New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-31
POLICE REFORM.

A FURRY IN TIE DETECTIVE OFFICE
uNEAsrNEss CAUSED by THE PUBLICATION OF THE
CONFESSION OF PETTIs AND TIE DISMISSAL OF
TWO DErRCrIvEs-CAPr IRVING AND THB DE-
TECnvES GIVE PErTS THE LIE
The revelations made in the confession OF
"spcnce Potts. published exclusively in THE TRIBUNE
caused great uneasness among tho officials OF the De-
tectiye Office yesterday. The fact that 1t was made
public simultaneously with the dismissal OF Detectives
Heidelberg and Tey for the alleged appropriation OF
horse blanket and the positive expressions OF tho
Board Of Police Commissioners regarding the rascaly
concealed ia tho Detective ONCE, rendered the force
OF the blow all the An air or uneaslness
betrayed In tho detectlves room. Knots OF men
continually Whispering to ono another, anu any
detective who shut from these sOcabe groups,
the I'm several instances felt very lonesome
indeed The counter charge made by Tley and Hei"el-
berg that conspiracy had been Instituted against them
by unknown enemies In the office, rendered every man
suspicious of his fellow. Under these circumstances 1t
almost impossible obtain any free expression OF
opinion from any OF them, either upon the general sub
Ject Of reorganization OF tho Detective Service
or "a 'enco" Petns's damaging revelations.
Capt. Irving and Detective Farley, who
mentioned by name In Petts's confess
sion having arranged protect Roberts and Gleason
in their nefarious transactions were at tho office quito
early in the morning. but not seen there during the
Of the day Tho occasion OF their absence was not
made pubic.
Capt Irving when questioned. on hs early visit TO the
Office IN regard tho prospects OF anh
the statements OF Pctts became somewhat excited ana
declared that innocent should not be condemned OIL
tho testimony Of q convicted thief. The statements
made regarding himself ungualifcdY false, ana nc
did not believe that Farley ever used his name In any
such In regard to tho proposed reorganization
OF the Board, he was retcent declaring that he khc"
nothing about it, and would not feel at liberty to
had n1n moi m
however, seemed have been pretty generally dis
cusscd 10y newspapcrsthe fact that the bloter In
the Detective Oce contained entry Of the blankets
recovered from Odeps stables The truth was that no
memoranda entries OF property recovered we're ever
made in tho boter the property being turned over 10
the Properly Clerk at once except when 1t Ia held Tor
Identification, and his receipts taken for them
These receipts put in The blboOk and are the only
record Of property seized by the detective force.
Superintendent Walling subsequently, cOrroborated
this statement and said that 1t had been the method
for the past fifteen years. having originated, no De-
lieved. before the administration Of Superintendent
Kennedy. Property Awaiting Identification had TO be
kept longer than hours allowed by Rulo No. 26o Of
the Police Manual on account Of the crrumocnon re-
qnrcd in rcclaminR articles like blankets from the
Property Clerk II not therefore an unusual thnS
retain thO,e blankets than - hours IN the
Detective Office. Tho Super ntendcnt reicent as
TO the provisions OF his proposed report ON reorGanzl
ton OF the Detective once as wei as upon te euGeC
OF the guilt or innocence Of the mcn implicated ny
PettiS'a confession general subject or tins uC-
mOrallzation in the Detective Bureau. $50
Detective Farley, who is charged by Petts with
arranging to prOect" the Roberts aud Gleason gang,
stated that the convict lied, and he hoped thar 1t would
require something more conclusive than the words o. d
convicted thief talking Tor pardon" to inpeaci his
honesty Number Of other detectives several OF WHOM
had served Tor III the force WITH iVnG ana
Farley were equally Orcbe their expressions OF dis
trust Of PCiia. Among those who Tins expressed
themselves were Detectives Elder Field Golden, Titus,
Sampson, K'ng Teman, ami Scllck They were, OF
coursN. rcticent regarding tho general charge OF
decentralization in tho force one or TWO OF
them advanced the argument that IllIey ana
Heidelberg wcro not guilty OF stealhg Tue
blanket at all that 1t had been secreed
their closet. they claimed, by enemies,
with view OF securing their disnIissal. Whlle from
this Wow it admitted that mean trick had been
rsty 10 actual theft had been fastened on any body
That Tiley and Heidelberg would steal horse blanket,
trciyc Crpp described 1t. and not TO bc COMPOUNDED
with buff 10 ElprOhe OF rich inacral-Lhat either
OF them would steal such article as thai, ncIthrr OF
them having horse, simply ridiculous. The COM
mssioncrS who have been prompt to throw suspicion
general conduct of tho detective service, on ac-
count If this ridiculous charge did not GVo the suect
made III Pettuss confession. ana the TACT that Charges
equally damaging were made AGAINST the same men on
the strength of confession by Macdonald, TIE EaGish
fGrgr the dt cctvrs shrugged their shoulders ana Sa
merely that Two cOnvicCd lascaS had made the same
The United States Secret Service Division has bac,
operating iimc tn secure the acceptance q!
Pcttis's Testimony against his cOn'GdcrarS whether
through q pardon OF otherwise. The membcrs OF the
Division ara now anxious that he should Dr prn0neh, II
hia testimony b. secured that WAY. They are CONT
dent, evidence their pO>ScS~Ion, that Roberts,
Gleason, aud their gang" nave bcrn engaged III cNru-
sIvc lorgcrrS United States bonds along with their
testimony would put their detectives IN tho way OF
bril- gng 10 light very extensive operations OF ths KIND
Both RIbcTA and Gleason have been under sirct s"T:
vence In this city anu III Jersey CITY slnce the liaI VI