National Republican., 1883-11-14
STORY OF A COAT.

A Government Detective Starts ON the In-
vcstigation, but n Private Detective Re-
turns IL TO the Owner.
On last Saturday DIR. J. w. Bayne had a
coat stolen from tho hall Of his residence.
The case was reported at police headquarters
and'Detectivo Carter was assigned to recover
the coat and detect tho thief, If possible
After leaving police headquarters DIR. Baync,
it is alleged, also went to the private detec-
tive agency of Mr.. George McElfresh and re-
ported his loss. Tho coat was returned to the
doctor through McElfresh, who recovered the
reward offered.
Some talk about this conflict of detective
investigation having been INDUCED in, n rep
resentative of THE REPUBLICAN interviewed
Mr.. McElfresh on the subject. Said the lat
ter, substantially:
"After Dr. Bayne had reported the loss OF
his coat at our agency made a casual inspec-
tion of the pawnshops, without however, dis
covering it. After the investigation Mr.
Coombs suggested that the second hand cloth
ing establishments bo also looked up, and
charged himself with that duty. While en-
gagged in this he went into Smiths pawnshop
on Ninth street, whore he saw the coat. He
reported to me, and went and recovered it.
returned it to Dr. Bayne, received aud re-
ceipted for my fee and hold his receipt fol
the coat, and have nothing further to do with
the matter"
Mai. Dye was also interviewed, and hi:
statement varies from the one given above
After stating that Detective Carter was placed
on the track of the theft, Maj. Dye continued
Garter soon asCertained that tho coat had
been pawned Mt Smiths, on Ninth street
He reported that he saw the coat, had handled
it, and told Mrs. Smith that he knew who
owned it. Mrs. Smith said to him, 'Yor
had better bring the owner here to identify
the property if he can? Carter agreed to de-
so, and obtained her promise not to let any
one have 1t but himself if it turned out to bC
the article wanted. During Carter's absence
Private Detective McElfresh called, or SEN
for the coat, and got it, returning it to DIR
Bayne, who gave him $5 for his trouble.
"The obtaining of the coat by McElfresl
put it out of the power of the government
detectives to get the thief. While it was il
the hands of the pawnbrol1er the thief, /
found, could have been taken there and iden
titled as the man who pawned that particular
coat. This was the plan that the government
detective intended to pursue, but McElfreshs
action defeated it and protected the thief"
The reporter then interviewed Mrs Smith
the wife of the Ninth street pawnbroker, ant
on interrogating her was told that she hat
not seen Detective Carter at ALL but had beeu
requested by Detective McElfresh to hold {
coat, the description Of which was sent to her
She was absent when the coat was pawned
and her sister took it in. 1t was the latter
lady who was seen by Detective Carter
and she was ignorant of any agreement be
tween Mrs Smith and Detective McElfresh
The Smiths say: "The headquarters detectives
come in and keep the books looking over then
just to aggravate us, as they have persona
spite against the firm, Maj Dye tried t,
bulldoze Mr.. Smith into having telephon
put into his place of BUSINESS, threatening dir
vengeance upon us and our business If Nj
Smith refused to do as requested"
Chief Dye also related the following case
Last May man found coat in sellinger'
place on Seventh street. and the specified
time expired in August. The law stipulate
that three months must elapse after the ex
piration of tho time specified OH the ticket
then the pawnbroker must advertise the sal
of property in two daily papers three time
before selling it. Sellinger disregarded thi
lazy, and sold the coat as soon as possible afte
the ticket ran out. Tho case will be brough
up for trial in q few days.