New-York tribune., 1903-03-16
EXPECTS TO FILL JOB.
Nez0 TenderIoin Commander THINKS
He Can Clean Up Precinct.

,ocaeded Cantain Miles OReilly at the Tenderoin
station intmated, in talking about his ne" dHueS
to 4 Tribune reporter yesterday, that he "ould 10
a large extent depend on the aid OF detectives at
rresent unknown to evildoers his precinct in his
efforts to clear the district of gambling and DIS
orderly houses and of all other classes OF crln1l-
nails He said he well aware that he was eN-
pected TO do much good work and that the conh-
dence that Commissioner Greene had in his ability
to cope with the conditions existing in the Tender
Ion was clearly expressed by the Commissioner IN
promoting him and immedia tcly assigning MIN 10
the TenderlUin precinct.
He thought he would be able to perform the duties
he had been asked to do in a manner satisfactory
to Commissioner Greene, to District Attorney
Jerome and to the public.
Though he has been eighteen years g member OF
the police force Captain OConnor is young man.
Is tall. broad shoulders. and looks to be an
athlete. There is a ruddy glow on his cheeks and
his eyes are bright. He has none Of that s"agger
that is a striking characteristic Of some OF the
captains who were the favOrites Of Tammany Hall
when Tammany was in its heyday He has at
tractive manners, and is pleasing talker
The task before is a difficult one" he said
''It is childs play. AS Commissioner Greene has
said, the proprietors of gambling and disorderly
houses here have plenty Of money 10 spend to
escape detection and stay the hand Of the law from
falling them. They employ clever and daring
to watch policemen and other persons who
may have suspicious about the nature OF their
business and who may be seeking to get evidence
against them These spoilers for the houses are
not considered to be able to do the work that they
hired to do unless they able to detect per-
sons looking to close the houses"
DO you think that precinct detectives and the
captain get evidence against such violators OF
the law without help from the Central Detective
Bureau from private detective agencies
II believe in pursuing up to date methods
Chronic or habitual evildoers cannot, in my opin-
ion. be caught by working old police lines.
have had considerable experience with the old style
OF detective work. 1 have known many Of the
ahl Cete IN he % he
efforts get evidence against the pToprlctOrs OF
gambling and disorderly houses ana many clever
rogues, by their identity being discovered. For
right when his district included the TenderIoin.
and know how many times men under him, who
thought that their plans to get evidence would meet
with success suddenly saw them shattered by
"A man would often be brought from ono of the
precincts far uptown He would eVince an eager
he could do it, and do it creditahly II he was uI,
not only please his superiors but also make mark
In the department Often such M men would & easily y
was thought were being run in violation of the
evidence they were baked The pronrietors Of Ger
tain gambling houses are their guard as soon as
duced at the house seeks to get another person into
corroborated Clever and bold detectives who
s6 I the to the to 66r 36 the 6 W IN r he Te %
most confidence In getting evidence sufficient to
is, in certain sense, to me ike wasting time jhe
person who has committed an infraction Of Of the
has had with the police and in the next attempt to
get him safely in your clutches greater obstacles
to overcome will be encountered than the FIRST
try"
Captain o'Connor said he would not make any
raids with brass bands Some Of his hearers took
this remark slap at District Attorney Jerome.
The captain alleged to have said that serving
one sandwich for five persons could not be con-
sidered to serve meal for each person.
The question to what IS a meal has. think"
To some persons a sandwich would be a meal and
for other persons a sandwich would be only
part OF a meal The salOOnkeeperS know what the
law is on this subject. and they must obey the
law"
Captain OConnor had busy day. lie took
charge Of the station about p m. Saturday
night. From to ) a. yesterday he made tour
of the precinct alone. He slept for four hours.
Soon after he awOka he started anothn9 tour
of the precinct. In the afternoon friends called
of them sent floral pieces to the station to decorate
his room. 1t was not unusually dry in the Tender
loin yesterday.
In the evening Captain O'Connor sent two men
see that the Sunday law regarding theatrical per
foTmanCes not violated. Special orders from
Commissioner Greene this subject had been sent
out. The Instructions not to make arrests, but
to lay the evidence obtained before MAGISTRATE
to-day and possible the war
A squad o. 'fsiIoony'' the TenderIOin pre-
cirCt yesterday kept watch on Captain OCOnnors
Four complaints against the patrOlmen were
made in the morning and three in the afternoon.
II their number who stopped corner to direct
q stranger, and caught in the act by 'shoo-
NY man concealed in n cab The they
came from duty, grumbled considerably al being
"atch>d in this by headquarters. and being. as
they saia, subjected ito petty persecution"