Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-18
How Denver Was Cursed With
a Gang Of Robbers.
THE WORKINGS OF DISHONEST OFFICERS.
They Garrotte Under Cover Of
Their High Standing.
A Story Of the Queen City OF the Plains
Told a fhs MeDermott Hotel and
Caught ON the Ely by
"Miner" Reporter.

From Sundays Daily.
Sitting In the Office OF the McDermott o
few evenings ago was party OF gentlemen
who had formed q casual acquaintance
with each other, as travellers very often do
wheL finding themselves in q strange place
and with no companions to while away the
time. The little knot OF men represented
the four points of the globe, and after a
short time spent in desultory converse.
tion, they finally began telling stories and
"reminiscences. One OF the gentleman, q
tall, athletic looking man, with hair
slightly besprinkled with gray, after knock.
ing the ashes from his cigar, swung himself
into n more easy position in his chair and
apparently prepared himself to tell a
good, long story. A MINER reporter who
was sitting close by, moved little nearer
to the party and occasionally iotted down
notes as the narrator proceeded with his
story, and as it proved so highly interest.
ing to himself he came to the conclusion
that it might possess an equal amount OF
interest to others. Following is the gentle.
mans storyi
1.-THE recent conviction OF James and
Charles Connor at Denver, for conspiracy
to rob Rio Grande express train last
April, marks the complete downfall and
utter collapse OF one OF the most powerful
and unscrupulons gangs that ever ruled an
American municipality. Under the ad-
ministration Of William Scott Lee, the pre-
decessor Of Mayor Londoner, the cerrup.
tion OF the municipal affairs OF Denver
rivalled the palmiest days OF the Tweed
ring in New York, and though their opera
tions were not 80 extensive, the reason was
on account OF the absence OF opportunities
and the presence OF o more limited field OF
operations.
James Connor, now serving two
years. sentence on the charge mentioned
above, was for two years second lieutenant
Of police under Chief Henry Brady. while
Char,e Charles Connor, convicted on q sim
liar count, held position OF responsibility
on the city detective force. During the
last year OF Brady's incumDency q bold job
OF political piracy, perpetrated to retain
Republican ascency and gang dominance
OF Denyer's clty government arouse d the
delegated one Of it's Oldest reporters to
investigate the police department and OK.
pose it's rascalities to the world. That re-
porter, who is now no longer q resident OF
Denver, carried out the instructions given
him and succeeded in establishing indubit.
able proof that the heads OF the police
force were not only in league with the
Chicago and Kansas City to rob the cit
itizens and merchants OF Denver, but also
discovered and substantiated the asser.
tion that prisoners in the city jail were
being robbed Of their money, which was
divided between the police officials. Their
method was original and eminently sue
cessful, and for long time yielded the
$4,000 and $1S, 600 per year from this
and other sources that I will explain
further ON, Strangers in the city wers
usually selected as victims, but this bold
unscr1pulous gang did not hesitate, II op
portunity presented. to rob their fellow
citissns. But q stranger found on Hall
day street, in partial Or maudhn ,saas stats
OF intoxication, |. would be PLACED
the eitv iail. Here. before
feins ipcarcerated. the ordnance requires
chat all prisoners had to be searched foI
money andiother valuables. which were te
he properly listed and given in charge o
the tailor, in whose custo iy they were sup
posed to remain until the prisoner was re
leased. To the lasting credit OF Jaiiori
Hugh Smith, Bart Sullivan and FATTY
Fowler. it must be said they had nothing
to do with, and knew little, ii anything o
the Infamous scheme which l will detail
Supposing the prisoner to be under the IN
Hnence OF LIQUOR and admitting that n
mad n considerable sum OF money on hi
person, the sergeant, instead OF removing
the money would conduct blind searcf
and leave it in he prisoners pocket. Ia
L. Sot rQnnrH HnOV
WMoney and effects, none?" The drunken
and unsuspecting victim would then
thrown into the bull pen with hall hun
drad filthy tramps, among whom tine ponc
would have several trustys held there 10
the purpose, who would rob the prisoner 0
his money and turn it over to the poiice ON
Eials. Ofcourse the prisoner, when arraigr
ed for trial the following morning, woui
MADE a vigorous kick, and, conscious Q
having been robbed in the jail, insists tina
whan taken into custody he had $zoo O
S2OO. or whatever the amount mlent nav
hasn. The sergeant, iailer and othcers wn
made the arrest would corroborate tn
Heutenant's statement that the prisone
had no money, or il he had that ne mut
have spent or lost it among .ne nossos asNs -
HolIiday street. That would SATISFY %
conrs. cupp;nRly devised stories impose
mon the reporters would appear IN tt
naners next morning, and that would se
ia fine matter. However, II the wronee
rnsr .bowei any disposition to make q
;n~sstioation and insist upon his rights
WouId be given notice to quit Denver WIN
twelve hours under penalty OF reai.eS: aI :,
vagrant. and in Colorado SO wioe ID u
I.t;tnde given this charge, that milllo
aire can be gathered in under It's provl
ions unless be Ia engaged in some visiD
hnsinees. The man would be MOUNDS
nntiI recognizing his helplessness amol
stranoers With great police force anSag'
nSzad 10 him, he would soon accept tne
eyitable and leave the city. ,,s ,
"Apain it is o known iact, peheset ;,
every reputable citizen OF DenveI that Il
dar Sbe Lee. Brady .Connor regime, Inas
two latter. assisted by officers on thg LOT
:shook down the French women OF hon
5av street for q monthly stepend Oh iro
S9to e1O each, in addition to wnicn tn
wora susnected Of having received \
csntaqe Of earning, from the gamoh
houses. A., No. ,olIoved
his investigations SO tnorougny 90, -
pr,.her of chem were tried on tie aot,
nharoe beiore the police board ana .,
ussasS tom the force. This did NOT oe'
xha Connora. it only tended to arouse On 2
rsDoeance, and they rstaliated upon
Navs by assaulting and beating tne
porter in question out of All semuSSs seSSs
bnmanity. They adopted the metnoos
the assassin and lying in wait at nign., !,
proa @ ched stealthily from the rear up
their unsuspecting victim. who was Knog, ~
down and kicked into insensibility on 90
separate occasions. The identity ..
assailants remained unknown I9l p9l RI
N three months, when, thinking On
Victim had left Denver iores
they boasted oil their cowardly iniamy ~
;ntimated to other reporters that rep
tion OF hostile criticism would invite q
lar punishment. Though in the meano'
the object OF their hatred and DfuDa.
had wandered far away, he reeorn
vent before the grand Jury and procu
indictments against two OF One ~ ~
Pete Daily and Owen Mulhern, Wniie