The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-06-22
Fourth U|RlT!HII EDITION EDITION
BLACkBURN's INVESTIGATION.

l. lOthers present were representatives O
the press, Charles NJ. Curtis, Esq, Cit,
Solicitor; Detectives McVey and Wit
sil, and for a few minutes, James Mona
J. CHAN, notary public, to swear the wit
D nesSes.
i Before evidence was ndduced. sever
val consultations were held between The
z commissioners. and by the commits
elsioners with City Solicitor Curtis ant
I ny Mayor Wiley with Chief of Police
+ Blackburn. MIR. Curtis was OF tht
opinion that Mayor Wiley had tbs
power to swear In police officers, but
had not the power to swear witnesses
The Clerk of the Municipal Court, MIR
Y Curtis said, could swear witnesses.
: Detective McVey said he was willing
to give voluntary evidence, but pre-
tferIed to DO sworn.
City solicitor Curtis then went IL
search OF Clerk Adams OF the Munich
pal Court, but returned with the infor
nation that Mr.. Adams was afraid he
had not the power requisite, declined
and then Notary Public Janes Mona.
ghan was sent for. Soon afterwards
Mr.. Monaghan arrived and admins.
tered oaths to Detectives McVey and
Witsil and then retired, leaving in,
; struetions to send for him ii he WAS
l needed farther. Detective Witsil also
retired to the CityCouncilClerk's office
llso that he might not hear the evidence
lof Detective McVey.
Chief Blackburn having gone out to
consult his attorney, being away
longer than was expected. Detective
( McNey took the stand. Mayor Wiley
SAID the StenOgrapher would huvo the
evidence and could tell the chief on his
a return what was said il required.
/ detective McNey gave tine following
, testimony in substance:
/ Some time before tho arrest OF
STROUD was made. we. (the detectives
received Information that arrange
'ments had been made with the chief,
ny which he was receiving money from
policy hackers, that the money was
deposited iii Philadelphia Savings
Bank and that Stroud carried the de-
post book.
The information we got was that the
gamblers had seen tho chief; that he
had positively refused at first to re.
ceive tho money. He refused again,
but finally told them that il they de-
POSTED money III Philadelphia Saw
lnES Bank to his credit he could not
E help that. Stroud then went to Phila-
delphi and tried to open an account
at the bank in Blackburn's name, but
no was informed that Blackburn would
nave to open the account in person
anu leave his signature in book.
The Chief then went to PHILADELPHIA
and opened the account in person,
Signing the book required, and made
"a deposit OF IS ON tho 25th of April.
On the fth Of April $3.50 was deposited.
lDetectlve McNey stated in detail the
oates OF the other deposits, and said
llhht after Stroud had made the second
deposit of so, the Chief called on him
and requested him to make deposits
, every two weeks as IL might look sus
'piciouS going to Philadelphia every
week. The deposits were then made
every two weeks, $40 at time. Re-
lore we iuado tho ARREST of Stroud we
Iiau positive information that he had
Ithe deposit book in his possession.
4 We found him in saloon az Fifth
ana Orange streets, and calling him
outside we told him we had a warrant
for his arrest. lie plead that he was
SICK and wanted time to go back into
INC saloon and get drink of beer. we
declined TO give him this privilege. He
then wanted us to 80 in aud take a
drink with him, but this was also de.
lcllned. So persistent was he in his
=. pleas for time that we had to tell
him that II he did not come along will.
lnRly we would have to take him by
force.
II will show you tho book IL Mr..
Curtis assures Iue that it will DO re.
, turned" said MIR. MuVey.
Il do not know that any member oil
: this commission hns any desire to
steal that book, replied Mayor Wiley.
) Il did not think that you would, ,
! reptile the detective.
at sounded that way" said the
1 mayor.
Il didn't mean ii that way.n replietl
: MIR. McVey. MIR. Curtis Is deputy at
torney-Seneral and l am acting under
Instructions. This book might br
, needed i'll evidence and have bean In.
.stIurted to keep it."
"Mr. Curtis is not the sponsor oil
i this board, answered Mayor Wiley.
MI. Curtis said no had no Intentions
. that way. 1t was proper, however,
, book.
, The hook was then examined by
, Mayor Wiley, tho other commission.
,eis having already examined it.
When We took Mr.. S;troud to the pa.
leo station We searched him aud
Ioand this deposit book upon him.
On The following day, detective WitsIj
!, went up to Philadelphia early and i
| Followed soon after, going to the
bank. Found Detective Witsil in the
Dhnh. We asked ii we could see tho
: registry book OF tho bank but we were
informed That we could not see any
name on The register without permits
n sion from the person registered. We
then Photographed to Chief Blackburn
1 asking him il he had any objections &c
giving US permission to examine his
signature on tho registry book bui
before the CHEF could send an answer
he came up himself.
He said he had 10 objection to us
seeing the signature. He examined ii
and said that looks like my sigma
tura but did not put IL there" W.
asked him II his wifes name was Emit,
H. aud he said it VAS. When we LEFT
tue hank and went out upon tho streoi
the chief said to me
''Barney, l would not have treated
you this way II | had found book oil
yours. | would have quietly told you
about it,"
On Juno 18th. continued Detective
McNey. we went to Philadelphia agar
and saw the clerk who had charge oil
the registry book, and asked him II
he could identify the man who made
tho lepuslt. He said he could not a:
there were about 200 people who mad.
~ deposits that day. Ne theu wont out
side, where we mot the chief.
He said: Well. you are still hunting
me down." We told him We We're only
doing our duty, and were not hunting
him down PARTICULARLY. He said i
/, locked very much Ike 1t, and charged
" us with not treating him right. IL,
n said TINT the mayor would be I'M Dres
entity. We asked him IL he had seer
Z, the clerk who had received the deposit
and lie said lie had and tho clerk snit
he was not tho man who mndo 1t. DE
n tective Witsil said that the clerk di,
not tell us 50 and that it would be {
d big advantage to him to 20 back &c
the bank with us. face the clerk ana
2 have him repeat the Same story to us
:, lie replied that lie did not think tina
was necessary"
n Mayor Wiley said: Il don't know
whether you will answer this question
G or not, but where did you get the In.
formation that ied to this alresty'
I decline to answer" replied Mr.
May or Willey-"Had you informn
y ton to lend yoa to believe that Strouf
! had the book when you arrested him2'
II 'les."
-, Mr.. Jestor-"You arrested him to &c
3 tho book"
V Not wholly for that purpose"
= Chief Blackburn asked: "aIr. Nc
Il Ney, did refuse to go before the banl
Z You did not positively refuse, but
;. you said II was not necessary"
Chief B!Gckburn-"I was certainly
= not afraid OF the bank clerk"
. civ Solicitor Iturtis-aIIO,xt Ioz-