Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-23

evening met IN secret session, at the call of
Mayor Wiley. to consider the case of ex-
CHIEF of Police William j. Blackburn,
against whom It is rumored there are
charges OF receiving money from the
gamblers of this city for police protection.
AT the instance of Mayor Wiley the
reporters were excluded from the meeting
and business proceeded behind closed
Doors. Detective Hatton was the only
Jther person present at the secret conclave.
The board took no definite action. A
plan of procedure was mapped out and
the charges discussed by the board. Pho
tographs of the signature upon the reg
istry book in the Philadelphia Savings
Fund Society, were shown to the board.
il is understood the board has decided to
employ an expert to compare the sigma
ture with those on the warrants signed by
Blackburn.
1t is stated that Chief Blackburn has in
his possession an affidavit from the clerk
at the Philadelphia bank who was present
when the signature IN question was signed
and who. it is alleged, states that he never
saw Blackburn before. The clerk has al
ready told the State detectives aud the Off
cials of the bank. it is said, that he was
unable to recognize the man who signed
the name among so many depositers.
The Blackburn investigation began
shortly after 2 o'clock Tuesday after
noon in the mayors office, and con-
tinued until nearly A o'clock. The testi-
mony of Detective McNey consumed
most of the boards time, after which de-
tective Witsil was called TO the stand.
Detective McVey was the first wit
ness. lie testified to the arrest of
Gambler Stroud and to the finding
upon him of the pass book on the
Philadelphia Savings Fund Society
Bank. He testified that the informa-
ton came from the gamblers them
selves which led to the arrest of Stroud
The first deposit was made by Chief
Blackburn, who went up to Philadel-
phia for that purpose. Chief Black
burn then came back and delivered the
book over to Stroud at the latter's
house. The arrangement was that
Blackburn was TO receive $50 per week.
before we made the arrest we had
memoranda of all the bank business.
The day of the arrest We called Mt.
Stroud out of Sasse's saloon, Fifth and
Orange streets. We told him we had a
warrant for him. He hesitated and
didn't want to come along. lie said he
felt sick and had the cramps. Then
when we still kept him he said he
wanted to get cigar.
got out of patience and said, "Mr.
y
have to take you."
He came with us to the station then
On examining him there we found the
bank book with the name William ]
Blackburn outside and also on the first
page in the usual way with address, &c
Il have the book and will show it il
Mr.. Curtis 1.-THE city solicitor) will
promise that IL be returned into my
hands before leave the room.n
City Solicitor Curtis-"Oh, certainly
i understand you Ito McVey) are act
ing under advice from the attorney
general"
McVey-"Will you give me assur
ance of the return of the book?"
Commissioner Lawson Ito McVey)-
"Why don't you ask the commission ?
McVey-"Why, Mr., Curtis is deputy
Encouragement"
All this time Mayor Wiley and Com
sioner Jester sat perfectly quiet, thu
former lolling back in his arm chair il
deep study of the paper pattern of tn
ceiling.
McVey-si mean no disrespect 10 you
gentlemen Of the commission, or to you
Mr.. Mayor. Pm doing simply as | an
advised
THAT NOTORIOUS BANK BOOK.
The detective at this moment pre-
duced the terrible bank book that ha
produced all this rumpus. Ii is not at a
the important looking volume that on
would expect. 1t has not more than .
pages or so in all. II is not leather COY
cred, but a most commonplace whill
brown or drab cover, its intrinsic valu
in store being 2 or cents at most.
Mayor Wiley, (satirically)-"l SUI
pose no gentleman of this commissio
wants to keep this book ~
Commissioner Jester-'I declare
don't even care to see it,
Mayor Willey-'I believe it has bee
shown to almost everyone hut me.
don't recognize Mr.. Curtis special rigl
to be guardian for thi commission"
Mr.. Curtis, (protestingl-"'rhere
really no discourtesy on my part. 1
(McNey) just asked me in regard to i
security"
Mayor Willey-"I should like to S,
the book and will promise to give
back to you before you leave the room
The mayor then fumbled through Il
pages and then turning to Stenograph
Guyer remarked: 81 think you have a
the extracts, figures, &c, from the boo
that you need. -
McVey-"We got the book June II
On the Sth we went to Philadelphia
At the bank we saw the of cials-sa
the chiefs signature, residence, ~,
with the name of his wife z
The officials al the bank would not Q
low us 70 investigate the signatures, ~,
unless on consent Of Chief Blackbur
When | went into the bank found NJ
Witsil there. subsequently Chief Blac
burn offered no opposition to the regi
trar of the bank showing Us the sign
ture. The chief remarked that the 81
nature in the book looked like his, b
asserted it was not his writing. He Il
mitted Emily b. is his wile's first nan
We wanted 10 trace the signature al
the chief finally consented to our DOR
it,
Wien we came outside We went to
saloon when the chief remarked TO Ii
Barney, il that had been You | wou
not have treated you in that way i
had found the book | would not ha
done as you have"
ION the following Monday after t
arrest of stroud we saw the clerk w
took the signature. lie said he cou
not recoilect the man who signed /
book. AS we came out of the bank
met the chief lie said, i see you
still hunting me down. | wouldn't ha
done that, Barney, if / had been yo
Blackburn then said he had seen
clerk that took the signature and Il
the latter had said positively that
1.-THE chief was not the man that ma
the deposit.
Mayor Wiley" Idontknow whetl
it is Incompatible with the instructil