The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-06-05
NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS
ARE EMPLOYED
45 Stool Pigeons by the Detective
Force of Seatte-The Case Of
Frank Comyns.


ness houses in the neighborhood of
twenty third avenue and Madison
street it has been brought to light chat
several city detectives ald patrOlmen
furnish protection to thieves and rob-
bars I0r what information they mag
in return furnish to the officers con-
corning the movements Of other Grim
mails. saws the Seattle Times
Men or women who are willing to
inform on their associates are known
in police parlance as stool pigeons.
As a general rule they are cOntemp-
tibe lot and it is often the case that
when q thief gets the reputation of
being a stool he is put out Of the
way by his pals Several years ago
a well known Chicago thief was found
dead in a shack at Kent. He had been
murdered because it was said he had
given out information which mad led
20 the arrest of several criminals.
CCmyns is the reputed stool pig
con" OF Detective Adams, and it was
learned on the best authority today
thai the man will leave the city as
soon as the prison doors swing open.
COmyns was arrested early Saturday
morning by Captain of Police Powers
ana Detective Jack Barck
Sure Comyns Is the Man.
That COmyns is the man who rob
bed the stores in question is believed
by Chief Sullivan and many officers
in the department. The officers found
COmyns' coat in the rear OF one gro
Gerry store which was not robbed. If
COmyns is the gdily man it is thought
he was frightt4Cu away before he had
an opportunity to gain entrance. \
memorandum book found in one OF
the pockets # the coat contained
CCmyns name and the address Of one
Ct the stores robbed.
OF course COmtn5 stOuliy maintains
his ilnOCeAce and says that he was
not IN that neighbOrlOOd Friday night.
He has already admitted that the
coat belongs to him, but cannot eX-
plain how it happened to be found so
close to the buildings which We're
broken into. Comyns is held without
a charge. and it is likely his case Will
be today or tomorrow.
COmyns is said to be one OF the
best burglars who ever operated in
Seattle He was first arrested in 1899
on a charge 81 entering the residence
bed several otter residences. and at
one place dre.v revolver and fred
a shot at WC>raH. He tried to make
his escape frC@ . ne borhOOd. but
was followed tC - foot Of Pike street
by a colored MAJ. who disarmed him
and placed him in the custody of
Jailer Corning. COmyns admitted his
guilt, but was only sentenced to one
year in the penitentiary.
In Jail Many Times.
Since his first arrest Comyns has
been in Jail several times as a sus-
poet, but has always been released
He is known as Red COmyns, and
among the thieves as Tattoo Red.
COmynS has relatives in Seattle and it
is through their influence that he
has been released on several Occa-
siOns.
1t has been asserted that Comyns
was with Charles Murray on the night
the latter was shot to death by De-
tectives Adams and Lane in the Bick-
ford grocery store on Madison street
The story told by the TWO officers at
the time was that they had been given
the information the place was to be
robbed and upon going there found
two burglars.
Both officers claim that Murray fired
at them. A cheap revolver was found
lying near his dead body by Deputy
Coroner Wiltsie The killing has al
ways been shrOuded in a great deal
Of mystery. and it has been alleged
that Murray was led to his death by
the second man. It was openely
Oh n ,tCr, bot hot
with Murray. but he was never ar
rested.
The dead burglar Gid not bear the
reputation Of being a very bal man.
and it VIII always be the opinion OF
many police officers that Comyns could
tell great deal about the robbery
if he cared to. 1t is also said that
he has talked too much already.
Comyns has told the officers at head
quarters that he was a close friend
OF Detective Adams.
The particulars surrounding the
death Of Murray We're never made
clear, and it is the general belief that
the second man in the store at the
| time of the shooting must have been
given an opportunity to escape Then,
1t is said. that COmyns was a close
friend OF Harry Tracy, the outlaw. 1t
is thought Comyns made an effort to
see Tracy while he was near Seattle
The practice Of officers using mem
berS of tn ecriminal class to keep
bers of the criminal class to keep
Jority of peace officers in Seattle. At
the present time, it is asserted. sew
eral dangerous criminals received
protection because they furnish tips"
to certain detectives
COmyns has been in Seattle for the
past two years, and it is known that
he has never worked. He has been
| seen in the neighbOrhood of TWENTY
thIrd avenue and Madison street num-
bers of times and Chief Sullivan is
convinced they have the right man in
Jail.
When the big gaming houses were
open in the old tenderlOin district
several men were acting as boosters
and door who waro moi