New-York tribune., 1905-01-27
CROSS BROOKLYN HEAD.
O'Bnen Succeeds McCIusky IN
Charge of Detectives.

Four transfers of high officers of the police
force two Of which caused great surprise among
other such officials, were ordered by Police Com
missioner TcAdoo yesterday. The first the
transfer of Inspector Patrick II. Mclaughlin from
the Brooklyn Headquarters TO the 9Th Inspection
District, degrading him from the position Of
borough inspector. in which he has been the
nominal head Of the uniformed force in Brooklyn.
To fill this important place Mr.. McAdOo sent In
spector Adam A. Cross from the 9th district
CThe Bronx to the Brooklyn Headquarters as
borough inspector.
Inspector George W. NIcClusky. the chief of the
Detective Bureau. into The Bronx to
take the place made vacant by Cross. and Acting
Inspector Stephen o. Bren was transferred from
the street traffic squad TO the command of the
Detective Bureau. No officer placed in charge
of the traffic squad, Mr.. McAdoo announcing that
Deputy Commissioner McAvOy would look after
it until he had selected another man.
The degrading of Inspector Mclaughlin of Brook
lyn is likely 10 arouse a tempest in that borough,
because Mclaughlin has a good record and has been
long in the service. Mr.. McAdoos action is sup
posed be strong hint that McLaughlin's retire
ali the more Significant because the Commissioners
sends to Brooklyn as borough inspector a man who
mas been put back into it by the courts within only
a few WEEKS. Cross was dismissed first in 1894
a captain convicted of eXtorting money from dens
spector Charged with neglect of duty in permitting
many disorderly places and poorooms to flourish
unmoested in his district east Of the Bowery
spection district in the Eastern District came as
shock TO him and a surprise TO the members of
the force in Brooklyn. This was because he had
been regarded a fixture, having held the soft
berth the Brooklyn headquarters since shortly
after consolidation, except for brief period. That
exception in lS0O when he was transferred to
Queens by Chief Deyery.
When asked to comment his transfer last night
Inspector Mclaughlin replied coldly: Il have moth
ing TO say"
Detective Bureau had been expected since McCluslly
got into trouble with Detective Sergeant Eggers.
head OF Mr. McAdoo's own little detective force,
over the arrest of a accused OF stealing Mrs.
Tatums jewels at the Hotel Seville but diSplaCe
McClUsky with O'Bren, who has been making
good record in the traffic bureau and regarded
failure in the Detective Bureau when he had
command there three years ago, seemed to be
garded by other officials yesterday as peculiar.
McClusky is sent away from the Detective Bureau
for the third time. He went into the bureau orig
inally detective officer when Inspector Byrnes
was in command there, and became a detective
sergeant and of Byrnes's pets He got the
title Of Handsome George" because he was sent
in dress suit TO attend many receptions at the
houses of richpeope in town, and that no pro-
monds. AS a detective sergeant he was placed in
command of tho bureau for a time by the Roose-
welt Board of Police but he sent to a Bronx
precinct as plain patrolman when O'Brien was
placed in charge Of the bureau, III 1895. This was
said to be the beginning Of bitter enmity between
OBTien and McCuskv
At the beginning OF chief Devery's rule I'm Null
berry-st.. McClusky who had been made captain
was brought back TO command the Detective Bureau
for time. Devery soon tired OF McCluslxy how
ever and transferred him TO q precinct for being
too chesty." McCluslSy made an inspectoT
and placed in charge of the bureau again by Com
missioner Greene.