The morning call., 1892-12-07
IN A DEATH GRIP.
Superintendent Byrnes at
Bay.
HE DEFIES DIR. PARKHURST.
Aspersing the Motives of the Great
Divine in His Campaign Against
Metropolitan Vice.
Special TO TIE MORNING CALI

NEW YORK, Dec. 6.-Aceording to Su-
perintendent of Police Byrnes. Rev. DR..
PsrkhuTsts deep-seated interest In expos
ing vice originated in an effort he made
Iome months ago to aid the daughter of
sns Of his wealthy parishioners in securing
eliminating evidence against her husband
that she might get divorce.
The superintendent said: "The testimony
Tor the plaintiff comprehended proof that
her husband had maintained a woman In an
kvil resort, and member OF the police
force won the ill-Will OF DR.. Parkhurst by
refusing 10 swear TO certain facts TO suit the
Ease. The mother of the plaintiff was
Equally bitter against the stubborn police
official and. falling to get revenge, she and
DR.. Parkhurst began a series of persecu-
lions against the house in which the de-
fendant in the divorce case was said to be
loo well known, and in this revengeful
recreation Dr.. Parkhurst and his parishioner
acquired a taste for persecution. and
planned to encompass the ruin of the Police
DEPARTMENT and the city officials.
THE mother of the plaintiff in the di-
vorce suit" ByrDes went on, "had friend,
, woman of no character. In whom she
thought she could trust and this woman
salled on her in reply TO note, which is In
my possession"
What occurred at that interview was
written out by the woman who was sum-
moned. She was sent by the parishioner to
DR.. Parkhurst. and as soon as she was able
she recorded what was said to her then.
This woman appeared to DR.. Parkhurst and
the mother of the divorced girl to be willing
TO do their bidding. but a few hours
after she left them she eased her conscience
~ nj fn in fan hor
been his ally ever since, although there are
twenty letters at police headquarters to
prove that Parkhurst and his parishioner
believed that she was furthering their ends.
What these ends were Is vaguely sketched
by Byrnes. Il have this correspondence in
my possession" he said. "and the letters
show that Parkhurst and certain members
OF his congregation resorted TO everything
dishonorable to get the evidence of any and
every kind TO compromise the chief magis-
tTate Of this city. the Judges Of courts,
magistrates, the District Attorney, myself
and high officials, eleven persons in all
There are twenty Of these letters emanating
from DR.. Parkhurst's parIshioners, and
each was 70 lowed by an interview or
interviews. all of which were faithfully
recorded, and the interviews are so far the
context Of the letters that do not suppose
they will be contradicted. The letters will
show the instructions DR.. Parkhurst left
when he went to Europe aud everything in
the way of planning to spy on and debaueh
persons to whom l have alluded up to two
or three days ago.
AT some later day l will talk further on
the subject, which is so interesting that [
have an idea Of giving it out in sections"
The substance of Byrnes' report was told
20 Rev. DR.. Parkhurst at his home, 133 East
Thirty-ftth street, tonight He smiled at
first. and then as he discussed il he grew in
diEnant and used come forcibie English
In reference to the superintendent and the
police department. DR.. Parkhurst said
that he knew Of the divorce case Of
which the superin ntendent spoke. and inti-
mated that some of the information secured
as evidence in that suit had been used in the
work which the society of which he was
president had been carrying on. He said
be would not give the names Of the parties
TO the divorce suit. but added 'It is an in
teresting case"
DR.. Parkhurst did not know who II was
who had given the letters of which Superin-
tendent Byrnes had spoken to the police.
He was indignant that he should be charged
with insinceriiy in the crusade be has been
eorrVjDQ on