The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-21
Detective COsgrovs Joined Rob-
~ber Band at Tuckahos.
TO SOLVE MURDER MYSTERY.
Gnng Was ThundsrstTuck When Hs A.
nsuncsd Himself asan Officer and Warned
Them 10 Tell The Truth.

White Plains. N. Y, June Ain the
court house here today, Samuel S. Co.'S
grove "a New York detective, abandoned
the criminal role that he had played for
months I'm the interest OF Justice
At the entrance OF the grand jury room
he confronted men with whom he had
planned grave crimes. II am an officer
OF the laww he shouted. II warn you
TO tell the truth" His unmasking pro-
duced a sensation.
The westchester grand jury was about
20 resume it's inquiry into the mystery
OF the death OF Thomas Thorpey, OF
Tuckahoe He was an employe of the
New Rochelle Water company. lie was
found on the night OF Jan q lying dead
i'm a snow bank beside the road. about
half a mile from the Tuckahoe station.
Members OF Thorpeys family, particu-
larly his sisters Jennie and Margaret,
were not satisfied with the finding of the
coroner of accidental death. There were
persistent rumors OF a fight In saloon
near the station, and or man being car
ried at night up the road toward the
place where Thorpey was found.
Sisters OF the dead man vowed they
would not rest until their brothers as
sallants were arrested. They had the
cooperation OF District Attorney George
c. Andrews. of Westchester county.
East Chester offered a reward OF $500.
which was increased TO 1900 by the board
of supervisors of Westchester county,
for the conviction OF those responsible
for the crime.
DETECTIVES WERE ENGAGED,
District Attorney Andrews employed De-
tectives Cosgrove. George w. Drummond
and Harry Mccullough, of New York.
They started with the story OF the saloon
row The result of their labors failed
yesterday in obtaining an indictment
against anybody but revealed startling
conditions in towns and villages along
the line OF the Harlem road In Westches-
ter
Cosgrove found Tuckahoe TO be the
headquarters OF band of hardened ruff
fans. He assumed the role of rough
and mingled with the band that gathered
nightly in resorts throughout that local
ity. Gradually he gained the confidence
OF the men, and when he had thoroughly
disarmed suspicion he tested his estima te
OF their character by suggesting ways OF
getting money without working for H.
He posed as an expert housebreaker,
and the robbery of the residence OF a
prominent resident of Tuckahoe was sug-
gested. Cosgrove found men ready to
assist him. Several housebreakings We're
planned, Cosgrove said yesterday. but
he managed TO find an excuse each time
why the work should be postponed.
Once, however. he found IL necessary
TO be arrested In Mount Vernon i'm order
to avoid carrying out a burglary which
had been planned. He acted so strangely
outside a house in-Mnunt- -Xennon-on
night that he was arrested by the police
on suspicion that he was about TO commit
burglary.
POLICE WERE DECEIVED.
The police believed they had a desper-
ate criminal. He was a prisoner several
days. and District Attorney Andrews said
yesterday that IL took all his ingenuity
TO prevent the grand jury from indicting
him I'm reality. Cosgrove planned the
robbery of another New York detective
whom he knew. They found a detective
conveniently intoxicated and actually took
his watch and two dollars.
While this side play was going on Cos
grove, with the assistance OF the other
detectives, was weaving a net around
several young men In and about Tucka-
hoe, which he believed would eventually
result in their indictment Tor the murder
of Thorpey.
When the case was ready subpoenas
were issued for about score of men
with whom Cosgrove and the other de-
tectives had become acquainted. Many of
the men grew pale when Cosgrove dis
closed his identity. lie had changed his
| disguise, but they knew him.