The evening world., 1891-11-18
MORE THAN ABLUNDER
The Charge Of Blackmail Against
Hunt Never Recorded.
Justice Kelly Offers an Explanation
That Doesn't Explain.
Detective Hayes Whitewashed in
Police Capt. Reilly's Report.

Although the police authorities have exon
Grated Detective Hayes, OF the Nineteenth
Precinct, from all blame in connection with
the arrest and discharge OF Agent Hunt, Of MIR.
Gerrys Society. tho fact remains that the
crime OF blacsmail was committed and that
the offender, though arrested and arraigned
on the charge, was permitted to escape with
out any punishment whatever.
The fact that Hunt obt aimed $50 from
Saloon Keeper Beckmann, rs the price OF his
silence when he claimed he had evidence that
Beckmann had violated the law, Is established
by the admissions OF the saloon keeper him.
self. as well as by the statements Of the de-
money in marked bills in his possession.
Detective Hayes claims that he duly ar
raigned Hunt before Justice Kelly on the
charge OF backmail, and that his duties ended
there. In this view OF the case he Is sup
ported by Inspector Steers md Capt. Reilly.
The former says that II the complainant re-
fused to make any charge when he had the
opportunity OF doing so, or there was any
"fixing up" In the case, the detective was
not responsible, but that Becknann, or his
lawyer, Mr.. stincr, or Judge Kelly should be
asked 10 explain why punishment VA, not
,
why he was not at least held for n more
searching examination than the one which
took place In the Justices private room last
wednesday.
According to several witnesses the entire
proceeding in the secret chamber did not
consume more than nye minutes. The ofIcnse
charged was q heinous one, and II guilty
Hunt clearly deserved the extreme penalty
which the law Imposes for the crime.
Justice Kelly has stated that he did not
know what the charge was upon which Hunt
had been arrested, and that he was forced to
discharge the prisoner because no one would
make a complaint against him. lie repeated
this statement to reporter OF THE EVENING
WORLD yesterday.
.The circumstances he said, were these {:
"I was sitting on the bench ana hearing the
cases which were brought before Inc when ]
was informed that II prisoner had been
arrested who demanded private exainlna-
t1On.
went into my private room and found
the 70 Detective Hayes, special Agent Hunt,
Counsellor Stiner and another person, who, I
have been informed, was The saloon-keeper
upon whose complaint Hunt was arrested.
al inquired what the charge was against
the prisoner and was told by tha lawyer who
represented the complainant that there was
no charge at all, that there had been n mis-
take made In arresting the prisoner, and that
Beckmann desired to withdraw his COM
plaint
n asked II this was so. and the complainant
assented. That was all the examination that
was held and ! thereupon discharged the
prisoner. That Is all knew about the case
a. the time The 9cer said nohing to
"Is there no way OF bringing the prisoner
into court again, and compelling the COM
plainant or the officer u swear TO the charge
on which the arrest was made7"
None that know OF. have no authority
TO summon these people before me again. or
TO make them swear to anything II they
positively decline To do 80. My duty Is simply
TO discharge the prisoner II tind that there
10 mn ep I'M nj m
Justice Kelly intimatcd that the case Ind
passed entirely beyond his jurisdiction, and
that II any further steps could be taken his
court was not the proper tribunal Ior such
action.
saloon-Keerer Beckmann.has already given
his version OF the story, ana admitted that
after he had paid Hunt the 900 which he de.
manded as the price of his silence, he had
him arrested ana went with him to court,
where he was prevailed upon, after consult
ing with his lawyer, 10 withdraw the charge
he had made against the prisoner.
Lawyer Stiners story Il that he pitied the
young man who had got himself into such a
sorry scrapc and as restitution had been made,
he thought II best, from purely humahit arlan
charge. Under the circumstances he believed
II was not necessary to inform the Judge
what the real charge was.
II is a significant iact that when the ofricer
made his return to the Clerk OF the Court the
memorandum which he furnished on the
blank provided Tor that purpose stated that
the charge against Hunt, or Lunt,' as The
Clerk appears TO have read It, was that OF 0
| suspicious person."
Nc mention IL made OF biackInail, extortior
or any other offense, which II Is perfectly
clear, In the light OF subsequent develop
ments, was the real charge whlv., Beckmanr
| made at the station-hOuse, and Npon whtcl
he demanded Hunts arrest.
| There IL no doubt that Hunts conduct II
| the whole matter was extremely ispiCiOus
! but hardly more so than the manner In which
| the charge against him appearing In tn,
records OF the Court was trumped up In Orde
that the real facts In the case might be sup
pressed, and the offender go unpublished.
| II Detective Hayes knew the facts und cir
cunstancrs OF the case, as II seems plain tina
he did, his explanation IA 10 why he statet
In his return to the court that he arrested
Hunt merely as n "susp!cious person." IN
stead OF entering the actual charge agains
the prisoner, would be material IN clearinl
| up the mystery which now seems to envelo
he secret proceedings In the matter, ant
would be extremely interesting as well.
The officer, however, decliAes to make ar,
statement in regard to this point. As hi
superior officer have decided, after carefu
examination OF the case, that he Is entirel
blameless, and place the responsibility 10
any "queering" Of the case on other shou
ders, he Is satisfied to let the matter rest a
II is