Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-03-28
sTowE1s CAUGHT,

STOWE rs CAUGHT
Tried to Settle Liquor Cases Fer Money
Caught By Edward Mccarthy and
Detective Brewer In Attempting to
Blackmail Saloon Keeper John II.
Shea of oak Street-Stewe Does Not
Deny she Charge-What City Attorney
Daley and Chief Bollman Say.
'It is nothing less than a downright at
tempt at bIackmAiling," said ex-Auditor- Ed.
| ward Mccarthy yesterday afternoon in speak
| ing to COURIER reporter of Silas Stoves
arrest.
| 1t was sorry day for Mr.. Stowe, to be
| sure. Better would it have been for him had
| he remained on his little farm in Wallingford.
i He now regrets the day be came to New Ha-
| ven to act as private detective and liquor
spotter.
Yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock he was
breathing free air. At 8 he was behind heavy
| iron bars.
| He had been arrested by Detective Brewer
on the charge of blackmailing John F. Shea,
a saloon keeper at No. 295 Oak street. He
was also charged with carrying concealed
| weapons. Stowe is a professional liquor
/ spotter and has been used by Prosecuting
| Agent Fowler who has convicted liquor deal
ers on Stoves evidence.
Last Wednesday Stowe walked up and
| down in front of ex-Auditor Edward McCar-
| thys saloon, cornerCongress avenue and Com
merce street. He had an anxious look on
| his face. Several times he looked into one
of the side windows of the saloon to see If
| Mr.. Mccarthy was in his Office. Satisfied
| that he was, he walked into the saloon. The
| first person he met was Mr.. Mccarthy.
CHOW do you do, Mr.. Mccarthy" said
Silas. ''By the way, do you sell liquor to
/ I'm Of
eyes, but what business is it of yoursa"
responded Mr.. Mccarthy.
| ooh, nothing. Only I've got case against
him for selling to minor"
| els that soT' said Mr.. Mccarthy, pretend
| ing to be greatly astonished.
laughed. Edwards laugh was quite alluring,
| for it served to draw Silas out, and that was
| just what Edward wanted.
| The two talked few minutes more and
| Stowe gave MIR. Mccarthy to understand that
the case could be settled without going into
| the courts.
"Ohl it's money consideration, IS its" sud-
denly exclaimed Mr.. Mccarthy.
| 'sWell, didn't say SO. (After some hest
| tation.) Yes, that's just what I'mean."
Mr.'McCarthy drew forth from his pocket
| a roll of bills. CHOW much do you want"
| he asked
The money looked very tempting to Silas.
/ Edward shook the roll under his nose. The
| ''spotter' cast longing glances at the roll
Edward held, not knowing whether to take
| the money or not. Finally he mustered up
enough strength to say that he wouldn't take
| the money just then, as it might look like
| blackmail He said that he wanted TO throw
Prosecuting Agent Fowler, who took all the
money there was in prosecuting a case, and
| gave him but 81. so.
! When asked how much he would settle the
1 case for he said $3.50, of which So. so he
/ wanted for his partner, Benton. Mccarthy
i then made an agreement to meet Stowe later.
He told Stowe to keep away from Shsa. The
case would be settled without seeing him.
| Mr. Mccarthy at once communicated with
Chief Bollman of the police department. A
| scheme was arranged to have Shea pay Stowe
| the meney and then have Stowe arrested for
! blackmail 1t was not deemed advisable to
have Stowe receive the money in MoCarthy's
1 saloon.
Twice it had been agreed upon with Stowe
| to have him go to McCarthys house on Da-
venport avenue where he would see Shea and
pay him the money. On each occasion some
thing prevented him from going. The third
time was arranged for yesterday afternoon at
2 o'clock.
Immediately after dinner Detective Brewer
| went to McCarthy's house. When it was
| nearly 2 O'Clock he hid himself in a closet,
awaiting the approach of Silas Little did
the latter know as he trudged along up Da-
| venport avenue and mounted the steps of
MeCarthy's house of the net that had been
| woven for him. He. nonchalantly rang the
bell. Mr.. Mccarthy, all politeness and smiles,
let him in. In the room was Shea, seated
near table.
Detective Brewer was peeping out of hole
in the door. Mccarthy had not forgotten to
have other witnesses present also. He had
several others hid away in closets where they
could hear everything that transpired.
The settlement was then begun. Stowe
wanted $12. so. Finally Shea told him he
would split the difference, which was agreed
fupon, and Stowe took S11.
Before Stowe arrived Detective Brewer
and Shea had marked ten dollar bill Shea
handed this one over to Stowe.
AS Stowe thanked Shea and Mccarthy,
saying that he might as well have some of the
money on Fowler, out stepped Detective
Brewer. If Stowe had suddenly found him.
self in the center of the Sahara desert, with
the shades of night just falling, he would not
have been more dumbfounded that when De.
i tective Brewer confronted him.
$50 this is the way you do business" said
| the detective.
Not word passed Stoves lips. Every
muscle seemed turned to stone. And when
| Brewer told him he was his prisoner and led
him to the police sfice he didn't say any
| thing.
At the chiefs Office he was charged with
| blackmailing. A loaded Smith & Wesson re-
volver was found on his person, and he was
L
| ons. He admitted the charge of blackmail
| ing. He was then locked up. He sent for
| Lawyers Arvine and Blydenburgh, but they
couldn't be found. Attorney Bush later went
| bail for him.
| Mr.. Mccarthy told COURIER reporter last
night that, besides the prosecution of Stowe
| by City Attorney Daley, he himself would
have private counsel and help to prosecute
| him.
City Attorney Daley was asked if the iq-
| uor cases in which dealers had been con-
| victed on Stoves testimony could be re-
opened, He said he knew of no way how
such a thing could be done. Something
| could be done in cases which are now on and
| have not been settled.
| els this the only time Stowe has tried to
| blackmail dealersl" asked the reporter.
''No, it is not. I have heard of other
| cases, but have not prosecuted because
could not get evidence enough to convict.
| There have been many complaints from liz
| uor dealers of Stoves work. Dealers have
1 claimed that they have been unlawfully pros
| ecuted."
| Chief Bollman said that he had instructed
| the police to have nothing to do with these
/ private detectives or "spotters." He had
| told all the officers to keep aloof from them.
| if they worked up case to do so alone and
| not be associated with these spoilers. The
police officers have done 80. The chief
says that the dealers will hold out money to
these private fspotters." The temptation to
take the money is too great for them to re.
sist. If these fellows are brought up, like
| this Stowe, what blow it would be to the
police department. if the "spotter" was an
agent of the police. There have been many
attempts by these fellows to work in on the
police 1t is to the credit of the depart
ment that the police have had nothing to do
with these "spotters."
Arrested.
Late Monday night Nicholas McGroder,