Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-28
BYRNES AND CROOKS.
THE METHODS OF NEW WORKS. OLD
CHIEF OF POLICE.

A group Of old New York police and
fire officials were chatting the other day
when the talk veered around to ex.Se-
pcrintendent of Police Byrnes.
Tom ByrneS," said an ex-detective
sergeant, "was bright man, but he real
" gained his reputation through the tai
cnt Of the men under him. The men did
the work. but he got the credit and the
notoriety. lie was shrcwd in this re-
bpect. lie surrounded himself with the
best men in the department, and every
thing they accomplished he took the cred
it for
That's your side OF it, said fire
captain. but I'm going to tell a little
story about Byrnes which will show you
just how the man worked and which will
prove, / think that he didn't get any
more credit than he deserved. When /
was deputy fire marshal, | got to know
number OF the people around police
headquarters. About that time well
known society leader 49, call her Mrs.
Jones-was living at her country house
on the Hudson not far from Tarrytown.
Her husband was in Europe, and, be-
sides her servants, she had stopping with
her u woman friend. To make matters
easy, we will say her name is Miss
Smith. One night n burglar got into the
house and finally landed In the room of
Miss Smith. She was awakened. but be-
fore she could move she was told by the
burglar, who, by the way, was masked,
that If she kept quiet she would not be
harmed. lie Kept his word, and she was
too scared to open her eyes for nearly an
hour after he had gone. Then she set
/
up big yen. But no trace of the in
truder could be found OF course. Strange
TO say however Tor woman, She re-
tanned good description OF the burglar.
ANA Wnat impressed her most was MS
voice. whlch, she SAID she would recog'
nize at any time
he local police were notlled OF III.
burglary, but nothing came of 1t unth
two weeks later. One afternoon Mrs.
Jones ana her guest drove TO town and
stopped at store whore newspapers and
stationery were on sale Inc proprietor
of the place was young man who had
worked on train selling papers, candy
and books ard, being an industrious chap,
had saved enough money to start in busi-
ness for himself. He waited on the Gus
toners and naturally there was some
conversation over their purchases. On
leaving the store the two women got into
their carriage and started for home.
MISS Smith appeared nervous, and the
other asked what the trouble was.
I've FOUND out who the man was that
robbed US. was the startling reply.
no" asked her friend in surprise.
he man who waited on US IN thac
store.
Nonsense said Mrs. Jones. That's
Impossible. lie owns the store and is
respectable man. He's married too. L
think you're very much mistaken.
But Miss Smith was positive in her
conviction. She said that the burglar
was OF the same height and build, and, to
make the identification complete, she was
sure that the voices of the burglar and
the proprietor Of the store we're exactly
alike. She couldn't be mistaken.
1.-THE next day Mrs. Jones husband ar
rived from Europe. He was told of the
burglary and what had happened suhse-
quently and was so impressed with Miss
Smiths convictions that he had the man
VINO ran the stationery store arrested
and lodged in Jail to await the conven-
ing of the county grand jury. Here was
nice mix up and I'll tell you it looked
mighty bad for the prisoner for the PEG.
pie who caused his arrest had good deal
of influence. However, the prisoner had
many friends in the town and they in
terested themselves in the case. They de-
clarcd that 1t was ridiculous to lock
man up on such timsy evidence, but Miss
Smith positively identified him as the
burglar, so what could be done! 1t hap
pened that one of the prisoners friends
was friend Of Tom Byrnes. 80 one
morning he came down to this city and
explained the whole thing to ByrneS,
asking his help. Byrnes promised TO do
what he could.
/ Some time before this Byrnes mad Is
sued an order that caused lot OF as
sensipn among his detectives. Ihe order
required them TO give him report each
day OF every crook they met In their trav-
els Special mention was TO be made
where they saw the crook, and they were
TO follow him few blocks ana mo out
II possible where be was gong. lhe
men thought this unnecessary, but most
of them complied with 1t. They were
also required TO keep record for their
own use.
The morning after Byrnes Iarrytown
friend had visited him he told his men or
the case, detailing the description OF the
| burglar as given by Miss Smith. One OF
! the younger members of the staff. who
/ was very bright fellow and is in the
business today. took out his notebook
v,al,' NJ nro tI,.y,-