The sun., 1897-05-13
O'BRIEN JUMPS ON OLCOTT.
A FIERCE CLASH OF AUTHORITIES
OYER RoBBER DALToS's CASE.
The Chier Of Detectives. Nettiea BY Rsaeetioss
On Hs Burcau, Hints Ceiiusion with Crooks
on the Part Of the District Attorueyr once
-Reyelations About the Brentane Rssbery.

" NV HREh - hnS HtaNfteA Auofuey = Ouhce
Revelations About the nrentaso Robbery.
Capt. John O'Brien, the chief OF the Detective
Bureau, made sensational statement last
night in connection with the confession OF Rob
Der Dan Dalton. He intimates that the Dis
trict Attorneys Office is guilty OF neglect, de-
lay, and other improper things, and that the
criminal classes have allies among politicians.
hnanciers, and high officials, who covertly aid
them to escape punishment. The statement is
the outcome Of the visit Of the boss detective to
the District Attorneys Office on Tuesday, and
the stories which were printed about that visit
in yesterday mornings papers, some OF which
were correct and some not.
Dalton is one Of the men who held up
Henry d. Hildebrandt. n collector for George
Ehret's brewery, eight months ago, and robbed
him OF $1,000 Dalton pleaded guilty ycster-
day before Recorder Goff to robbery in the first
degree, first offence. He had been indicted for
second offence, which carries with il twice the
maximum penalty OF twenty years for first
offence robbery. 1t was after the court pro-
ceedings and after a day Of hard thinking that
the head detective turned himself loose in the
presence OF a typewriter and made remarks.
Among other things he said:
There has been much i'll treatment bestowed
upon the members OF the police force Of late
years in the higher criminal courts while en-
deavorins to secure trials of criminals whom
they have arrested. Many police officials can
tell Of their past experiences when attend
ing the higher courts with witnesses, who
after such attendance from day TO day
have made complaint OF the non-tral OF their
cases, and have been met by the remark from
Assistant District Attorneys that the Police
Department is not running the District At
torneys Otfice. This Is very ancient be-
whiskered blum, made to hide the neglect. delay.
or other improper action on the part OF such
prosecuting officials, and is generally uncalled
for.
so far as the business transacted at this
bureau is concerned everything is as open as the
Light OF day-nothtng Is concealed except when
1t is deemed proper in the best interests Of the
public. The results obtained during the last
two years have established beyond doubt that
there is no need whatever for any improper
alliance between the police and the criminal
classes in the conduct Of its work. When mys-
terious murders or other important crimes
committed In this large community. which
must be the case in the course of events, II
we have no legal evidence 10 Justify an arrest,
We shall not, under any circumstances, furnish
victim to Ill the gap to satisfy any public
clamor. created BY the public press. II there Is
q failure to clear up such crimes, It Is because
the surround ngs and the circumstances are
oAch InAt u sOiuL1On IOC tuC tlI1c uclnB u DC
yond human energy. However, when arrests
are made and legal evidence enough has been
secured to obtain q conviction in such cases, as
long IS remain In command OF the Detective
Bureau. can neither be bribed, brouhcaten nor
caioled into overlooking any improper proceed
ings in the prosecution Of such criminals. when
the same Is brought to my attention
II am out for all time to fight all the criminal
classes Especially professional criminals, and
their allies. whistler interest in their behalf
comes from political financial. or other sources.
or from high officials who are coyertly aiding
the criminsl 70 escape punishment for bis crime.
aSi e s6 . ss ns
Ia. fan Big &eeos e sas fsfft ss
the bOoiseisr and % puSiiahsr. Brentshos Ss safe
'as aso and
large amount OF cash was secured. The burglars
the time OF the robbery the police said that they
didn't think 10 was the work OF professionally
and that was about the last thing that was heard
The boss detective, in his statement last night,
went over the case Of the robbery Of Hildebrandt
which Dalton made and which was printed in
Tuesdays sCS had been in his Possession since
then in the Tomhs. had one OF the keepers con-
vey a message to him through Detective Ser
to the effect that he DaltonI desired OtBr!en TO
call on him. The Captains statement then de-
"I Immediately called this matter to the atten.
ton Of Vernon VI. Davis, then acting District
Attorney. An arrangement vas .hep made
Dalton's counsel. he was brought over to Mr.
Dayls's private 9fties and there, In The presence
full confession in relation thereto. Dalton at
the outset stated that he intended to make .
Ssd 60 S q
when he had been returned from court and was
made the arrest, the latter demanded that he
Daltonl tell him who his confederates were. and
THAI when Dalton refused to do the officer said
them downtown people ImeaninR the Detective
Bureaui. and then assaulted him and beat him
iilireatment be had felt sore and had made up up
hs mind .%t not 81 to tell S He said further
sRa hs had Ssen thrown do%a obbsd
The s,F pAbses r. mHe1ed e 18th him. from the
from the manner in which Hiidebrsndt acted ali ali
brandt was not In the scheme, and that he
lDaltonl was thrown down because he had
some time previous, upon which occasion he was
Obliged TO divide the proceeds Of sald robbery
Frank Mccoy. Biily Forester, res @ and Others who e
work work having 1essRally been performed by Tom
He claimed that after looting Brentano's
safe he and Tom Monaghan proceeded to Tom
McCormAcks house on West Twenty-seyenth
street. wheEs the money was all PLACED on the
floor and divided into six parts. Dalton de-
mAnded one-t third OF the whole amount Of the
proceeds, and objected TO receiving any less but,
however. was compelled 20 receive one-sixth
part OF the Brentano booty; There had been
several quarrels afterward about the same and
Dalton had been convinced since his incarcera-
ton for the Hildebrandt robbery that Noble and
Mccoy had eonnived at his downfall so as TO get
him out of the way and At the Same time secure
the proceeds OF his latest robbery.
Dalton then went on and related to District
Attorney Davi. and self all the circumstances
relating to the BIeatano safe robbery and the
HildebEandt robbery, and by the express de
sire OF his counsel and himself, and with the
consent OF District Attorney Davis, he has been
allowed to remain In the Tombs prison. while
every opportunity has been given him 70 OBJ
tain some corro6oration as to his confess
sion which would result in the indict-
ment OF his confederates. At the same
time all efforts on the part Of members Of this
bureau assigned to this case have not resulted In
securing sufficient evidence to cOrroborate Dali
tons statement. Nevertheless. I am thoroughly
satisfied that Daltons confession Is true In
every particular, and ex-Asststant District At:
torpey Davis will bear me out in the fact that
had called on him from time TO time. up to his