The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-26
"ANGEL" DENNET |
IS IN RICHMOND
Great LexoW investigator is Here
on Business.
ScHMITTBERGER CONFESSION
He Talked of Old Times in New York Crime
"reminiscences OF Striking Things
Brought Out by His
Work.

The man through whose Investigations
the police and political iniGuities OF New
York We're laid bare at the famous LeXow
Committee investigation; that man who
cid more indirectly. possibly, than any
other single individual to upset the Tam
many Hall administration in New York
and elect the late Mayor William L.
Strong: that man 10 whom the present
recorder of New York. John ". Golf, is
indebted for the information which en-
abled him to expose the rottenness of the
New York Police Department. and that
man who accompanied DR.. Charles II.
Parzhurst 4. the time of his famous trip
through the dives of New York, is i'll
Richmond. This is Mr. ~ f bennett,
known throughout the country as An
GEL bennett
During the two years of the existence
OF the LeXow Committee, Mr.. bennett,
known only in New York as Angel"
bennett was the superintendent of the
Parkhlrst Society. In this capacity his
name was feared ana at the same time
ridiculed by the gamblers of New York,
by the disorderly and criminal clements
by the police and by those higher poiiei-
clans, who, it was alleged were accept
ing hush money from the criminal classes
TO Mr.. bennett was due the credit. large
~ OF finally forcing Captain Schmitt-
Berger to his confession Of the giving and
the accepting of brides, and it was to
Mr.. bennett that all of Ne", York at one
time looked for a solution of that crst-
while oft-asked question: Where did he
set it?' as applied TO Richard Croker,
the .ranlnauy chteftain.
WAS IN ASYLUM
This was back in 1885 Mr.. bennett
dropped out of sight in New York few
months after the conclusion of the Lexow
investigation. having been sent by friends
to Bioomingdale Asylum, temporary
wreck under the pressure of work which
had been in his hands. Some three Or
four months later, Mr.. bennett, thorough
ly cured was released from Bloomingdale,
and since that time he has been travelling
as a commercial salesman He is now in
Richmond on behalf of a fire eXtinGuisher
company. He said yesterday that ne had
heard that Richmond was one OF the most
productive cities in the country in the
matter OF fires and that it needed some
body to put it out. He will probably re-
main here for several weeks.
In manner, Angel bennett IS now and
always has been the last man III tns
world one would pick out for detective,
vet the fact remains that he was once
one of the best in the country. ms ap-
Dearaucc of absolute meekneSS always
stood MI. bennett in good stead in New
York at the time when threats were made
against his life and that of Mr.. Golf for
their investigation into police and gamt.
ling iniquity. He is extremely placid or
feature. tall. somewhat numbering III
movement and very mild in his state
ments. Since the time of the Lexow
COMMITTEES. which was in 1894. he has
gained a great deal of flesh and now
weighs more than two hundred pounds.
MR. BENNETT TALKS.
In the New Forts's Hotel yesterday
afternoon Mr. bennett was talking about
the old Lexow to a Times reporter.
IT have not been in New York for th-ee
or four years. he said. in fact. since Just
after the time was released from biooiii,
ingdale Now have given it all up ana
ar, deyoting my entire time TO the saie