The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-09-21
An INEVITABLE RECORD
What the Police Know of
Mccarthy
IND ALSO OF HIS FRIEND Stevens
Both Are Well.Known New
York Thieves
MCCARTHY IS A "SQUEALER"
A Graphic Account Of His Career at
Seattle
n>A~>-~S - NJ Mr. H.l "a. Mn~ths
MCCARTHY IS A "SQUEALER'
A Graphic Account Of His Career a
Seattle
Betrayed the Man Who HAD for Months
Befriended Him
His Escapades in This City-In Jones
Confession He Is Only Getting
Dose of His Own Medicine.
His Contradictions.


Confession He Is Only Getting
Dose of His Own Medicine.
His Contradictions.
Since the first arrest made in con-
nection with the discovery of the daring
attempt to rob the vaults Of the First
National bank of this city by means
of tunnel from the Spokane saloon on
Commercial street, developments have
crowded close upon one another, and
the climax was reached on Saturday,
when Fred L. Jones, the ex-saloon
keeper, took the stand and made COM
plete confession, giving in detail his
connection and that of the others with
the scheme. Jones gave the names of
his pals as James K. Stevens, Jack
Stewart, John J. Mccarthy and Tom
Campbell OF these men Stevens and
Mccarthy have been under arrest
charged with the crime. Stevens was
released on preliminary examination
because no evidence was offered against
him, the police being unwilling to ex-
pose their knowledge of the crime un-
til they had captured others of the gang.
During the period which has elapsed
between the time Stevens was released
and filed his suit for $4,000 damages for
false Imprisonment, and the time Jones
was caught in Spokane Falls, Wash,
the officers have been busy looking up
the records of the several men. Especial
attention was given to Stevens and Nc
Carthy, as they were known to have
been the ring leaders, Stevens doing the
7. nv MI NV tho
plans into execution. To ascertain the
criminal records of these innocent"
men the police have written far and
near, and a mass of evidence has been
accumulated which shows that no mis-
take has been made and that the crime
was in every way worthy of it's pro-
jectors. OF Stevens not so much is
known as of his companion, but his
crimes have been many and varied.
Stevens right name is James Killeen,
and he lived for years in New York
city, where he Is well known by the po-
lice. He was arrested for burglary in
the early part of 1887 in that city by
police sergeant who was attached to
the eighteenth precinct, and the stolen
property was found in his possession at
the time. He was held for trial in the
police court, but his case was never
disposed Of. He was again arrested by
the same officer on November 3, 1887,
for stabbing man named Collins, and
on December 18th of the same year was
sentenced to three years in Sing Sing
by Judge Sutherland in the court of
general sessions He was again arrest
ed after his term had expired by po-
lice officer of the Eighteenth precinct
for a crime and got two and half years
on this charge. On his release he dis
appeared, and is supposed to have then
drifted west and finally brought up in
Los Angeles.
OF Mccarthy the New York police say:
"He is a well known thief, his right
name being Carroll. He was brought
up with Killeen in the Eighteenth ward
of New York city, and was arrested
some years ago in the Fifteenth pre-
cinct for burglary or larceny, but was
afterward- discharged"
From that city he finally disappeared
and the next heard of him he appeared
in Seattle in 1889. OF his record in that
city the following excerpts from an ar
ticle printed in the Post-Intelligencer
of Sept. 18th will serve to show the
character of the man:
1.-The announcement in the press dis
patches that John Mccarthy, an old
time Seattle crook, is believed to have
been the master mind in the attempt to
tunnel into the vaults of the First Ma
tional bank of Los Angeles caused con-
siderable surprise in local police circles.
MIN oil lily was always COuSluer6Q
dub In criminal classes in this city
and his actions at the time of the cele-
brated Standard Oil company's safe
cracking job in October. 1891, when he
deliberately turned states evidence and
sent Shorty Adams and 'Deafy' Con-
ley over the road for seven years, ap-
parently confirmed this opinion.
Both Detective Cudihee and Detect
i've Philips, who arrested all of the par
Elephants in the Standard Oil safe Job,
said yesterday afternoon that if Nc
Carthy had planned the Los Angeles
work he must have improved greatly
since he operated in Seattle.
After the big fire of June 6, 1889. Nc
Carthy came with the influx. He did
not amount to much in the eyes of the
police, and in fact the first time their
attention was called to him was after
the American house. now the ST. Charles,
was finished on Washington street.
AT that time he was living with q
notorious woman, and according to the
general rule he used to beat her now
and then. In some way the exact man.
ner OF which is unknown, Mccarthy and
Deafy' Conley. fellow of shady repu-
tation. fell in together, and it has since
been learned that Conley did petty
stealing for Mccarthy for about a wear.
and q half.
During this time Mccarthy was un-
able to do any work on account of gun
shot wound in his hand, which, the DO
lice say, was inflicted while he was at
tempting to commit burglary Conley
lived in shack down on the tide flats
not far from the warehouse of the Stand
ard Oil company. and it is supposed that
his knowledge of the building and its
surroundings formed the starting point
in the robbery that followed.
The office of the manager was in the
northwest corner of the building, a one
story brick structure. Between thu
electric light works and the building
were the railroad tracks of the Northern
Pacific and the narrow gauge. Directly
in front of the building and close to it
was spur track, and on the night of the
robbery some cars had been set in so tina {
the robbers had perfect screen. <he
electric light plant made considerable
Eoise, so that all ordinary disturbances
would pass unnoticed.
After midnight the electric lights sud
denly went out, and two of the Post-In-
telligencer reporters were sent down to
inquire as to the cause. On their way
back they met Capt. Peer and some men
rushing along the railroad track The
vovorfova tv1vn cd ho ~ I1t,,o5 - A. =.