
West So 800 which "a clerk had stolen.
The absconder was found, arrested. aud the money
recovered, but complaint OF the tiiet was made,
| aud the detective who did the business only turned
twothirds OF the amount recovered TO the gen
m tv I'm ~ fplA af
the Chef disctarging OF his detectives because
he would not make division OF reward which he
| received for arresting some bank robbers
l Before giving IN his testimony the exAlderman
stated to the committee that he had avoided being
present, but that lie could not disobey q summons,
and now that the screws had been put upon him he
ahnnId annak frankly lie aIan f,rfhnr afnfod M