National Republican., 1883-01-01
THE HARVEST or HEADS.
Commissioner West Has Begun II with
Very FInttcrlng Prospccts-Two Detcc-
ttves suspended-More Evidence.


commissioner West Has Begun II with
Very F1nttcrlng Prospccts-Two Detec-
tives suspcnded-NIore Evidence.
Commissioner West resumed the investga-
ton of the charges presented against nom
bers of the detective force on Saturday, and
took the testimony of Mr. II. r. Wheeler,
clerk at the St. James hotel as to the circum-
stances connected with the visit of Monroe,
alias Brockway, to that hotel, where he is
said TO have paid Flinders $500 for securing
his release from the charges against him of
raising two checks of Mr. James ii. Ma
gruder. The evidence of this witness
closed the investigation and Commits
sioner West ut once summoned Maj. Ly-
decker and submitted TO him the evidence.
They both agreed that prima iacie case had
been made out against two members of the
detective force, and the following order was
drawn up, which was submitted to Maj. Nor
gan on his arrival and concurrcd in by him.
Ordered, That the report made by Commissioner
West, OF the Investigation held by him. of matters
contained in memorandum No. ], submitted by
John W. THOMPSON, chairman citizens commit.
tee, requires, iu the judgment Of the board. that
George w. McElfresh add James A. McDeviu,
members Of the detective force Metropolitan po-
lice, should be held t1 answer. under the laws
governing the police force, and the major of police
Is directed to suspend them, the said George w.
McElresh and James A. McDevitt from duiy. aud
uication with any other members uf the police
force, OF whatever rink or 0de, without the per-
mission ofthe beard of commissioners.
Mai. Brocl, was mt once furnished with a
| copy of this order, aud that officer embodied
it in an order to Lieut.. Ecklof, who notified the
two detectives of it's contents, and Messrs
McDcvitt and McEliresh left the office.
They consider that the prohibition against
| intercourse with members of the force is
rather severe, but they are not aware of the
ramifcations of the investigation, nor how
/ important is this special provision of the or
der Just Mt this time. If II should he neccs-
sary for them TO go to headquarters to exam
I inc records for their defense permission
would no doubt be granted by the commits
siOucrs, upon written application, stating
| what is wanted.
| Mr.. John w. Thompson, chairman Of the
| committee of citizens, says that this is but the
| beginning of the inquiry, and that decidedly
startling developments may he expected
| within II very few days. He is constantly in
! receipt of letters from citizens detailing eases
| of robbery and the employment of detectives
who failed to detect unless reward of nearly
the value of the property was offered, and
| then no thief was ever arrested. On Saturday
the following was received:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN
! AFFAIRs WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1SS2.-J. w. TIoMp.
son ESQ, Dear Sir: am Informed that you are max
! ing movement in the right direction, with view
10 n thorough reform of the police department OF
the city ana that you would be pleased to receive
any information from citizens to aid you i'll So
About year since my SON in.law, 4. J. Smith,
who resides near me on Capitol hill, rented one
of the rooms i'll his house to two females, mother
and daughter Soon thereafter the house was rob
| bed OF large amount OF property, ClOthing, bed
ding etc. notified Major Brock and he sent y
detective there. II was perfectly evident that
outside thieves were assisted by thieves inside
Some days intervened, and an elderly woman
called on my daughter (Mrs. SMITH, told her that
! beer
found. and that she could trace up and recover all
but that II would require money to do 1t, &c
My son-in-law thereupon called upon tht
detective, told him what the woman had com
municated to his wife, and tho substance O
the detectives reply was that this woman was a
very keen detective, aud had worked up some
very important cases for them. This he thought
was an indication 10 him to follow the advice o.
this woman, and the next day gave her sOint
money, (the amount ! forget. In day or two
after she reported progress, and pointed out th'
place where some OF the clothing had been found
but counseled him not to reveal the mntter unit
the whole case could be worked up. He VISITED
the place, and found that her statement so far wa
, true, but the woman wanted more money IRON
him, and on consulting mo about the matter
advised him not 20 give her any-thnt l be
lieved she was only acting under the diree
tion of tho detective 20 get all the money
they could, and that in the end he would have Il
pay about what the properly was worth to recove
| It, and that the thieves and detectives were oper
atng together AS he knew where some of tue
thugs were, aud had so Informed the detective
II was clearly hisduty to arrest some OF the gang
that II was II clear case, and an honest othce
would do his duty. On my advice he paid th'
woman no more money, but went To tho detective
q number of times, told him where some OF tht
stolen property was, but he would make no eilOrl
to recover IL and made no arrests
Several houses on the hill were robbed in like
manner about that time, but have never hearC
that Yigilant detectives III the absence of rewards
have ever discovered the thieves
Very respectfully, T.. /" STEVENS,
1t appears that Mr. w. Z. Wood is rathe
exercised at the interview with Mr.. Flindcr
which appeared in Saturdays REPUBLICAN
for he has sent the following lottcr for publ
cation;
To the Editor.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3l.--Sr! IN your issue o
, Saturday appears an interview If Flinders Wi
make oath before some authorized official that IN
, gave me money Tor any matter growing out Of tn
arrest or the release OF BrOckuway, alias Seymour
or any Of his associates, will at once com
I menCe proceedings against Flinders for peT
Jury, and may by this means rid Washington
, OF scoundrel, whose only occupation here is L
! invite and encourage thieves TO rob our citizens
by having the countenance and support OF Ger
, , tain Of the Metropolitan detective iorce, he ha'
, , done the role Of stOOl.pigeon between thieves
and dctecivo., for the past ten years, only return
ing such articles as the owners would pay NOR
for than could be obtained in the pawn shops
! lneyer held converse with Flinders knowing him
, as do, ns the lowest OF rascals.
, would prefer To punish the fellow who sets tn
dog ON rather Than attack the worthless cur VIII
does the barking. Very respectfully.
WILLIAM j. WOOD
, A NnW Nnnr IN Inhn lhntnl,pt,li In