National Republican., 1882-12-08
WHEN ROGUES FALL OUT.
The Old Proverb May Soon Prove Comfort to
Residents of the Capital
Two Residents Of the Jail Prefer Serious
Charges Against the Detectives.
Full Text Of Their Attorneys Letter TO John W
Thompson, Esq.
How Confidence Games Are Openly
Played on Capitol Hill.
THE DETECTIVE FORCE.

The neglect of the local detective force TO
bring to punishment tho perpetrators of num-
erous crimes in this city, has already attracted
the attention of more people than those who
called at Mr.. Thompson's office last Wednes-
day. Many of them had suffered and have
never even had the poor satisfaction of know
ing that anybody was oven suspected of hav-
ing robbed them. The thieves meantime
have enjoyed immunity, plying their calling
without molestation,at the very doors of the
Capitol and even in the Capitol itself.
1t may be stated that the initial cause of
the meeting on Wednesday was the receipt by
Mr. John w. Thompson, president of the Ma
tional Metropolitan Bank, of the following
letter from
SPECIAL DETECTIVE WILLIAM p. WOOD:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 1sS2.-John ". Thompson
esq, President National Metropolitan Bank, Washing.
ton, d. C--SIR few days since held cOuyeIsn-
ton with Hon. George b. Corkhill, United States
of certain members of the metropolitan detective
force with violators of law, and also their COM
pleity with professional thieves; on which sub
ject have had correspondence and other inter-
views with District Attorney Corkhill, informing
him, as l have stated to yourself, that was
solicited to give personal attention 70 THIS Il subject
Murphy, both of whom are now confined in the
Washington Jail, having been tried aud convicted
lOr tllelT tnc luoutS bdlnV Ol
cards so long aid successfully practiced iu Wash
ngton Both 0'Leary and Murphy land in fact
ali the monte players of Washington are as
well known to certain members of the metropoli-
tan detective force as am to yourself; and as.
sert that it cannot be successfully controverted
by any one famiiarwith detective operations that
It would have required only one notification to
quit the business from any of the metropolitan
detective force TO these monte card players,
and such notice would have put an end TO the
monte business in Washington; and the only
reason of its long continuance was because Of its
encouragement by the detective FORGE, G h. under hm era
the " winnings made by the monte card players,
aud this was The condition and combination until
the subject was summarily and successfully dealt
with by Judge Andrew Wylle.
,,o,Leary and Murphy, through counsel, have
filed application for , new trial. substantially
in his rulings in the case, and especially in his
directions to the jury OH their trial. The case viii
come up in O few days for legal action. O'Leary
and Murphy have been in jail a long time. They
assert (and Justly under the circumstances) that
they have already been severely punished for thier
specially complain, that while they are impris-
oned, and odium cast upon their families, the de-
tectivss who shared in their winnings are un-
harmed and continue TO be the paid employees Of
the government.
Vfolators Of law, though operating in different
grades of crime, become acquainted with other
violators of law, and are frequently familiar with
their specialites from the fact that each class Will
endeavor to know who it is besides themselves
that pay the percentage to detective Off
GERS for their countenance and favor; in this
way o'Leary claims TO be able to desig-
nate the professional thieves who have been en-
couraged to come to Washington to perpetrnte the
various burglaries, as also the "sneak thieying"
which has been committed by professional thieves
the citizens of Washington during the past three
years. O'Leary proposes the breaking up of this
system in Washington by exposing the characters
and combination between the Metropolitan de-
tectives and thieves, and has engaged my services
| TO aid him in that purpose.
