The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-15
$500 TO DO UP DR.. PARKHURST
YARN OF A MAN WHO SAYS POLICE
HIRED HIM FOR 1T.
Authorities Take 1t Seriously Enough to
summon sergt. Shells n Policeman
Phelan to Meet q Couple OF Worthless
Whom Frank VI oss Produces rs Acousera

J summon Sergt. Shells and Policeman
Phelan to Meet q Couple OF Worthless
Whom Frank loss Produces as Acousers
A yarn Of a police plot to kill or cripple
the Rev. DR.. c. H. P%arkhurst, the vice
hunter, has been under investigation In the
District Attorneys Office for several weeks.
Yesterday Magistrate Wahle issued four
subp8nas in a John Doe investi CATION,
which was set for this afternoon. 1t is
possible now that the John Doe inquiry
may be called off and that District Attorney
Jerome will take the case before the Grand
Jury.
The subppnas were for Sergt. John H.
Shells of the West Tooth street station,
Policeman John Phelan of the City Hall
station, l.. Rogers and Richard Wilson.
Shells was acting captain In the Tender
loin four years ago, when Laura Maurets
house in West Thirty-third street was
raided. James McAulife and his wife, a
dressmaker, who work for Supt. McClin-
took of the Parkhurst society, lived in the
next house. Mrs. McClintock is said to
have seen the police tip off the house, and
as a result several policemen. including
Edward Glennon, Detectives Darcy and
Shoenich and Shells were indicted. Shells
was dismissed from the force. but REIN
stated. Then Mc!Auliffe died, and it was
charged that he was murdered by the police,
but after a long investigation District At
torney Jerome gave up that theory.
When COMMISSIONS McAdoo was making
captains last summer Shells was very
near the top of the eligible list Of %sergeants.
For some reason he was not promoted.
The story of the plot" reached DR.. Park
bursts ears shortly before election. Rogers,
who has been a prison guard and a STOOL
pigeon for Central Office detectives. had
been employed by the Citizens Union
doing odd Jobs, such as hanging banners
and carrying around posters. He was
under Robert Kelly of the Cts, who did
a good deal of work for District Attorney
Jerome. One day Rogers went to Kelly
and unfolded this story:
He had been approached by Phelan,
who was wardman for Sergt. Shells, then in
command of the West Tooth street station.
This was In June or July, when DIR. Park
hurst was abroad. Phelan told Rogers
that the "old man" (meaning Sheils) wanted
to put DR.. %Parkhurst's lights out Phelan
said that Shells was willing to pay $500 for
the job and that Rogers would get $500;
the other 5000 going TO Phelan.
Kelly took the story to DR.. Parkhurst
who sent for Frank Moss, counsel for the
society. Rogers was told to go ahead and
negotiate. He was also told to get a part
ner who could be used a bodyguard and
who has followed DR.. Parkhurst around
since.
Rogers says he got Wilson, and Wilson
entered into the scheme. 1t is understood
that Wilson also has made a statement
accusing the policemen. Rogers says that
he let it be known that he was willing to give
the doctor a good licking. but not to kill
him. He introduced Wilson to phelan,
who took him to see Shells. Wilson says
Shells said he would let Wilson know when
the job should be pulled off. A blackjack
was to be used.
From the time that Wilson and Rogers
saw the captain they have been watched
by men from the District Attorneys office
and by detectives employed by the Park
hurst society. Finally the detectives heard
a conversation between Wilson and Rogers,
and Wilson was summoned to Frank Moss's
office. After being on the griddle for twelve
hours he is said to have made a 'contession.'
Both Rogers and Wilson made afidavits
before Magistrate Wahle, They were told
that il they didn't tell the truth they would
be prosecuted for perjury.
Sergt. Shells said last night that he
the idea that he wanted to do away with
DR.. P%arkhurst.
-Dr. Parkhurst so far as 1 know never
did anything to harm me-, he said. AS
to the people mentioned in this case never
heard Of Richard Wilson. | know of Rogers,
grand larceny. A man named Phelan
did duty in the precinct at one time, but
/ never said five words to him.
Detective Short OF the West Tooth street
station. told last night of arresting Rogers's
son James with another youth on a charge
Of grand larceny for stealing the contents
Of q trunk. He says the two young men
were held and tried and convicted but that
Judge Rosalsky suspended sentence. AT
the time of the arrest the elder Roge RS
had made threats about getting even.
Policeman Phelan said last night that he
met Rogers IN 1899 and was told that Rogers
did stool pigeon work for many Central
Office detectives and was a good man to
know In case one wanted to find evidence.
"In the following year" continued the
policeman, Il brought suit against my wife
FOR divorce. When Rogers heard Of it he
volunteered his services as a witness. 1
refused them. A few DAYS later a woman
came from Rogers and offered to shadow
my wife for 81 a day. ! didn't want her
either. Rogers approached me again and
Itook him one day to a place where he could
get a good look at my wife and be able to
recognize her il he saw her anywhere.
did not see him again from that time until
last January. shortly after / wa~stransferred
from the West Tooth street station to the
CitySHall.
aHe came up to me and wanted to know
how i was Rettlng along IN my divorce SUIT:
He asked me how my witnesses were and
said he would 60 on the stand for me IL ]
wanted him to. | told him I had enough
witnesses. A week ago, after ] had secured
the divorce, he met me in City Hall Park
and wanted to borrow ten cents. / turned
him down, for | had lent him dim es and
quarters many times before and was tired
of him. Everything he has said about me
is false. | never had any conversation
with him at all regarding Sergt. Shells or
any other conversation hat | could avoid"