National Republican., 1883-04-12
WANT THEIR MONEY BACK.

The Citizens Committee Ask 20 he Relm-
bursed for Money spent in Exposing the
Detectives-The Experience OF Virginia
Lady with the Old Regime.
Messrs. II. A. Willard, b. II. Warner, and
ii. ID. Cooke, from the citizens committee,
had an interview with the commissioners
yesterday in relation TO the expenses incurred
in the investigation Of the detective matters.
The committee briefly recited the action of
the citizens association, and claimed that the
district government could not have done 10
alone. The expense was small, but the work
was great The commissioners had authority
to pay these expenses out'of the fund for the
suppression of crime.
Commissioner Edmonds said he was not
positive whether the commissioners had the au-
thority TO grant the request OF the committee,
but would look into the law on the subject.
He appreciated the work of the committee
and desired to be considered member of IL,
and would pay his share of the expenses IL
they were assessed upon the members.
Commissioner West heartily approved the
request of the committee and thought IL
would be but just to pay these expenses out
of the fund for the suppression of crime.
Commissioner Lydecker thought the pay
ment of these expenses would constitute
dangerous precedent, and he opposed any
payment for services rendered without au-
thority of the commissioners. If he had
both the power and the money he would still
oppose it on principle.
The committee said they did not expect the
commissioners to do anything they had not
the power to do. Their earnest and hearty
cooperation in the work of exposing official
corruption was, however, confidently ex-
pccted and they looked to liberal interpre-
tation of the commissioners right TO pay at
least portion of these expenses. The COM
missioners replied that they would favor u
bill by congress making an appropriation for
this matter, The committee then withdrew.
The citizens committee has recently re-
ceived letter from Virginia lady detailing
the experience of o lady friend with the cor
rupt detective service of Washington. Some
five years ago this lady, in seeking to give
employment to some tramps from Washing
ton, who had been brought to her notice,by
the Young Mems Christian association of this
city, was robbed by one of them of gold
watch and chain, which was sold to a pawn
broker in Washington. She offered q reward
of $50 for it through the sheriff of Fairfax
county. Next day personal friends of hers
told her where IL was. She Immediately
visited the pawnbroker, who told her she
could have the watch by paying $11, the
amount he said he had given for 1t. Refusing
TO pay anything, she went to headquarters.
Capt Vernon then went with her to the
pawnbrokers, and told her il should not cost
anything to get it, but advised her to wait
until he talked with the broker. She went
home and directed the sheriff to withdraw the
reward. The sheriff received letter from
Capt. Vernon, which he enclosed to the
lady, telling him he could have the watch il he
would send on the $50. She visited the chief of
police with this letter and asked to see the
police official in question. Capt. Vernon being
confronted with the letter confessed he wrote
it, but said he had written it before he had
seen her. When reminded that he had not
known of the reward until he had been told
of it by her, he said the young man who
found it was clamoring for his reward.
She told him the young man who found it
was friend of hers, was then at her house,
and would not take any reward
if she offered it. She appealed to the major
for relief, but he did not seem to have any
control over the officer The pawnbroker, OH
being sent for, would not give up the watch
without payment of $l1. The lady promptly
refused this, but the party of whom she had
purchased place in Virginia, who had agreed
to take the watch in part payment, handed
the broker the sum demanded and took the
watch