The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-03

the Part Played by Savannah De-
tectIves In the Apprehension of
the Men-OmciaI Conduct of Detec-
tives Wetherhorn. scuIly, Barrett
and shea the Subject of Investiga-
tion-No Action Yet Taken and In
dictments Against Detectives Not
Likely to Result.
The United States grand jury that as
s mtled yesterday morning spent the
greater part of its morning and the whole
of its afternoon session in the investiga-
ton of the connection of Detectives Weth-
erhorn. Sculy. Barrett and Shea, with
the Ocil safe bowers, Belmont, Nelson
ard Perry.
When court convened the grand jury
men were all present and responded 10
their names. Judge Speer delivered no
extensive charge, but in a few words COM
mitted the jurors to the care of Assistant
District Attorney Leaken and the dis
charge of their duty. Then the grand jury
retired. 1t is made up follows: John
j McDonough, foreman, Wright Hunter,
clerk, Philip Y. Giles, Ernest A. Armand,
w. R. Browne, Harry S. Dreese, j. II.
Davidson, F. f. Jones, James McGrath,
George S. Haines, John P. Cason, w. 7.
Hopkins, Charles E. Suits. G.. Bourquin,
r. H. Polk Harry Lehwald. Sidney P.
Goodwin, Henry Bartlett, James T. Shup-
trine and William o. Ketchum.
AS soon as the jury room was
reached the case of Harry Belmont,
Harry Nelson and John Perry,
lii
tering the postoffice at Della,
Ga. and stealing therefrom money
and stamps belonging to the gov
eminent, was called, and witnesses be-
gan to be introduced and examined. In
the course of the examination 1t became
apparent that the Savannah detective
force had been on rather intimate terms
with the safe-blowers after their arrest,
had taken trips from the station house
In their company, from one of which Be-
mont and Nelson returned very much
the worse for wear, and that since their
Incarceration in the county Jail upon a
commitment from United States Commits
sioner Lewis their meals had been fur
nished from a restaurant in the vicinity
at the expensive of the detective force,
or some of its members.
No indictments were returned by the
grand jury during the day, but it is taken
to be matter Of course that true bills
will be returned against Belmont, Perry
and Nelson probably when court convenes
this morning Belmont and Perry have
confessed their guilt, and though they re-
pudiate the acquaintance of Perry, the
evidence for the government is sufficiently
strong to warrant the return of true bill
of Indictment against him, even if it will
not suffice to secure a conviction. II is
even thought that it will serve TO ac-
complish this end. Perry is a one-legged
NJ W
town where the robbery of the postoffice
was committed. Belmont and Nelson, it
will be remembered, were landed here.
The evidence against the detectives
does not seem to show them
guilty of any criminal offense. That is. 80
far as it has leaked cut from the jury
room. The suspicion directed against
them arises from the failure either to re-
cover or to explain the wherea bouts Of
about S100 worth of stolen stamps, taken
in connection with visit paid by Detec-
tives Scully, Barrett and Shea and the
safe-blowers, Belmont and Nelson, u
Retlly's bar the incidents of that trip and
the attentions the safe blowers have re-
ceived at the hands of the detective force.
At the time of this visit Belmont AMI
Nelson were confined at the police station
house. The detectives obtained from
Superintendent Screven his permission TO
have them photographed, and the party
ton
On the way from the photograph gallery
back TO the station house though, a rath-
er crcuitous route was taken and the de-
tectives and their prisoners stopped at
Reily's bar, on Bryan street. In the
meantime the safe blowers had been COM
fortably accommodated with a drink or
two and were feeling their oats. 1t is in
evidence that al Reilly's one of the safe
blowers fished up a package from behind a
whisky barrel, where he had concealed it
before his arrest
About the contents of this package
there seems to be some difference of
opinion Detective Shea's recollection
has il that all 1t contained was a soiled
undershirt, while Detective Scully is
equally positive that it was a revolver
that the wrapper concealed. From Reilly s
the line of march was resumed, and when
the prisoners were finally returned to
their cells at the station house it is said
that they were in remarkably jovial
and light-spirited condition, that seemed
to have derived some of its glamour from
the cup that cheers.
Detective Wetherhorn's share in the
suspicion that seems in free circulation in
the grand jury room springs from the
fact, admitted by himself, that he pur-
| chased from the prisoners four revolvers
| at a total cost of IS. The contention of
| the government is that as these revolvers
| were certainly purchased by Bel
mont and Perry with the proceeds of their
robbery of the DELLA postoff1ce and as this
| fact must have certainly been known
! to the detective. it was not exactly right
! that he should have bought or retained
! the revolvers, but should rather have as
| sisted in seeing to il that the weapons
were turned over to the proper authori-
! ties
Detectives Scully and Shea say that
| since Belmont and Perry's confinement IN
| Jail they have been having the prisoners
meals sent them from Taylor and Tous-
! saints restaurants, OF a cost of 81 % per
day Two meals day ere furnished each
Of the men from the restaurant, and the
detectives foot the bills They explain
| this by saying that they expect to REIN
burse themselves for this outlay from
! the rewards they will receive from the
government for the apprehension of Bel
mont and Perry.
| These are the facts that came out in
! the hearing before the grand jury. I,
| seems unlikely thet they will result IN
! the find OF an indictment against any one
| of the detectives, but Il may well be that
upon them will be based some action ex.
presslve of the grand jurys disapproval