The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-04
James Black, Ex-Inspector Of
Police, Of Birmingham, to Be
Investigated.
He Manufactured Evidence that
Sent DAILY and Egan to
Prison.
The Exposure Brought About by His
Relations With n Young woman
Other Foreign News.

LONDON, April 23.--Jamag Black, the .ex-
inspector of police'' Of Birmingham and ths
man frequently complinaantad Al the shrswd-
est detective in England, Is about to have
his otnclRl oarsar investigated. Il was no
to whom was principally due the oonyio-
tion Of Michael Davitt twenty three years
ago, OF DR.. Gallagher nine years ago, and
Of Egsn and DAILY littls later. Ii ID now
aaasrted that all of these wsre brought
about by evidence manufactured by Black
to carry out his ambitious ends. Black is
now u discreditsd man who IL known to
have been long privy to blaokmailing
scheme and who is at present fugitive
from homo owing to threats Of investiga-
tion Of his of1iolal carser. The facts hava
been given to John Redmond, and upon
them he will bnse demand for an invest j.
CATION, in which he will bs uphold BY Al
derman Manton, ons OF ths Oldest and moat
respected OWL officers of BIZ birmingham. who
has baen for forty years q member OF the
watch committee the branch Of the mu-
nicipal government which controls the po-
lice department. of that city. Alderman
Manton is now more than so years OF age
and q conservative, 80 that politics do not
entsr into his Wow OF tho case
At tho time Of the conviction of DAILY
manufacturing evidence against them.
and evsn wrote to William O'Brien giving
Accusations on which ths sentences passed
upon the alleged ynamitats should bo con-
tested at every point. 70 correspondent
who saw him yesterday Aid. Munton said
the chief conatable of Birmingham. who
was then confined 10 his bed BY illness,
sent for Hantsn and told Kim that the mon
were innocent, and that a job had bcen
PLANTED" ON the1n. He says that justice
tice demands an investigation.
The circumstance which led ap to the OK
posurs Of Black arc these: Early in Fsbru-
ary he taadersd his resignation xs inspector
OF police. The watch committee, all of
whom except Alderman Manton wore CARR
est believers in Black. begged him to re-
consider, bat he was obdurate. He was told
that II hs served slsvon months longer it
would make difference Of Ave shlllinQs
per week in hia pension, but he insisted
that he had particular reasons for leaving
at onos. Then the watok committee de-
cided that Blacks valuable services ought
to be recognized BY public testimonial.
But Black stopped the movsmsnt. and il
nas sne: %n, nj stepped
yohnR womaa living 1part from her Aas-
band, J. ". Elliott, made demahd for
$4,000. This was not only declined, but
Mr.. Elliott threatened to bring q suit
against her fer divorce with Black ~ CO.
respondent. II seems that tie woman had
been on intimate terms with Black long be-
fore her marriage to Elliott who was forcod
into this ceremony. The fses that this had
become known is supposed to havs led
Black TO resign SO hastily.
II san be easily understood that the dis
covery of those facts in connection with
Blacks private life and ot1cisl career has
cast quito new complexion on ths DAILY
\ II VI
been declared BY those who studied thsir
case, wore innocent of the charges brought
against them, and there NOW sosms every
reason to believe taat thsy were tbs victims
of vile plot. Blacks testimony was al
most the only evidence sgainat Esan. He
it was that swore that q bottle OF nitro
plyasrino was found hidden in the garden
attached to Egnn's hsaae. Without that
plece OF evidence it is morally certain the
jury would have at lsaEt discharged one of
the two mon III the dock. But in thoas
days Blacks word was law. He was the
paragon OF truthfulnsss and his probity and
honesty wsre looked upon az above question.
Put him into the witness box to-day,
discrsdised official, stepped to the lips in
vice and infamy, and his words would not
be considsrsd good enough to hang dog
upon.
In Birmingham official circles the utmost
reticencs ls preserved regarding the whole
business. II is, of course, TO the interest
of all concerned to prevent government
inquiry, such IA is contemplated by ths
Irish members, into Blacks career.