Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-13
ELDER. THE DETECTIVE.
,.stb of One of New forks Famous
Thief Hunters.
From tie Ye,0 YORK HerdI'1.

.rotossiOn in tnls Clby tth f0aA0 "50 0h"-
% Elder. the detective, who died on
s'ond.v night at his residence, No ~
~ ninth street. He was one OF the
,,..,a nand in Mulberry street who. when
~ nv fohn Young. John Jordan ana
g yos I kelso were one alter another,
h;s turn. at the head OF tue uelecllVe
L ~ made themselves famous oy their
pr1Ioits as hunters OF bank robbers ana
Moves generally. There came cloud
tni fLis band in the days OF the Tweed
o,e . hnt Elder emerged without blem-
nus, ma GOOD name. Be was daring
~ anoIrard had that peculiar reputation
Dnsic, doesn't often fall to the lot OF even
w. h. st of policemen-it was tue reputa-
t .Ior of never making mistake IN his
tsinoss. The reason was that ne always
Looked before he leaped.
The veteran detective was born IN this
.itg on Nov. q, 1923, his father, william
S1dar being a sail maker OF some proml-
nence. Young Elder joined tne ponce force
~ 1S59 He was frst sent to do duty in
~ I,dTe Stewards Court, and went after
80 tn the TOmbs and Jefferson Market.
THREE MILLION DOLLAR SCOOP.
I, was not long before the newly made
,olicemau's wonderful detective ability
P ornn to the knowledge OF superintendent
Taimadge. and he was transferred to that
Irancb of the service. An opportunity
~ ,as+ his skill soon presented Itself. The
citv was icing flooded with counterfeit
Itnited States Treasury notes, OF which
80 government officials could not dis
oovar the source. Elder went to work,
0nd in a very snort time arrested large
ran, of cOunterteiters at Mott haven on
Evidence which resulted IN their conVlc-
ZION and the food OF bad money suddenly
Ia 10 N 1SOS ,lnaT bnfOrp
end curing the early days OF the war
elder performed many important and
ri.bv services for the government. He
was under the orders Of Provost Marshal
Kennedy at the time, and gave that OIL
cial great assistance in dlscharglng his
more dangerous duties.
From the time Elder entered the depart
mant until he resigned on March II, 1877,
there was not case of any magnitude
that he did not become identified with.
The Lord bond robbery in 1866, when
"Little" Pettingill and "Hod" Ennis
stole nearly 50, 000,0 in securities from
Putus Lord by sneaking into his office at
No. 60 Broadway, was celebrated case
when Elder used to like to talk about.
TIE real thieves were not arrested, but all
the property, excepting about $4,000
worth OF bonds, was recovered, mostly
through Elders exertions. But of all the
crimes which he unravelled the Living
stOn forgery case was the one that proved
Elders superior memory of taces-a
quality be possessed to a marked degree.
THE LIVINGSTON ROBBERY.
On Dec. 3, 1867, John Henry Living
uon. alias Lewis. alias Mathews, dis
gused as an express messenger, pre-
sented to MIR. Work, the paying teller of
the National City Bank, a check for
AZ tlu eli nv
Vanderbilt and drawn to the order OF
Henry Keep. The bogus messenger was
one OF the most expert thieves in the
country, but his otf-hand manner and dis
guise mised the teller, who examined
the signature and Endorsement of the
check and concluded that they were all
right. If he had had any suspicious they
would have been dispelled by the depart
ure of the supposed messenger, who
said he had business down the street,
but would return in half an hour
for his money. lie came back, took the
package containing the $40 900, which was
ready for him, and sauntered slowly OUT
Next day the check was pronounced a
forgery. Criminal after criminal was ar
rested, but they proved their innocence.
Elder, VINO was at once put on the case.
urged Mr.. Work TO try and remember lust
how the messenger appeared. The teller
had taken a good look at the man to
whom he had paid the cash, and sat down
TO draw pen and ink sketch of his fea-
lures. When he had finished Elder gave
shout OF joy.
That's John Livingston's look, I'll bet
my lite"
Livingston had an ordinary face. but a
peculiar expression, which, crude as the
picture was, the astute detective recog-
nzed.
REWARD OF MERIT.
After tiresOme search Elder found the
bogus express messenger running stock
farm in the West, which he had bought
with portion of the money. The forger
was convicted and sentenced. Sc we'll
old Elder work the case that he was able
10 return to the bank all but 81 900 Of the
stolen $4,000. 1t is said that Moses Tay-
Tor, PRESIDENT Of ;he bank, refused to re-
ward the detective for his work on the
ground that all the money should have
been recovered. The famous sketch of
Livingston is in the possession OF Elders
only sou, George p. Elder, who is about
70 years old.
Another of the dead detectives exploits
was Inc arrest OF George Mcdonnell, the
bdnk OF England forger. He also figured
IN tne Brooklyn cOunterfeiting cases. the
arrest oil Hicks, the pirate who was
IsuReu on Bedloe's Island, and was the
ouicer 10 whom great share of the credit
is que Tor The capture of the Astoria
masked burglars. The gang robbed resi-
uehce alter residence in one suburban
to"h after another, and so daring were
tnelr movements tnat every village tor
M mlies around became panic stricken.
=" me other detectives were working
n s! 10 put stop to the outrageous deeds
vi Tue 9ang, Elder, through his knowledge
vi criminals. suspected certain men and
nItu room near MIllards saloon, at
huuson and Canal streets, where they
useo 10 cOngregate. He watched these
men lor weeks and finally secured evil
uehce tnat they were the ones who were
submitting the robberles. One night the
poIlce, led by Elder, made a descent on
the saloon. Eight out of eleven of the
sung were captured and convicted.
IN WALL STREET.
4. AIter Elder retired from active detec-
I'VE NE ne spent his time around Wall
tstIeet, "here he was great favorite with
t .ue pahkers and brokers', who had more
ouan once protted by his professional
81 srINIces. he also joined the Gotham and
tbe blossom clubs and Fayette Lodge r.
gu A. NJ. In these organizations, as well
"a. "unohg mis- friends, the old detective
o was more than well liked for his genial
SOU nature and sterling worth. In APP
d 10 ahce ne 10 ked like a well-to-do mer-
tstnahl; lie had a delicate frame, and.
wv usn never enjoying robust health, had
up 10 recent years the vitality OF dozen
tyb.o o men. He was the last man IN