Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-09
Detective Mattingly.

putting other men in their places"
Detective Mattinsly.
While Detective Mattingly has been
known for a good many years as u first
class detective. his selection for the head
OF the detective bureau came about more
as a matter of chance than of design. II
was while Commissioner Wight was look
ing into the special details of policemen
with view of bringing back to active
duty many possible order 10
strengthen the force that he came across
the name OF Detective M2ttinSly, assign
ed to the district attorneys office. A let
ter written to District Attorney Davis
asking IL he could DO without the services
of MattIDSly- Immediately came back the
reply that the district attorneys office
could not afford to part with such a valua
BILE man. whose services had been invalua-
BILE to the United STATES. In discussing
this with couple of citizens one day,
afteTward. it was suggested that Detec
tive Mattinglv would be the very man to
place 1T the head of the detective bureau.
His long connection with the police de-
partment. his active service in the detec
ton OF crime. and. most important of all,
his connection for seven years with the
district attorneys Office as detective and
prosecutor. made him an ideal head of de-
tectives in point of equipment.
Commissioner Wight visited District At
torney Davis shortly afJerward. and the
two had long conference together upon
the subject Attorney Davis. while he re-
gretted any action that wouil take away
from mis- department the services of such
q valuable man. offered no objections, add
ing That he did not denur because he be-
lieved his appointment the very one
necessary to put the detective force on
firm. Intelligent basis. He complmented
Detective Mattingly in .he highest terms,
dwelling at length upon his intelligence,
integrity and remarkable executive abil-
ity- He deprecated his loss. but willingly
him no DiStrisr w no
certain ne would serve with Intelligence
and ability.
The birth of the metropolitan police force
was the police introduction OF Joseph w
Mattingly. He came into official existence
with the department, ard has been one of
its workers ever since, with the exception of
short iEtermission- After a long career
as policeman. he was assigned to duty at
headquarters as detective in 1883 under
the new system authorized by Congress
He Is a Washingtonian from the crown Of
his read 10 the soles of his feet. He is the
son of William and Louisa MattingIy, and
was born in Washington in July. 1886. He
WIS educated al McI1eJd's Seminary where
SO many OF our best citizens received their
education, and left schoo! al the aga Of
fourteen TO learn the trade of bookbin.liny
Al the breaking out of the war he was Cne
OF the citizen soldiers in Company 4 of the
National Guard, commanded by CAPTAIN
TAFT The company to which he belonged
guarded President Lincoln during his In
auguration. and afterward went into the
three months service As a policeman he
was frequently detailed for clerical duty.
and one of the first prisoners placed in
the old central guard house was arrested by
him He served for a short time as saDi-
tary officer. but resigned to accept a no.
sltion In the government printing office
bindery, where he became assistant fore
man When he severed his conec.ion with
the government he went to Texas but re-
turned In 1876 and went back on the police
force
inspector Mattingly will have authority to
reorganiZe his force of detectives 10 s,Iit
himself. and be accordingly held responsible
for its efficiency.
Detective Mattingly has a large acauaint-
ancc OF crooks all over the country and is
regarded by the leading detective orgaaiza
lions as one of the bcst-posted men ON
crooks m the country.
Lieut.. j. VI. kenney.
Few men enjoy a better or more deserved