The times., 1901-03-22
A FAMOUS DETECTIVE DEAD
George W. McElfresh Succumbs to
Il Complication Of Ills.


WAS SIeuth Of National Reputation
-'tppointed nj the Personal Re
quest Of General Grnnt-Sbot Dur
! ing the Liberty Market Riots.
| George w. McElfresh, for many years
! one of the best known and most sue
| cessful detectives in the United States.
! died yesterday morning at , O'Clock at
| his home, 81 II Street northwest, of
! Brghts disease. He also suffered from
| the grip and toward the end developed
symptoms of pneumonia. He was sixty
! one years Of age and for some years had
! been special examiner in the Pension
! Office
The funeral will take place Sunday at
! : O'Clock from the late residence of the
! deceased and the interment will be at
! Cilenwood Cemetery Services will be
| conducted by the Rev. George o. Little,
! formerly of the Assemblys Church, and
! will be participated in at the grave by
] the members of kit Carson Post, No ,,
! G. A r., and the Old Guard, of both of
! which the deceased was a member.
! native of Maryland, Mr.. McEifresh
! came to this city when quite young He
had since made his home here. He was
an active supporter of the Republican
! party and had been entrusted with
number of confidential missions by ltS
/ political leaders.
/ Mr.. McElfresh received his appointment
in the Pension Office in lSSS, ana OF late
! years had been in the office OF W. j.
! Brooks the appointment clerk. He was
/ entrusted with many important cases,
! both here and in the field His last trip
was to Chicago about six months ago.
! Since his return he had been in fafilng
| health and every effort was made by
| those in the office TO Tighten his labors
! Monday a week ago he was seized with
! a chill in the office and went to his home
never to leave 1t alive. He grew steadily
/ worse. despite medical attention and the
| careful nursing of Mrs. McElfresh, and
passed away after days of suffering.
In his early youth George McElfresh
identified himself with what was known
as the Northern Liberty Market crowd,
and with them participated IN several
riots. He was courageous and II is re-
lated of him that on Bloody Monday,
June ], 1857. during the market house riot
over the election of William Magruder
as mayor of the city, when the marines
had to be called out to suppress the dis
turbance. he sat astride of loaded can
non as the soldiers advanced and tried
to set il off with a lighted cigar. which
he held in his hand. Failing to do so he
sprang to the ground and led the mob
against the advancing marines.
At the first vOlley McElfresh fell with
a bullet hole IN his head. 1t was thought
nc had been killed. but Drs. May and
Elliott managed TO stop the flow OF btood,
and after many weeks of suffering the
wounded man recovered. DR.. Elliott, in
describing the wound. is reported TO have
said that Dr. May, in trying to locate
the bullet, inserted his forefnger its fun
length into the wound. The bullet was
never found.
Early in the sixties Mr.. McElfresh was
appointed to a position on the police
force and assigned to the Fourth ward,
or what is now the Sixth precinct. At
the outbreak of the civil war he resigned
to join the three months men with the
District Volunteers. At the expiration Of
that service he became a member of
Company ID, of the Third Pennsylvania
Cavalry
When he returned to Washington Nc
Elfresh was appointed on the detective
force at the personal request of President
Grant. With James McDevitt as a part
ner, he served until 1882, when the entire
force was legislated out of office During
his stay in the detective Office he gained
a national reputation for his shrewdness
and ability. His most important work
was probably on the Billy Ottman case,
which involved the theft of $4,000 from
the Treasury Department. He and Nc
Dewitt were assigned to the case. and
succeeded in running down the culprits,
one of whom they arrested I'm New Jersey.
compromise was afterward effected with
the guilty parties. in the interests of the
Government. II was said.
When actively Identified with the Re
publican party. McElfresh was considered
by the leaders to be one Of the safest men
in the country to size up doubtful dis
tricts. lie is said to have been one of the
most Jealous workers in the Ohio cam
paigr which resulted i'm the election Of
James 4. Garfield.
After leaving the Police Department,
where h was said TO have a greater
knowledge OF and acquaintance among
criminals than any other man on the
force. McElfrcsh received an appointment
in the Georgetown custom house. which
position he held until made Il special ex-
aminer in the Pension once. That was
August l. 1883 He resigned the position
May 81 1892 and practiced as private
detective until May 10, 1897, when he was
reappointed TO his old position in the Pen
sion Ofiice
In speaking Of his old partner yester-
day, Detective James McDeyitt said: He
was man Of excellent ability good Judg-
ment. and as true a friend as ever
breathed. ] never knew ii more careful
searcher for stolen property.
Regrets were expressed on every side
when the news of the death of MT NIGEL
fresh became known among his old
friends The universal expression was
that nothing too good could be said