New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-17
AXE FALLS ON EGGERS.
COSTIG4N SUCCEEDS HIN.
".Shoofg" RoundSman Promoted to
Detectire Sergeant.

.-,g-r Captain William Esggers on whom Com
missioner McAdoo pinned his faith for the extinc-
80, az vice ana the abolishment OF poolroons.
was removed from The command OF his special
,usd Yesterday and told report TO Brooklyn
roIice Headquarters. where he will be in command
~ The Detective Bureau. The special vice and
-ool-oor squad VIII he commanded by Daniel z
Costizsu who. as q roun6sman. EgGers right
hand man. When the Commissioner deposed Egg
GERS Yesterday, he made Costigan n detective ser
essr- and placed him in command Of the squad
through his secretary. Mr. McAdoo gave out a
lonS statement concerning his action. After q
long investigation. he said, he had become con-
WINGED that II necessary TO reorEanize and
s--snrthen the EEgers squad Weak men, he said
ps would weed out iuammediately. for under rea-
eozgble suspicion. q mans usefulness is ended"
ro-1dsusn CosUgau's promotion was, the Com
missioner said for merttorious work under my
rsrsonaI observation, and because I well sat
isaed with his capacity intelligence. integrity and
fidelity"
EEse-ss downfall began when Commissioner Nc
A6oo went on his vacation last summer, ordering
RS secretary. Mr.. Howell 70 stay Police Head
quarters in his absence. Mr. Howell stayed only a
few days and then started his vacation.
oircidentIy with his departure there were stories
which would not down that Deputy Commissioner
MoAvoy had organized second vice squad, whose
chief duty 10 watch the Eggers men, but
when Nj NcAdoo returned from his vacation he
p7oeessed 10 know nothing OF such q squad.
While the Commissioner was away there were
extremely few poorooms Tafded. because OF political
influence some said. Mr.. McAdoo took no notice Of
ths cessation Of activity until three weeks ago when
Nj Howell. Roundsnan Costigan and the men Of
the Esse-s squad raided alleged poolroom in
Bond-st Acting Captain Bggers was 81 luncheon
ard knew nothing about the raid until & was over.
Other raids in the Mercer-st. precinct and IN
others were made by The same men in the next few
days over the head Of the acting captain Nj Nc
Atoo's sole answer. when asked about these raids.
vss thai those who had made them shared his fun
confidence.
Sergeant Eggers was made an acting captain
snd placed IN command Of the special squad over
& wear ego. He waz allowed 10 select any man he
wanted below the grade Of sergeant. and finally
-icl,ed OUT about thirtv-fvs men, who were spread
al over the city get evidence against poolrooms
snd 6,so-6erly houses, and the various forms OF
gambling When the squad first formed the
Commissioner announced that any captain whose
Efs+-i-- vas raided BY Eggers police over his head
would r. likely 70 get INTO serious Co0olA z-Sesrly
ere-v zprain IN Manhattan had raids made over
his head. but Captain T1she and Captain Q conner
were the only commanders 70 pc pLaceo on trial
ssn1zE7 O-Conror Is now hack IN ms Old pCecL1ct,
rS-re-s rrsr attracted attention in 1890, when he
80 in me West 19aIh-SJ station when Max
S-Pr7i-rterger was in command Of the precinct,
-5rorious crooks IN the city and The booty OF many
-otberies recovered In 1902 Commissioner
detective sergeant; CntI ne ~as puL n Co- a
rnand of me special squad. ne was attached 10
Chief Inspector Cort-1Ehts stan ,.
Defective Sergeant COstgan was appointed q
-g4-olr-77 IN 1ssa and made roundsn1an by COM
missioner Partridge early il 1897 During al OF
Cr----issione- Creene's administration ne was the
.-os- dreaded 'tshoofy'' roundsman in the depart
0en- He vas noted fer his fairness, but he mace
more complaints and obtained more oonvlollons
p-fri!sgss and powers that were possessed by
EEEe-s-