The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-30
MAS A CRACK THIEF HUNTER.
RECORD OF DETECTIVE FRANK
TYRRILL's FATHER IN CHICAGO.
Western Metropolis OF Her Law
less Element-Hls Son. Now In
This City, Follows His Footsteps.

The presence IN this city OF Detective
Frank Tyrrill in connection with the
Coughlin- Armstrong case recalls to Chi
cagoans resident In Seattle the brilliant
detective work OF that gentieman's father
Patrick d. Tyrriii, in Kidding Chicago OF
her notoriously undesirable element a
quarter OF a century ago. His famous
cleanup Of the big city's worst iawless
characters came during the raayoraity adj
ministrat!on Of the late Joseph Med.li. the
man whose impressive personality was so
strongly stamped upon the Chicago Tri-
hume. which paper he SO long owned and
edited.
Mayor MedIii made Elmer Washburn his
chief OF police and that official intrusted
the criminal work. especially that requir-
ing particular ability. TO Detective Tyr-
rii senior Chicago was then, as 1t has
been so often since. infested with crooks
OF colors as varied as the rainbow Con-
fdence men. bunko sharks, crack thieves.
burglars ninbie-hngered pickpockets,
sneaks and bank robbers held high carui-
val dur ng the term Of Medill's predecessor
and the reign OF Jacob Ream as chief of
police
But Tyrrili went to work. He had no
enemies to punish save society's foes. and
I'm that he did not attempt TO work an un-
necessary hardship or prosecute any man,
no matter what may have been his law
less procl!vities. But he made the law
breakers hunt new fields and demonstrated
10 them that ne was not TO be OF their
handling either for coin or through po-
litIcai prestige.
Some OF the noted unlawful money-get-
tiers of whose presence he quickly rid
the city were Canada BILL BILLY
Tracey, Barney Aaron. 'Sheeney Rose,
Little Fftz'' Joe" Howe, Bouquet
Billy" Tom Childs. Harry Lawrence
John Wallace. Tom Wallace. Dutch
Charley" ''Three-toed' Higgins. Little
Joe" Alex Porter and John Roster.
Canada BIZ" was long known as the
king Of the three-cardmontc men. He
probably never had an equal in that line
and made money faster than any other
man OF his particular gift" In three
months Immediately prior TO Tyrrlis ap-
pearanee upon the scene. with a special
commission TO run down eva doors. Gan
ada Bilp' cleaned M siao.o coo spot cash play
ing monte In civilized Chicago. Neverthe-
less. he died a pauper some years ago a.,
the Pennsylvania home Of Dutch Char
ley" ore OF his proieges.
+ Billy" Tracey had no less skin pick
pocket lie went at IL in systematic.
scientific way and succeeded In separating
more people from their money. perhaps,
than any other man in hls day.
''Sheeney Reese and Red Nose came
20 Chicago from New York. where In Cen
tfas EtEh taSS 2au rsAsFei man OF $ls.'Nl,
and through similar thieving tactics clean
ed up fortune IN the Western metropolis
Little Fltz" attained criminal fame as a
bank sneak. He moved about eatiike and
MADE mang sneak raids on banks and big
Chicago Offices and counting rooms.
"LAttle joe through his success in that
linz. came &c be known as the father OF
'HIm-famers." and Joe Howe had few
superiors in the art OF bunko. Little joe
Is row thriving Chicago politician and
held down 8 state Office during Altgeld's So
called reform administration
Washburn retired as head OF the Ch.ca-
go police department accepting the chief
tsincy 81 the United States secret service.
ard recognizing Detective Tyrr.n's spiea-
DID abilities. took the latter with him in
that important work.
TyrF1il is now an Old man aud retired
from active life. having settled down IN a
comfortable Kansas hcnle. while the son
following IN TIE footsteps Of his father.
gives no less promise 81 special ability in
the Sete%tfyp line