Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-28
SHREWD DETECTIVE WORK.
Methods Used to Compel Confessions
From Murderers.

In every city," said a New York detec-
tive to Star reporter, they have differ
emit methods of securing evidence, and
Where the police have no evidence of ex-
torting confession from a suspected man.
In cities the size of Washington and
larger 1t Is a comparatively easy matter
to identity the corpse and connect the MUIR
der with the right criminal, but in New
York the annual number of unidentified
dead Is so large that the securing of evil
dence fixing the crime upon the right man
Is another matter. A large proportion Of
the unidentified dead Of the metropolis are
the victims of murder, but in that great
whirlpool of humanity score or so of I'M
traced murders annually don't count.
served under former Inspector Byrnes,
and will tell you of one or two instances,
Illustrating his peculiar methods when he
started after criminal against whom
there was no positive evidence
"A man had been murdered by being
thrown from a rowboat in Jamaica bay
In the outskirts of Brooklyn. There was
no clue save that he had been seen in
company with four men the day previous
Byrnes learned that these men were mem
bers Of gang. He knew that when gangs
commit crime their leader Is usually the
perpetrator and always parucepS criminis.
The leaders Of New York gangs of toughs
maintain their prestige by their offenses
against the law, and if one shows the white
feather he is bounced and a tough of
more courage takes his unenviable place
This gang. had its headquarters near
the dock yards on the East river near the
Brooklyn bridge. Byrres arrested the
leader and six of his followers. He placed
the leader in room in the Toombs, which
overlooked the court yard of that gloomy.
historic building. Each day Byrnes visited
him. and 'sweated' him for a confession.
but the fellows nerve was all right, and he
stuck to oneistory-sthat he was in river
front saloon all day on the day of the
murder. Members of gang, as a rule. are
loyal to each other and especially their
leader and this fellow counted on a dozen
followers to swear to the truth of his story
and prove an alibi. But Byrnes knew his
game. IS t--t-
THE suspected man was not informed of
the arrest of his followers. After being in
confinement for several days, Byrnes visited
him and called his attention to the court
yard AS detective and criminal appeared
at the window. one of Byrnes' officers, with
one OF the arrested members of the gang,
entered at the side gate with the tough
handcuTed to his wrist and walked across
the court yard into the building. In a few
minutes second officer appeared with an
other of the murderer's followers hand
cuffed to him. and this procession was kept
UP until the entire six had been thus ST.
lently paraded before the culprit's eyes
AS they turned for the window the pawn
broker with whom the victims watch had
been pawned by the leader entered the
room quietly. and. laying the timepiece
upon the table. withdrew without a word
The murderer. supposing that his pals had
peached, and that the police had positive
evidence against him. confessed and begged
for mercy. 1 afterward saw him exc
cuted
I'm another case. where the evidence was
incomplete. and 1t seemed as though the
suspect would be released for want of
proof. Byrnes caused a room in the po-
lice headquarters to be fitted UP precisely.
in every detail, including the wall paper.
as the apartment in which the crime was
committed The bed was stained with
beef's blood, and the victims clothing ar
ranged as when the body had been dis
covered. Byrnes. sitting on the side of
the bed. with a smile on his face, ordered
the murderer brought suddenly into the
room. The sight was too much for his
nerves and he weakened"