The sun., 1896-01-26
BYRNESS KIND DEEDS.
SIDE OF HIS CAREER OF wHIoH
LITTLE HAS BEEN SAID.


He Rescued from Evil Life While
Captain OF tho Mercer Street Station.
I'm all the things that have bcen said about
Tom Byrnes since his retirement as the head
of the New York Police Department" remarked
an acting Captain. II havo scn, ,cely hoard one
good word uttered. Everybody admits the
mans ability as a thief catcher. but feeble
tributes Of this kind to really great man have
been drowned in tho criticism which has been
showercd on him during tho past year and .
half Yet there dozens of men who could
tell stories about Byrnes II they chose which
would show him In proper light. fearless
but generous man, with no mercy in his heart
for confirmed lawbreakers, but plenty of mercy
and charity for those whose careers as criminals
had Just opened. could tell any number Of
stories about Byrnes and little acts OF kindness
performed bv him to unfortunates. for I was .
Sergeant under him In the old Fifteenth pre-.
cinct, and was in his confidence in the days
when, as Capt. Byrnes Of the Mercer street sta
tion. he was making reputation for himself
as q catcher OF thieves. will just tell ono lit
tie Incident that occurred in the Mercer street
station years ago. and its sequel year after
ward, and think you will understand from 10
what mean whom speak Of Byrnes as . chari.
table and generous man.
1.-THE old Fifteenth in those days was the
toughest precinct in the city, and tho saloons
in It were frequcnted by tho most desperate
crooks in the country. 1t was infested with
women OF tho town. and the Bowery at night
was almost as bad as q London street after dark.
Many OF these women were, In way. OF much
value 10 tho police. for they always knew all
that was going on. and could give the very
latest news regarding the movements Of crooks.
They weren't at all averse to keeping on the
right side OF the police by giving desired nfor-
nation, either. but there was one among them
from whom the police could never get word.
Had she ever consented to become ally Of
the police she could have explained many rob-
berry and more than ono murder that has
inained a mystery to this day. Her nams was
Kitty Donohue. and she was hail fellow well
met with everybody. The girl had only ono Of
tho ordinary faults of her kind. She was not
a profane woman, she WASH addicted to opium,
morp hine. or any other drug. but she would 60
on periodical sprees and stay on them for .
week at a time, unless her arrest brought
them to a moro sudden termination. After being
drunk for two days, sho would not bother TAX.
ing care OF herself any longer and would 20
around with her hair hanging, tangled and un-
kempt. about her shoulders. her face dirty, and
her clothes torn and soiled. / have seen her
brought into the station house a dozen times
in this condition and have my self put her name
the Mercer street blotter more than once.
less 1t was because she was so true to those
who trusted her. Byrnes had conceived a strong
liking for the girl and have seen him more than
once with his own hands assist the doorman. or
some woman who had been called in, to put tho
POOR girl in condition. Then, when she would
sober up. she would invariably come around to
the station house in her best clothes, thank
Capt Byrnes for his Kindness to her. and then
20 away again, making her next appearance
"
and brought around on the old charge.
Well. ono night at about 10 oelock. vas
ter. Byrnes was sitting next TO me. his feet
In the air quietly putting at cigar; Suddenly
g eyes ss' were red from weeping; Kitty was per:
fectly sober, but seemed excited, and don't
think ever saw her looking so pretty.
Kitty said .ba byrnes ygr Is t th,.
little "; thing around for W you to take care Of.
just got her il tlne, too. A., .,,s
| company with a man. notorious character,
he tine Erl hI into house s Of III repute There had
kitty enta ty then brousS
| the girl around to the station house;
story '4 %hy sa yoa ier dc hSa'nT tho
stsnd BY and see Snd
and q mother. and is mere schoolrirl:',
We'll. Byrnes didn't say a word. but he took
ons @ ns f ha ch s Ser
and where she lived. In half an hour hei
parents were at the station house and nd The9 3
|a,. and the father turned pale. When both
had recovered somewhat Byrnes pointed q
Kitty. who ,,n had drawn OF to one end OF the
"'You can thank this girl for your chila'a
Sos Kitty Hn lad d"Se Tesoued ii" the che ch d.
| never saw such n scene before In my life. and
rush at Ky e threw rsS
her neck, and tried to kiss her. But Kitty
I" You, mustn't kiss mel she cried. You
doing. I'm not fit to kiss YOU.
what Kitty's words meant. She hesitated, but
SusAbana HSm.A and Who Sn nodded lis head. she walled
over to Kitty. put hand on each cheek, and
raising her head. kissed her three times ON the
-" God bless you was all she said. and poos
Kitty gave in a at once and burst into tssrss T
hand; and in a very slaky voice 70 5 asked @ II ths.s
"@s' ssoSsed 81 Sp Ia s Sohns
all. I'm better off MS l am. Then tho pan
iuteiy @ r refused fused to take it, and after another pc.
thetic scene, father, mother, and daughter won't
""' 'Kiity.' said Byrnes, as the door slamme4
hs ysV wc SnM% a9 as Heart away Ss
Bowery from New York. and try and be good
woman. Succeed or fail. you can always counS
| III me friend . a..
"'Oh. I cannot do it!' cried the girl. 7
| haven't any friends to go to, and no money.
belong here, and suppose I'd better die horo.' >
"'Takc n start on that, Kitty said Byrnss,
| and he handed her two twenty-dollar bills.
| Just make try at 1t. any way
'rhe girl looked at the bills for moments
then n strange light came into her eyes, hope
full smile spread over her face. and she said:
Captain. I'll try it. viii. SO help my God,
| and If win out, you shall hear from me- and
She went out of the station house.
uny
that had been made among the policemen that
Kitty had gone, and weeks worked into o months
tickled to death over it, and he kept repeating
that Kitty would let us know some day that
she had reformed. Well. n year passed. and
sc had about forgotten the girl, when one night
n cab drove up to the station hous" door and q
coachman brought in card inscribed we'll
we'll say with the name Mrs. Joseph Brown.
although that wasn't what it was. Tho card card
was for Capt. Byrnes. lie said. and the lady
wanted TO know II she could see Capt. Byrnes
without being seen by anybody. w
"'Bring hor in said Byrncs. There's not
A soul here but the sergeant ana me-