The Evening critic., 1884-03-13

BY which the Police were 20 GET
Credit for Efficient work.


Eustice e. O'Brien, who was convicted in
tho Police Court of playing policy, and
sentenced to ono year in jail and to pay
fine of $500, appealed his case to the Crimi-
nal Court, furnishing bond Of 81, 900,
which he subsequently, forfeited, and this
morning no was brought before Judge
Wylie by his bondsman on bail peace.
Assistant District Attorney Taggart
stated to the Court he had been informed
that Mr. O'Brien would be valuable wit
ness for the Government In other cases and
was willing to testify; that he was only
subordinate in the business and through
him the principals could be reached. Under
these circumstances he would ask that
O'Brien be released on his personal recog-
| nizance.
Judge wylie ordered the forfeiture set
aside and the defendant released on his
| personal bond In the sum Of $500.
II would seem that there is secret his
tory connected with this matter, which
| reflects little credit upon certain detectives
| If true, and bears the coloring of using
| individuals to manufacture cases. The
| Miner history, connected with the OBrien
case, coming to light now for the first timo
and bringing others with 1t, will give the
public an opportunity to judge Of the efll-
cheney Of the police and how the detectives,
| who gave policy their special attention,
knew it was played and reached the parties
engaged in conducting and backing 1t.
During last summer, after policy had
been effectively suppressed in this District,
and IL was believed there would be no
more of II, Eusticc Il. O'Bren went to some
of the parties who had formerly been en-
gagged as hackers and represented that he
had arranged matters so that they could re-
open the policy game. He said that he
| haH ttxyau DaR
they would permit the game TO proceed
uninterrupted. No faith was at first at
tached to O'Briens statement, but some
days later, when several Of tho
party were standing together, O'Brien
among the number, near tho
corner of Sixth and ID streets northwest
they received evidence that led them to be-
lieve OBrien could carry out his assertion.
Detective Block was passing into head
quarters with some policy paraphernalia
under his arms. O'Brien called his asso-
ciates' attention to it, and said. to prove
what he had said was true, and that Block
| was with them, he would 20 into head
quarters, get the things from Block aud
bring them out on the street. He went aud
did exactly what he said he could do This
act give the men confidence in him and opc-
rations were resumed. They had a room
where they met to talk over business, aud
O'Brien having been received with full
confidence, was there with them and re-
peatedly assured them that no would be
kept posted Of any intended action Of the
police.
In proof Of this he entered the room one
morning and said, "Boys the police will be
here in twenty minutes. You have ten
minutes to get out and that will give them
ten minutes leeway."
The hackers vacated and prompt TO the
minute the police entered, made quick
survey and departed. Subsequently several
of them were arrested. among the number
| O'Brien. The latter after going through
the form of q trial and receiving sentence
Is now received as Government witness
and escapes punishment.
The whole transaction, from beginning
to end, is looked upon as scheme to in
veigle the old hackers again into business
pretend to punish O'Briep, but in reality
use him as a witness and lead the commu
nifty to believe that Messrs. Raft and Block
are performing commendable and successful
work in the suppression of policy playing
| in this District