New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-15
DETECTIVES IN WALL-ST.
A NEW STEP TO-DAY.


CENTRAL OFFICE AT 20. II wALL-sT-wHAT HE
HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH.
Captain Byrnes. of the Detective Squad, to-day
takes his first important step since assuming COM
mand at the Central Office. He has obtained room
on the second floor of No. II Wall-st.. and this will
constitute the detective sub-station, having direct
communication by telephone with Police Head
quarters in Mulberry-st.
what are your plans for the future9" Captain
Byrnes was asked yesterday by a reporter of The
TRIBUNE
I 81 hope to convince the bankers brokers, mer-
chants and business men generally downtown that
it will be for their interest to give Whatever detec
tive business they may have to the force OF detcc-
tives shall have with me downtown in business
hours. There is no reason why the men doing bus
incss in the great mOneyed centre of the chief city
of this continent should not have at their disposal,
without cost them, the best detective talent to be
found. / shall take with me half dozen
of my best men, and some of these will be
within call at any moment. Heretofore
detectives some of them good men, have been
assigned to Wal-st, but as they are in PLAIN
clothes. no one needing their services knew where
to look for them. One or more of them might be
passed the street by persons needing their ser
vices without suspectng that they were officers Of
the law"
"How do you propose to remedy this -
"In the first place the establishment Of this sub-
station affords all an opportunity to consult with
me, and obtain the services of one or moro detec-
tivcs without delay Lave sent to all the business
men-down town copy of the following circular:
Recognizing the Importance Of a thoroughly honest
ana compete detective bureau FOR ths great city, and
particularly ITS requirements as protection and asset
nce to merchants oankcr brokers and money insiitl,
uons ave dciS mined WIN me az ptoEliV1 W re 'oaiV
OF Police 10 establish sub ,taiion NO y Wa'st That
being considered convenient Location for the purpose
During banking hours corps ot my most enclrnt ana
Trustworthy officers VIII be ON duty within call Banks,
trust companies, and other Institutions well private
Individuals NAV nave luc pI'NIi oI
communication with that Office desired The olcct 10
money centre of New-Yofk. the most efficient talent
that be- obtained TEc officers OF my force belong TO
the Police Department OF the city OF New-York and it
members the only officers uhorzei by the laws ot
ths state 10 make arrests. Their responsibility ana
efficiency unquetloued and their ecgvces are rem
dercd without expense 10 those VINO may require tncm
am hrnn IN the heller tnat me est9olshrcnt OF tLs
bureau iu the place named Will be OF incaculable worth
10 the business community.
If the principal institutions Will make telephone
communication with the sub-staticn II will add inn
menscy 10 the efficiency Of the detectives. Sup
pose that forged check presented at one of the
banks and IFS character is suspected. detective
can be scntfcr at once, and the time consumed in
reaching the bank will be so short that the susp-
cions of the person presenting the check need not be
aroused In various ways it will add to the elI-
cicncy OF the force. Nnc-tcnths Of the best detec
tive work of this city must be done or al least the
plans for 1t formed III the half dozen hours of tho
day i'm which the vast transactions going on in
this financial centre. Much Of this detectiye bus
ness has been transacted by private PERSONS because
business men would not 20 up TO Police Headquarters
and only very small proportion of the whole
acquainted even by sight with the detectives de-
tailed to Wall-st. and its vicinity. There is no
reason why Wall Street men should bo compelled TO
nav largo amounts to private detectives for work
that can just well be dono By the paid ohicers OF
stA- Police Department -
Do YOU propose 10 make many changes In inc
force Of the detective bureau ~
Yes, If the Police Commissioners accede 70 my re-
aucet Jnst what these changes are II would be
,ii,.1I. ,,,nroner for mo IN snv / can say how
ever that wish 10 obtain tho best detective talent
in the Police Department, and think there Il as
good be- found In the ranks of the force as out
SIDE. The wotl, done In The past few years think
demonstrate, this
Captain Byrne, did not refer to his own acts to
prove this last assertion bat the recorls of the de
uaftment" show that hc has successfully worked up
some of the most dilcglt detective cas- 5. His most
important case was the arrest of the Manbattan
Bank burglars. after q patient search for eight
months for the necessary evidence ana on ms htrc
Of them are now serving ont terms OF imprisonment.
Pcbdcr and Flynn, Who robbed Mrs l(e Barry OF her
diamond earrings while walking IN iith-aNc IN te
daytime were secured within icW days alter the
occurrence by CAPTAIN Byrnc. and Detective Slrvin.
In July, 1877, Captain iyrncs arrested Herman
Morris and William Hrckcr for having forged u
Guantity OF Missouri Pacific Railroad bonds and
they were convicted. IT. ascertalned that Phillips,
the cashier of Wilson X Grrig, BroHiway mer-
chants. had robbed the firm of over Tl3O.O0O and
arrested him. John Elliott, alias " Mhltcy.' who
had robbed General Fraucisco lydas of the Span
ish Army of diamonds valued at SLOOo Whle n
guest al the Maltby House, WAS arrested IN Hart
ford. brought TO this city and convicted. lie has
arrested and caused the conviction OF more than
score of pickp0ckets and burglars. most of whom
are now serving out long sentences III sing Sing
Prison.