Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-07
OUR DETECTIVE FORCE.
Serious Charges-Are They i'm COllusiOn
With Thieves ana Burglars

The allegations recently made through W. p.
Wood by OLeary and Murphy, s.three-card monte"
men, now In Jail, touching the relations of men,
bers OF the detective corps OF the Metropolitan
police with professional thieves and swindlers
have received serious attention from many citi-
zens, and especially from those who have suffered
at the hands Of thieves. number OF well-known
citizens most OF them victims OF the gang of burg
lars and thieves who have operated with such sue
cess In Washington for years, met by inv tation
yesterday afternoon, at the Metropolitan National
bank, for the purpose OF hearing statement from
tecttve officers and taking such action as appeared
necessary. Among the gentlemen present were
Ffsn NGvss GMery bomas a. BsGner Fox
Rover, John II. Magru ier, S. ii. Kauf1mann,W. W.
Burdette. Thomas bowling, Henry D. Cooke. A. E.
Bateman, w. A. Cook, VIM. shuster, J. W. Boteler,
B. H. Warner, VIM. Thompson, Charles stott, and
DR.. Baxter.
VIM. p wood. formerly chief of the United
states secret Service and now private detective,
was present to make his statement In regard to
the devious ways OF the detectives
meeting and, referring to allegations made by
Mr.. Wood, said that II the statements were
true 1T was the duty Of all good citizens to do
evil. He said that he had expected Mr.. Merrc
to be present and Gov. Wells, but the proceedings
detained these gentlemen. Mr.. Thompson then
read communication he had received from
MT w. T. Wool, dated November 18th last. This
tions with District Attorney Corkhil on the sub
Ject OF the completely Of certain members of the
@ aesectiye % force with yiolators OF the
told Mr.. Corkhill that he gave his attention to
the subject in the interest of Chas OLeary and Jonn
said that one notification to the ''monte men" by
detective would have put an end TO the ''three-
card monte" business at once: THE only reason
OF Its long continuance" the writer said swaS be-
cause OF its encouragement by the detective force
under under a system OF receipt OF percentage paid
players, and this was the condition and combina-
tiOn until the subject was Summarily and success
fully dealt with by Judge Andrew Wylie:". The
writer further said That O'Leary claimed to be
have been encouraged to come to Washington to
sneak-thievng committed by professional thieves,
and proposed to put a stop to the burglaries by
exposing the relations between the detectives and
Of Of the writer I 1woodS to aid i'd him nlV''is in
that laudable undertaking. O'Leary would
give D., dates ,S;s,oo OF rooneries aDd the names
robberes as those at the government printing
ONCE, Stott's drug store. Burdettes dry goods
poiltan Bank. the Christiancy diamond robbery
and several at private residences-from all Of
which the writer stated certain detectives nave
received percentage. The writer stated on his
own authority that when five professional forgers
who had victimized Riggs Co., were exposed by
upon the payment OF $500, which was divided
among the detectives and their associates. He
SdiO tneFe is naruly
PROFESSIONAL ROBBERY IN THE COUNTRY
that divide Is not made by the local police officer
or detective who permits the robbery in his oaili
wick. He challenged the production Of profes.
slonal thief who does not pay a percentage on
every robbery. Where the thief holds his resi-
dence he has to divide as well where he is work.
ing The rule for Washington city is 10 per cent
that no professional thief can come into city
without being known. Their manner is such that
man can know them almost as well as he could
know japanese by his dress
He proceeded to tell what professional thieves
committed the Hanscom robbery, the Government
Bank fobbery. the robbery " Of Burdette's snSn dry
berry Of stotts drug Store, the rb-
ticulars showing, he claimed, that various mem
bers OF the detective force named by him were
acting in colluslon with the thieves in all these
Mr.. Wood was questioned closely by Mr.. Thomp-
son and others as to his (Woods) ability to sub
He expressed his confident belief that he could
and further, that 1t was In his power to break up
the operations Of the whole gang OF thieves. bur-
glars, cOunterfeiters, monte men, gamblers, &C. II
he were employed. After some desultory discus
sion upon various features OF the question under
pointed to take charge and Investigate the matter
and go before the grand jury II necessary: Messrs
5osn Mssuas s Rover
w. A. Cook.
what the Detectives Say.
Lieut.. Ecklon, who is in charge OF the detective
force, when Questi one1 by STAR reporter to-day
In regard to the above allegations, said that the
detective once is open and II anyone has charges
| to make let them come to the front and make
them; that besides the regular mode prescribed by
the police laws, there Is another mode-through
| the courts. They can go to either.
Mr.. McElfresh said he had no statement To
make to any paper, but let them prefer charges
ana he will meet them. II the committee. how.
| ever, see proper 10 take the words OF convicted
thieves they are welcome to do so.
| MI Co0mes said he had nothing to say, but II
they had charges he would meet them when pre-
ferred.
Other me11ers Of the force were not seen, be-
Ing out, but 1t Is understood that they agree with
the above, that the committee II they have
charges TO make should make them IN the regular