Telegram-herald., 1889-04-16
New York's Greatest Detective Al
ths Literary kleld.
SOaE Of his BIEREIlSC SIORlES
Inspector Bsraes contElbutes = series ~
Artieiss 80 lhs ss~spagess ga
Crlulfn4I fssars II CuE-
r.1t intSEesC
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lea tle9 Will be " unusual Interest 10
every newspaper re~lvr ia the country.
This j. not the firsg venture into the liter
sry feld by Inspector Byrues. Tie read
ing public has long been familiar with
his name upon tAe tie page Of several
success al romAnces, Of which he was
joint author Win Julian Hawthorne.
lie has also written occasional articles II
the character OF essays. the subject mat
Ter Of 81 hic1 were taken from his expeTl-
euces and observations - = police officer.
Ile articles ia this series Will be partly
romantic aud partly reminiscent, the
subjects 20 DC suggested as a rule by the
most striking events Of the week that
come uudev tne Inspector jurisdiction.
The Inspector will not aim 10 make u
series of sensational stories. after the
manner OF the penny dreadfuls,' but
rather 10 discuss seriously the various
phases Of crime. its punishment and its
prevention. as they occur 10 him
Inasmnch as Inspector Byrnes Is uni
versally rated as tie greatest police de-
tectlye ia America. probably the greatest
that this country has ever seen, his views
upon matters connected with his work Will
be ike stories by Vidocq himself. Ia
fact, Byrnes has often been called the
American NidOcq His hrst connection
with public service was Ia lSo2. when be
became fireman. The records Of that
department. as well "a the testimony Of
men that served with him, show that he
was Oae Of the most Sctive And brave Of
the boys who ran with the machine at
that day
A curious and well authenticated story
OF his career as "A hremen tells Of a fight
that he had with Cornelius Van Cott,
now Senator representing one of the New
York city districts at lbany. Van Cottwas
one of the oid-time volunteer force, and
some years ago, in telling Of his expert
ences as 'lsddie," be related how he
got into dispute with member of "A
rival company, "a long lank, dark indi-
vidual." The dispute ended in blows,
and the flank individual" gave the future
Senator a severe humping In the party
that listened to Senator Van Colts story
WAS tall, dark rather heavy man, who
took the greatest interest In the nara
tion. That was Inspector Byrnes, and at
the conclusion Of the story he and the
Senator compared notes and found that
the Inspector himself WAS the ''lank in
dividual' who had thrAshed the Senator.
Ii would seem that Inaturer years have
added somewhat TO the nremans frame,
and detracted nothing from his muscular
powers.
Late In 1868 Byrnes gave mp his position
in the fire company TO become "a member
ofthe New York police force. lie received
his appointment as a patrolman upon De-
cember 10. From that time until 1880 his
career was ole OF steady application to
the duties of his position, and steady
progress upwards. He has served in
every branch OF police work, so that he
knows thoroughly from personal expert
ence all the details of the service. After
patroliirg the streets for five years he be
came rOundsman, that is, "A policeman
whose merit is recognized, and who. with
out increased pay becomes superior TO
the patroi man and under the orders Of
his sergeant and captain, exercises some
measure of authority. Byrnes' ser
vice as rOundsman continued for a
little less than year more, when he was
appointed sergeant, and in 1870 he
became captain. In this capacity he
served in several OF the most important
police districts on Manhattan Island, in
cluding what is known as the broadway
Squad" His last district was the Eff
teenth precinct, or the Mercer Street
squad one of the most ancient police
stations in the city.
For several years during his captaincy
Byrnes made good record, but while
there was no shadow Of fault found with
him, there was no general idea prevalent
concerning his unusual merit. The fact
l. that the emergency which is necessary
10 bring a mans career 10 its culminat-
ing point was long in coming to him
When il did come he was lifted into great
prominence at single bound. Neverthe-
less. while be was stationed on Mercer
street ne made many important arrests,
the most sensational Of which, perhaps,
wns that OF Paul l.. Law. son Of the ex-
Governor OF Maryland. The young man
had killed four or i've people, aud was
trying to effect his escape from the coun
try when Captain Byrnes, by clever ma
noeuvres. which II would take too much
space 70 detail here. captured him.
The occasion which brought to Byrnes
his great opportunity was one that prob
ably would have wrecked tae career Of
most other men T. Vas the famous Man
haitian Bank robbery, which occurred
October p. 1873. The circumstances Of
took place about seven o'clock one sun
day morning. At a time when many peO-
pie were stirring in the ghborhood.
and vet IL WAS - successful that the rob
bers got away with two million seven
hundred thousand dollars of piunder.
tthat time the detective department e
the police force was in considerable dis
rsoute Il WAS the constant butt ~
hum0Tists. and from its general iusfii-
cheney came the saying that has almost
become pr0vs-b that DETECTIVES 90
not detect
The Manhattan Bank was Within the
Jurisdiction ~ Captain Byrnes. and 10 was
evident 20 him tbat ~ must make success
IN handling the case or fall irretrisvablY
from any hope 81 progress.
The results q bis v0rS upon that affair
may oe summed np la this. That all ~ the
stolen property vas recovered. and early
svsrv nan Implicated in The robbery AZ
landed ina prison If took .onz time 10
A. this. and ma2y dlscouraginE events
occurred before sucrsss wss consurn-
natef Among them one msT - ren-
toned 90 show az ns- vat rremenca7 u
osla.th- captain worked. ln fae sarz =
-rhhs~s that effected ths st@sI VS. one
Nas.nr. wno hsf been ~ oae tine z Do
lieenisn ln FTrnes command AZ TIE Aer-
cer street station Brrnes srrsstei ll7a
sr1 Brought tlm ~ trisi TIE captain
rss nora ly cerfs.a thst Nugsnr was
z1r.v hut IL vac 0ne ~ chose cases here
neral certainty does no+ anonnr .o tees-
n.-al urccf. ard. srhappfy. Nagsnt vss
se1ntfes A. evs-s 81 lnsf CO may taEs
..rs--5-- with r-~-ea r-~a~n~