The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-29
BECKER AND FINN ARRESTED
TWO GERRY SOCIETY AGENTS ACCUSED
OF BLACKMAILLNG.
Keepers OF Disorderly Houses the Accusers
The Two Men Kept an Appointment
Last Night which Faded In n Chase, =
Pistol Shot. and Two Arreete.

|
Keepers Of Disorderiy Houses the Accusers
The Two Men Kept an appointment
| Last Night which Faded In n Chase, =
Pistol Shot, and Two Arrests.
| Capt. Cross Of tho Eldridee street police
| caused the arrest last night OF Agents T. j.
Becker and William Finn OF the Gerry Society
for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Children. on
the charge OF levying blackmail on the keep
ers Of several disorderly houses.
For some weeks past complaints have been
| made ut the Eldridge street station that two
| agents Of the society we're doing q blackmail-
! ing business. These complaints were not
backed up with evidence. and the police did
not believe them.
Agents Becker and Finn have attended to the
business Of the CORY society in the Essex
Market Police Court, and both OF them
| are well known to east side police
men. They have occasionally obtained
warrant for the arrest Of the keeper OF dis
orderly house on the ground that some OF the
inmates Of the house were under 18 yenrs OF
age Otherwise. 1t was not their business to
interfere with these houses.
So many complaints were made to the police
that Inspector Williams obtained list Of four
teen houses where It was alleged the two mon
complained OF had levied plackmail. and he
gave 1t to Capt Cross to investigate.
Agent Finn arrested Sophia Martens Of SO
Allen street last Monday on the charge of
keeping q disorderly house. In which she har-
bored girls under n a9 Ths woman was taken
at the station house on Wednesday, and said
Finn q 5ss soie sailed on
for $500. ii / didn't get this money he said lie
you'd make the case hard for me and see that
Ak it either way BY his evidence. After talk
Ing with him ! agreed to meet him on
told the woman to call on him again yester
day. He arranged q trap and whom the wo-
t. keep The appointment and pay Finn the
a tna wa ID Ward Ha defk Geerse
Smith to follow the woman and he followed
Agent Finn was on hand at tho corner o!
Twenty.fourth street and Second avenue. and
at Se
and the e., woman: after short talk, walked
avenue and stopped in front Of the house at
224. There they talked earnestly. and then
ond avenue. Detective Smith started after
es H ye snnshp gsstG s sm Eth e
sIe southwest corner Of Third avenue and
Quinn grabbed him and asked:
Who have you been shooting?"
Detective Smith came up with tho other
agent and explained the charge against
them; At2 H l1o feet from Third Avenue. lar, On
was found The woman declared that she
Ind paid this money to the agents on their
promise to FIX " her case. She said that they
had accepted 1t. and that Finn had thrown it
away when the detective chased him.
Becker and Finn both denied that they had
received any money from the woman. In
srestor Williams was at the Eldridge street
brought tho prisoners there.
They denied having tlackmailed any one.
but they could give no Ieasou for making md
night. There is another witness against
them Il woman who says she gave Becker
$500 on March l and that week ago he called
Cor 500 more.