The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-20
after THE BLACkMAILERS
Grand Jury's AttentiOn Called to
Them by District Attorney Jones.
HE WILL STOP THE PRACTICE
That Is What the Couuty's Prosecuting
Officer Says lie Is Determined to DO.
Particulars Of the Case Laid
Before the Grand Jury.

There Is liable to be CONSERVATION In
certain circles today when the grand
jury makes its return to court. Ii Is
possible that indictments for blackmail
and conspiracy will be found which will
eventually result in showing up sys-
TEN of highhanded robbery almost be-
yond conception.
1t Is charged that John Tierney, a
well-known deputy constable of Scran-
ton. and NJ. j. Mulvey. James Reynolds
and Edward Mott, of Wilkes-Barre.
the three latter claiming to represent n
Chicago detective agency. devised and
put I'm practice a system of eXtortion
whereby they secured money from sew
eral up the valley alleged unlicensed
liquor sellers.
Tierney's part Of the business, II Is
asserted, was to assume the title and
office of deputy sheriff and execute
warrants on the intended victims. Null
vey. Reynolds and Mott went to VIM
ton. where they spotted several places,
Mott purposely making himself con-
spicuous SO that when he appeared in
the role of prosecutor he would be
greatly feared. A large batch of war;
rants We're secured for Jessup parties,
and a few of these warrants were ex-
cuted by Tierney.
Those Who We're Arrested.
John f. Kelly. George Nancarrow,
Thomas +. McDermott and Joseph Ian
gan were among the parties arrested
| and held In bail for their appearance
| at court. The other warrants Tierney
kept in his pocket, several times giving
out intimat tion that he was about to
serve them, to frighten those against
whom they We're directed.
The intended victims came to Scran-
| ton at the request of Detective" Null
vey and were told by a friend" that
the matter could be settled for $40 n
head and that the money must be paid
to Mulvey. Nothing came of the first
meeting, but another appointment was
made and Attorney w. +. Boyle was
taken by one of the alleged illegal
| liquor sellers to the rendezvous. As
soon as Mulvey saw the attorney he
decamped. Later in the day McDer-
mott offered Mulvey a check for $50,
but the latter said that the business
must be on a cash basis, whereupon
M f. Kelly. brother Of the Kelly under
arrest, paid Mulvey $50 to secure the
withdrawal of the cases against Kelly.
Langan. McDermott. Mrs. McQuade
and another woman. Mulvey said he
did not want to be hard on the fair sex
and would throw in the cases against
them by way of a discount for cast,
|
payments.
1t was then that the story OF the
Matchmaking conspiracy reached the
district attorney. He Immediately set
about gathering evidence and prepar-
ing for the indictments that were laid
before the grand jury yesterday. A
number of witnesses were examined
and The Tribune Is Informed that the
facts brought out reveal a state of al
| fni i've al, cin Of
Revelations Nav be Expected.
The present case recalls that of Con-
stable Hosie, who demanded from an
alleged illegal liquor seller $50 as the
price for settling the case against him.
The district attorney learned the par
ticulars, and during the trial of the
case the whole matter was laid bare.
That and the present attitude of the
| district attorney against Mulvey and
his companions indicate that a war has
been made against elastic constables
and that startling revelations may be
expected while the gang Is being
brought to proper account.
1t Is no secret that blackmailing
and impersonation of officers is car
ried on in daring fashion in Scranton
and throughout the county. 1t was not
long after District Attorney Jones' in
duction into office that reward was
offered for the arrest of young man
who was impersonating the county de-
tective. which shows the extremes to
which this particular class of evildocrs
| dare resort.
District Attorney Jones says that he
Is determined to break up the black
mailing business so far as is in his
power, and will use every effort to
| prosecute those whom he finds en-
gagged in that Infamous business.