National Republican., 1883-01-06
THE DETECTIVES.
No Witnesses Examined by Commissioner West
Yesterday.
Ex-Detective McDeWtt's Letter Which
Don't Explain.
General TrepidatiOn in the Force Caused by the
Attorney Generals Opinion.
Probable Action of tho citi1enS Com
msttee.

There were no witnesses examined by Com
missioner West in the case of the detective
scandal yesterday, and it is not known when
il will be necessary to renew the investiga-
tion. No additional documentary evidence
has yet been furnished by the citizens COM
mittee, though it Is probable that the course
indicated in THE REPUBLICAN, of yesterday
will be taken, and all the evidence obtained
by the committee will be submitted to the
commissioners in bulk.
Ex-Detective McDevitt, evidently with the
determination that Commissioner West should
have something to consider, even If he had no
witnesses to examine, sent TO that official a
communication couched in the grandiloquent
Language for which his attorney is 30 cele-
brated.
THE LETTER
is as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 8, 1ss3-.fion. ]. r.
WEST, Commissioner, ID. C.-Sir! Having learned
through the daily newspapers, and not by subjec-
ting you to surveillance which would be as dis
honorable as II would be useless, as has been
falsely and maliciously charged against me, that
you on yesterday, applet for and obtained the
deposition of that distinguished philanthroplst,
WV. Corcorau, in respect TO iran action invov
ing the loss by then OF n watch and chain, with
triple locket attached thereto, containing the
miniature portraits of his grandchildren. In Rich.
mond, Va, several years ago, with the recovery
me TO tender you certain sources Of information
which Will enable you to accomplish the only
purpose which you us my judge, can have in
view, namely to arrive at the lruIh and the whole
truth.
On application TO A, c. Richards, of this city,
then major and superintendent of the Metropoli-
tan police, you can obtain information as to the
following facts:
Whether my conduct, in respect to this transac-
tion. met with his approval upon the very full re-
port made TO him as my superior officer.
Likewise, whether did not decline to accept
any moneyed recognition Of my services by Mr..
Cor oran, until he himself addressed letter to
Maj. Richards, inclosing check for the sum OF
Sl5O, which letter was laid before the board Of
police. the transaction inquired into and their
consent in due conform " with law, obtained,
before would accept said check.
The letter to which refer should have been,
and have no doubt was, filed among the official
papers Of the board. lam sure you will pardon
Inc for not being more definite as TO date when
you recall the fact that former order deprves me
of the opportunity OF inspecting certain public
records. have the honor to he yOur ol edient
servant, JAMES A. McDEyGTT.
The REPUBLICAN, was the first to bring to
light
THE ROBBERY OF MR.. coRcoRAN,
and its publication was only made after q
careful examination of all the circumstances
connected with the case. Mr.. McDevitts
statements as to the circumstances con-
nected with his acceptance of the $3.50
check are possibly true, but why did
he not state that he could have ar
rested the thief, as it was his duty to
do, or did he present to the venerable phian-
thropist the alternative of the recovery of the
property, among which was locket contain
ing the portraits of his grandchildren, some of
whom were dead, and their lkenesses could
not again be obtained, or the arrest and pros
ecution of the thief? Why did he not ex-
plain that his desire to obtain the reward Of
fered exceeded his understanding of his du-
ties, and that, therefore, he recovered the
property, knowing the thief, and failed to
bring the criminal to justice?
That the entire DOlice force is in n state of
UNCOMFORTABLE TREPIDATIoN
is evidenced by a little incident that occurred
ON Wednesday. During the raid made upon
some gambling houses some time ago there
were captured, among other things, some
tables which had been kept at the station
house. The officers of a charitable organiLa-
tion learning that these tables were there made
application that they be turned over to them.
Then came the question as to whether these
tables were especially for gambling purposes,
or were ordinary tables, simply used for
gambling. The officer in charge of the
station was sent for, but he happened to be
out, and word was left that the commissioners
wished to see him in the morning. lie did
not receive the message until after dark and
he then posted up to the house of
gentleman of considerable influence, whom he
supposes is his friend, and asked in great
alarm what the commissioners could want of
him. OF course this gentleman could not tell,
the simple inquiry made in regard to the
tables.
This officer is not one of those who has been
suspected, yet his extreme anxiety is some
what suspicious. The persistent attempt of
the police and detectives to conceal all crime
under the expressed belief that the publica-
tion will interfere with the arrest of the
criminals has hidden the details of many
robberies and burglaries, which would never
have been known had it not been for the ener-
getic movements Of the citizens committee
Many of those have found their way into
print, and many more will shortly appear
In none Of those which have been published
were the criminals discovered or punished
after all the concealment of the detectives
and the police. 1t is believed that less con-
cealment will be made hereafter, and that st
the station houses and headquarters there
will be more willing and courteous distribu-
tion of news.
n