The Helena independent., 1892-04-02
The Blackmailing Tactics Of James
Black, Who Convicted Many
Irish Patriots.
One Of the Most Successful Scoun-
drels Who Ever Abused
Trust.
Now in Disgrace, His Record Made Known.
Abhorrod by All Reputable People
The Woman.

tention has been called to a paragraph
which appeared in the London correspon
dencs of the Manchester Evening Mail or
March 4, 1892, in which it is stated that I
certain e1-inspeetor of police in the pro
Ger referred to is the inspector who was tbs
chief witness for the crown in the prosecu
tion Of James Egan and John DAILY for
treason felony, and who was in charge oi
| the police who arrested both of them
| whether this inspector has abseonded, and
whether any charges affecting this in
spector's official career have come to the
knowledge Of tbs authorities; whether he is
aware that = public testimonial to the in
| spector, headed by the mayor Of Birmlng-
ham, and another promoted by the police
Of that city, were abandoned at the request
Of Mr. Ferndals, chief constable of police,
acting on behalf Of tho authorities, and in
consequence Of the allegations in question
having come to their knowledge and
whether, as John Duly and James Egan
were convicted largely on tho evidence of
this inspector, an Investigation will be in
stituted by the authorities into his official
career. .
4 he home secretary responded that hs
had no information regarding this matter
which justified him in authorizing an in
vestigation. Redmond's question. how
ever, sets on foot movement which is al
most sure to result in the liberation of
Daily and Egan, who are now undergoing
life sentence in Chatham prison. The sex
inspector of police'' referred to is none
other than James Black, to whom was
principally due the conviction Of Michael
Davitt twenty-tlree years ago, of DR.. Gal
lagher nine wears ago and Of EgAn and
DAILY. Black has been considered one of
the shrewdest detectives in England.
Judges without number have ccmplimented
him upon his sagacity, and Sir William
Harcourt, acting as home secretary. caused
an honorary SUM Of E10O to be given him
IN recognition Of his skill in laying bare 50
many political conspiraei6a. A reporter
who to-day visited Birmingham finds that
Black 10 now discredited man, who is
known to have been long privy to black
mailing schemes and who is at present q
fugitive from nome, owing to threats Of an
investigation of his official career.
At the time of the conviction of DAILY and
Eean, Alderman Manton, of Birmingham.
publicly accused Black of manufacturing
evidence against them. The circumstances
these: Early in February he rendered his
resignation as inspector of police. The
watch committee begged him to recon-
slider, but he was obdurate. Then the
watch committee decided that Blacks val
liable services ought to be recognized by 4
public testimonial, but when Black heard
of their intention he declined to accept it.
The Birmingham people thought this ox-
trsordinnry, but they did not know Black
wrote his letter OF declination under CO.
ercion. At the same time that Black an
nounoed his intention to resign from the
Birmingham police force, young woman
who was living apart from her husband, j.
w. Elliott, wealthy old resident of Bir-
mingham, made sudden demand on him
for $4,000. His solicitors not only declined
to give her the money, but threatened to
bring suit for diyoroe against her, with
Black as correspondent. II turned out
that Elliott, who was an elderly widower
with Ii grown up family. had married the
woman at the registrars office in London
about eighteen months ago, she having
brought u charge of seduction against him.
1t WAS also learned that the woman was
known to the young bloods of Birmingham
rs Mrs. Hall, and that she had previously
lived fast life i'll the suburbs. When she
brought the charge of seduction against
Elliott he married her. They did not live
together long. however, and separated upon
his agreeing to give her an allowance of
A3O0 per year.
When she made demand for $4,000
Elllott's solicitors decided to look into
matters and the police took charge of the
case. 1t TUNED out that Mrs. Hall had
been Blacks mistress for several years, and
that it was through his friendly advice to
old Elliott when the charge of seduction
was brought against the latter, that he had
married her. The reason that Black had
resigned from the police department SO
suddenly was that he knew his secret had
got out and he feared exposure, and the
reason she had simultaneously come down
on Elliott for $4,000 was to enable Black
and herself to take a continental tour
Since these facts have been whispered about
in Birmingham numbers of citizens have
come to Chief of Police Ferndale to tell
him of successful blackmailing operations
upon them by Mrs. Hall, and.in almost
every instance INSPECTOR Black's kindly ad-
vice to the victims to pay up in order to
avid a scandal has been the reason for sub
mission. 1t can easily be understood that
the discovery of these facts in connection
with Blacks private life and official career
has cast quite new complexion ou the
DAILY aud Egan case.