Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-01
I'd Edition.
The Detective Investigation.

n
FORMAL TRIAL OF TUE CHARGES AGAINST THEM
Commissioner West, Saturday afternoon, con-
| cluded his preliminary examination into the
charges against the detectives contained In the
| memorandum concerning the Magruder for
| gerry furnished by the citizens committee. Mr..
West subsequently reported the result OF his in
vestigation TO his associates, ana the following
order was passed In an executive session OF the
| board OF Commissioners: s,Ordered. That the re-
port made by Commissioner West OF the investiga-
| ton held by him OF matters contained in memo
| randum No l. submitted py John W. Thompson,
| chairman citizens committee, requires, in the
| Judgment OF the board, that George w. McElfresh
| and James A. McDevitt, members OF the detective
| force metropolitan police, should be held 10 an
| swer, under the laws governing the police force,
ana the major OF police IS directed TO suspend
them. the said George W. McElfresh and James A.
| McDevitt, from duty, and TO prohibit them from
! any intercourse or communication with any other
| members OF the police 'iorce, OF whatever rank or
grade without the permission or the board OF Com
| missioners." The order was communicated through
| the proper channels to the detectives named.
THE TRANSACTIONS WHICH LED TO The ABOVE
ACTION.
| The circumstances attending the so-called Ma
gruder forgery, out OF which the charge which has
resulted In the suspension OF Detectives McDevltt
and McElfresh grew are stated to be substantially
as follows: A number OF forgeries was perpetrated
| here In October, 1879, and among them a check in
| the name OF John Magruder, drawn on Riggs &
Co; and cashed by them. For this ofrense five
!
| under the names OF Monroe, Owens, Kelly, Green,
and Clark, and were discharged on the 2sth OF
ever IL is charged, was not only at hand, but the
| witnesses could have been found at the banking
house OF Riggs Co., and the store OF Mr.. Ma
| gruder.
The escape OF the offenders is explained by the
| Iolowlng circumstances, attested by Mr. VIM. p.
| Wood: Monroe, who was known, also, as Charles
Brockway or Charles Seymour, after his arrest ar
ranged with Wood to secure his release, the terms
being hatMonroe was to pay $500 for Counsel $500
| q tn m rftnS lnh had
been robbed. After that Arrangement was made
Seymour desired to be released therefrom, becau
| as he alleged, the detective force had agreed TO
procure his discharge for $780, and he gave the
| name or Onlcer McDevitt as the person through
Whom the negotiation was made. Whereupon
WOOD agreed TO release Seymour from his contract
upon condition that he wood should have full
knowledge OF all OF the details attending the pro-
curing OF bis discharge by McDevfIt and his assO-
ciates, and was to be witness to the final trans
| action between them. AS a part OF the plan IL
watch, diamond pin and other effects as security
for his return, and thereupon be allowed to absent
himself from the city for day or two In order TO
charge.
| In pursuance OF this arrangement Seymour went
| away On bis return to this city with his money,
Col Wood went to Seymour IS room at the St James
| hotel, where he was regning sickness as an ex-
cuse Tor requiring the meeting to take place In his
room, and Charles Flinders came In, and Col
Wood said to Seymour, "Charey make your set
/ tlement only with MI. McDevitt" Flinders re-
piled, "That is ali right; McDevitt is down stairs"
| Col Wood went down stairs, and stepping into
| the front room saw McDev1tt standing In front or
the house. At this time Flinders came down stairs
pass between them, which he judged to be money.
Col Wood Immediately went upstairs and asked
| seymour II he had given Flinders the money and
| seymour said he had. One or two days after the
| payment was finally made and the parties had
ned, George w. McElfresh had conversation with
Col Wood In relation to this matter and the latter
| Informed him that he intended to EXPOSE McDe-
| Wits conduct McElfresh begged him, FOR Gods
sake, not to do so; II am in it, he said, "and 1t
y1 md my 1T
| Col Wood Informed McElfresh that his clerk.
MI. Prather, had made complete record OF this
| have an interview with Prather AMI paid to the
latter $50 for the destruction OF the written docu-
ment, saying at the time that the money had been
| divided among SO many that it was with difficulty
| that he could obtain so much for him (Prather)
DETECTIVE M'ELFRKsH DECLINES TO TALK.
| Detective McElfresh replied to q STAR reporter
who asked him to-day what he had to say about
the action OF the Commissioners, by inquiring:
SIS that all you have to sayf"
"That's ALL" said the reporter. 81 would like
| to know what you and McDevitt have to saw
| Ihen wish you happy New Year." said Nc
EiLsesh, Shaking the reporters hand and beating
"They will probably have something to say
when the trial commences" said ex-Detective
covered his retreat
THE ROBBERY OF THE cHRIsTIANCY DIAMONDS.
The citizens committee having in charge the de-
tectlve investigation has received letter from ex-
Senator Christ:ancy, in which he refers to what
OLeary and Murphy said In regard to the theft of
Ms diamonds The letter says:
81 believe the prisoners have told the truth. and
state" '
SPIES WATCHING THE COMMITTEE
Inc committee are preparing additional in
formation, and they are feeling now the influence
which the detectives and their friends have been
aole 70 command to retard the investigation and
1rlShten OH those who could give Information.
The detectives watch the members OF the commit
tee, and have recently included Commissioner
| west, and 1t may as well be known that the
,watching Is not all on one side. It is
| known, for instance, that ex-Detective McDevitt
S Spnl TWO hours yesterday at notorious ence
Other facts OF like Interesting Character are
known, and 10 win probably be discovered that
the detective system OF spying is a tWO-edced
sword, which cuts both ways
PROPOSED TO "LET IN LITTLE DAYLIGHT
Messrs. McDevitt and McElfresh the two sus-
pended detectives, proceeded to pack I'D their per-
sonal effects at police headquarters Immediately
after the order of suspension was read to them
saturday afternoon by Major Brock, neither OF
them making any remarks about the matter only
that they proposed to right themselves by letting
Mr.. McDevtt could not be seen this morning in
any OF ms usual haunts, but Mr.. McElfresh was
snHng WIFI ms friends as usual on Pennsylvania
avenue, ana apparently enjoying New Year day
SUSPICIOUS CASE ON CAPITOL HILL
Among the letters received Saturday BY Mr..
Thompson, chairman OF the citizens committee
was one from Mr. E. l. Stevens, chief clerk OF the
office OF Indian affairs. In which he narrates the
circumstances connected with the robbery or the
mouse OF his sOn-in-law, Mr. T. j. Smith, on Can't
tol Hill, about a year ago, OF which robbery the
detectives were duly notified. Mr.. Stevens saws
some days afterwards an elderly woman called on
Mrs. Smith and said She knew where some or the
stolen goods had been found and could trace nm
ana recover all, If money was furnished. This
matter was reported to the detective who had
charge OF the case, and the detective said the
woman was keen detective and had worked nm
some important cases Acting upon this endorse
ment Mr.. Smith gave the woman some money
Inc woman subsequently reported some informa-
t ZION which upon Investigation proved correct as
70 the whereabouts OF some OF the property and
demanded more money This was refused MIR.
stevens saying that he believed she was acting
under the direction OF the detectives to get ali the
money she could. Mr. Smith, Mr.. Stevens saws.
went 10 the detective number OF times, told him
where some OF the stolen property was, but he
would make no enort to recover It and made no
arrests He adds that several houses on the hin
were robbed In like manner about that time buf
ne had never heard that vigilant detectives In the
absence OF rewards, had ever discovered the
thieves. ~
Scandal In COlOred Society.
CHARGES INVOLVING A PROMINENT Cor nm m cu,ncx,