The National Metropolitan Bank, Of which you
are president. having suffered by the combination
of professional thieves and Metropolitan detect
ives, you were invited 10 interview O,Leary and
hear his story. to which you compiled, l. resulting
nished me in writing showing how and by whom
several of the great robberies occurring in Wash-
was that none OF tile professional thieves who
had committed the robberes were ever brought
to punishment, as they are well known 70 certain
of the Metropolitan detective force. (
OLeary gives the dates of occurrence, and also
the names Of the professional thieves who have
committed these robberies, including the robbery
of the Government Printing Office, Stotts drug
store. Burdeue's dry goods house. Fitch, Fox y
Brown, real estate and loan brokers' the National
mond robbery-also. special private residences
and several minor cases-on all of
which certain members of the Metropolitan de-
tectlve force have received percentage from
the thieves.
To the above list will add one coming under
my own personal knowledge, where combna-
ton of the most successful fOrgers in this country,
came to Washington to operate. This combina-
ton of professional forgers victimized Rigs Co.,
and Others out OF small amounts, preparatory TO
making successful strike. They were here but
short time when one of their coniederates gave
information of their business. This resulted In
the arrest of five of the professionals. The whole
mob" was set at liberty upon the payment Of
| five hundred dollars, which was divided up be.
tween the detectives and their associates.
- 1t should be the wish of every good citizen 10
expose and break up such Il combination, as
know it is the desire of several of the victims who
have suffered by the thieves who have been
shielded by certain OF the Metropolitan detective
force. l do believe such combination TO have ex-
listed, and pledge myself to do oil in my power
to expose the characters of the combination. ]
ask nothing more than such citizens as yourself
will take interest in seeing that through the courts
or officials OF the government that such elem.
ency will be exenued 10 Charles OLeary and
John II. Murphy as will be merited upon the
evidence they furnish, much of which / have
| verified, and am prepared before any committee
of citizens or the Commissioners OF the District of
| Columbia To show thut the statements OF O'Leary,
| together with the surroundings, warrants the
| abolishing of the Whole Metropolitan deteatve
force Of Washington as better protection 10 life
and property than the force as 1t exists at present
Awaiting such encouragement as your commit
| tee through you may determine, observing that
make no additional charge Tor my services, other
| than the conditions herein set forth, which are
comparatively trivial, viz clemency extended to
O'Leary and Murphy, as merited upon the evil
dence furnished. together with my services IN its
Whenever receive favorable response your no.
tice for prompt action will receive the immediate
attention Of yours respectfully,
WIN, p. wooD.
THE CHARGES MADE
in this communication were of such grave
character that most of the gentlemen at the
meeting were surprised at their boldness
Mr.. Wood was present, and explained that he
could bring substantial evidence to prove his
allegations, and the committee which was
appointed TO investigate and 90 before
the grand jury if necessary, consisting
of Messrs John w. Thompson, j. W. Bote.
lcr X. G.. Fox, w.. w. Burdette, John II, ,
NIagruder, T. A. Rover, and w. A. Cook in
tend to search the matter to the very bottom
In conversation with Mr., Thompson yester-
day, REPUBLICAN reporter learned that it
was his intention to take the committee to
the Jail that they might hear the statements
of the two men to whom Mr.. Wood alludes
OLeary and Murphy, and judge themselves
of their probability.
A reporter went to the Jail yesterday and
INTERVIEWED THE TWO MONTE MEN.
When Murphy was brought out he was found
to be man of about medium height thick
set, and fleshy, with light hair, reddish nous
tache, and restless blue eyes. When intro
duced to the reporter he seemed to divine the
object of his visit at once, for he said that he
had just read an account of what had been
done at the citizens meeting aud the state
ments made by Mr.. Wood, and added "What-
ever Mr.. Wood says can substantiate."
" But, " said the reporter " the charges made
by MIR. Wood are very grave. He alleges that
the detectives have been regularly standing
in with thieves, robbers, bunlxO' men,
monte men, and, in fact, with almost every
kind of rascal. Now, did they ever stand
in with you?"
" You must excuse my answering that ques-
tion, for might perhaps say too much"
How long were you in the business?"
"Oh, for number of years, and will say
this, that we had that joint 3i3 Pennsyl-
Nonia piUht in tha al
building, and under