The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-22


Appointed mt the Personal Re
quest of General Grnnt-Shot 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 al
his home, 81 II Street northwest, OF
! Bright's 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 a special examiner in the Pension
Once.
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 -
! the members of Kit Carson Post, No. ,,
C. A. r., and the Old Guard, of both of
which the deceased was a member.
| native of Maryland, Mr.. McElfresh
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 a
! number of confidential missions by It's
/ political leaders.
| Mr. McElfresh received his appointment
! in the Pension Office in 1855 and Of late
! years had been in the office OF w. j.
! Brooks, the appointment clerk. He was
both here and in the field. His last trip
was to Chicago about six months ago
| Since his return he had been In faiiihg
! health, and every effort was mace py
| those in the office to tighten his labors.
| Monday a week ago he was seized with
a chill In the office and went to MS nome
| never to leave II alive. He grew steadliy
| worse, despite medical attention ana 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 1t 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
| turbarce he sat astride of loaded can
non as the soldiers advanced and tried
| to set 1t 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 blood,
| and after many weeks Of suffering the
wounded man recovered. Dr. Eiliott. III
said that DR.. May, in trying to locate
the bullet. inserted his forefinger its fun
| length into the wound. The bullet was
never found.
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 D. 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 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
ard 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 in New Jersey.
A 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. He is said TO have been one Of the
most Jealous workers in the Ohio cam
James a. Garfield
After leaving the Police Department
where he 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 special ex-
aminer in the Pension OffiCe. That was
August l. 1883. He resigned the position
May q, 1892. and practiced as a private
detective until May 10, 1891 when he was
int. NnH Il lon
sion Once.
Ia speaking of his old partner yester-
day, Detective James McDevitt said: He
was a man Of excellent ability. good Judg
ment. and as true friend as ever
| hreathed. ! never knew more careful
searcher for stolen property
Regrets We're expressed on every side
when the news of the death of Mr. McEl-
fresh became known among his old
friends. The universal expression was
| that nothing too good could be said
81, i'm,