The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-06-08
CHIEF BLACKBURN IN TRoUBLr


a handbook Bearing Ills Name Found
ia rO!icy -Backer stroud's pocket-He
Says 1t + Plot to Injure Him.
A mysterious bank book Is cavsing
Chief of Police, WI. Black burn trouble.
II was found shortly alter IL O'Clock
yesterday, in the pocket of Edward
Il. Stroud, n well known pclicy-hacker
who had Just been arrested by Detec.
tives McNey and Witsil.
The detectives found Stroud shortly
before IL O'clock yesterday on Fifth
street near Orange. When arrested he
plead for little grace and time to 40
into a neighboring saloon to get n
drink OF beer, but tho detectives had n
very good reason for not permitting
him to do so, and took him to the po-
lice station.
House Sergeant Mari, whose duty
1t is to search prisoners when brought
in, not hcing present at the time. the
detectives themselves searched Stroud
and were rewarded with finding a de-
post book Of the Philadel Dhia Savings
Fund, nude out in the name of W. j.
Blackburn, showing deposits amount
ing TO $3.50. Here was u discovery in
decd!
William ]. Blackburn is the name OF
the Chief of Police of Wilmington.
Andrew TrayHor, tho llveryman. was
sent for and lie entered SlO)l bail for
Struud's appearance before the Muni-
ciral Court TINS morning at o'clock
The news spread rapidly and the
greatest Interest was excited.
The question was asked. has Black
burn been brihod to leave certain pol.
icy-baekers and gamblers alone? The
answer in u general sense was, NO, |
don believe it, CHIEF Blackburn is not
that kind Of il man" Then came the
expressed opinion that there was Il
dceU-laid plot to ruin Chief Blackburn.
and Straud became the willing victim
of arrest with the handbook in his
possession to accomplish that pur.
pose.
netcctlvo McNcy has the mysterious
bank-hook in his possession, and il
shows lie opening OF an account 10y
Savings Fund Society, seventh and
Walnut streets. Philadelphia. 1t /,
numbered 6l2, OiS, and tile entries ar,
are as follows:
April 18th, 1892. ...............s 500
Apill -tn.'.... OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, lS1.W
Muy ~. ..'..''............. 2o.ct
May i"th. ....,............... 40. O'
| The deposits all make a total %,
$3.50. There was no debit account Il
show tll1t any of this money had evei
been checked out.
/ Detective McNey argues that IL look,
as II Blackburn had opened the ac
count himself and deposited -, as i
was we'll known that tho chief lived III
to his full salary and never lad muci
IN oney about him and ufterwatd trans
lCrrel his hook to thu care OF Stroud
1hH big deposit +lSO 90 on Anril -
indicated TINT stroud had been wait
ing some time for blackburn to opel
his account ard had Il good round sun
on hand for the first deposit lie woult
make.
When the discovery was made know
to Mr.. HIackbtan le Indignantly dc
MED that the bank.hook belonged I,
him, aud he knew nothing whatavr
about it. lie said he never received Il
cent from gamblers in his life, an,
none from Stroud. lie said it wal
true that ovortuics had been made t
him 10y gamblers from time TO time
tut he invariably referred such cases t,
b. the Mayor and Police Commissioners
Chief liiuckbGrn repeated over ans
over that he know nothing about tn
book, nor about the money denosits,
in a Philadelphia savings Fund Sc
cicty.
l.. 7. Stroud being seen in referenc
to the matter said ho found Ii
: bank book but did not say where aut
said lie knew nothing about Vim. j
lBlnckburn. "A man Is liable to fine
"a bank book anywhere" he rcpcatc
Several times.
Mayor Wiley having been seen /
reference to the matter said he Gale
the Chter before HIM and talked wit
IhiId about the matter, but he wa
positive that tho Chief has never +,
Iacived one cent Of money either Il
Iroctly or Indirectly from any gambler
Tho Mayor, however stated that til
Chief and other officers had replrtc
% him that th0y had been otiere
money by gamblers.
lheMayUr Thought that the effort [
put Chief blackburn IN II huls was ov
If doHec that tl!e police We're doihE the
- duty. Being asked If the gumhicl
I. were bitter towards the Chiof. he sai
> they Were, and they had often tried |
get away from the law, but faile,
, Now you E0V rest assured eaid Il
u Mayor, 'lhat the Chief Will clear hlu
N. self OF this insiuuRtiun / have know
him Tor - years and would trust hi
4 as l would "A brother, lie told mo /
!. Guy thst he intended to have this ma
III Ter thoroughly investigated, ard 10
I him tint wa7 the proper thing to Il
i. lie will do 1t"
II To p repr, sentative OF tie REpuDi
CSS. Chief blackburn sind that he w
lC going 10 take some friends to Phi!
=, r., dolphin to-day to tile bank whcre q
u DEF O is We're said 10 he made, and
.1 fall Investigate would be nude AZ
- he published. Tho repre- sentative "a
II t. han. h weight OF public o. / ~
ms mDchItg Wa aS INST him, aiui I
u 7nOncf h Ina! tn" matter inNestIgat,
10 and the inv atl3;H'ipu spread befo
~ the Il 3lic tn better
to- The 1hirr sail ha know that, AMI
. would lie done. II" iterdtel his