Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-25
LAST CHARGE IS SERIOUS
Post Office Authorities Will Make an
Investigation, Perhaps.
BUT THEY WANT THE LETTERS
Can Do Nothing Without Them They
Say to Detect the Possible
Offenders.


Laughlin, stormy petrol Of the police de-
partment and one of the most picturesque
characters ever connected with it, was re-
tired yesterday at his own request, and at
midnight he ceased to be a captain of police.
His application for retirement when at
any moment charges might have been
brought against him for alleged irregulari-
ties in connection with the Howard Gould
divorce case while commanding the de-
tective bureau was a surprise to Mulberry
that the survivor of many storms would not
quit until the present sea of trouble was
Gained.
His leaving the department will not how
ever, check the investigation which is al
ready under way for the purpose of ascer-
tanning to what extent the detective bureau
has been used as a private agency at the be-
hest of persons of wealth and influence 1t
has been an open secret for decades that
officials connected with it have received
valuable hints from Wall street men with
regard to personal investments, for which
they gave adequate return
Frequently designing persons, through in
timations from Mulberry street, have been
quietly removed from the city when they
became troublesome to eminent fnanciers.
The friendship between several well-known.
leaders of the street and the detective
bureau was SO well known that it had
ceased to even attract comment.
Mrs. Gould to Tell Story.
1t is certain now that the whole system
will be thoroughly investigated. Impor-
tant witnesses, among them Mr.. and Mrs.
Howard Gould, are said to have been sub
poenaed. 1t was reported last night that
Mrs. Gould. who alleges that the detective
bureau unduly interested itself in trying to
obtain evidence against her, has notified
Commissioner Bingham that she is willing
to go to headquarters and tell her story.
One of the things which she may relate
concerns an effort said to have been made
by Inspector Mclaughlin before he was dis
rated to have personal Interview with her
at the Hotel Martinique with regard to the
suit for divorce She was about to bring
against her husband.
Capt. McLaughlin's resignation was the
climax ola series Of stirring incidents
Bert Hanson, third deputy police commits
sioner. Mr.. Hanson Thursday night OBJ
tanned from Lieut.. William F. Peabody
confession OF his connection with the Gould
affair, in which it was shown the inspector
had sent Peabody to Baltimore to look up
the record Of the marriage of George Daw-
son and of a Harriet Lonsdale, whom
former convict. known as big Hawley,"
Kofh rJp
Clemmons. now Mrs. Gould. The lieutenant
also told how Inspector Mclaughlin took
Hawley and Edward Sholes. a Snowman
formerly connected with the Buffalo Bill
Wild. West, to the Office of De Lancey
Nicoll counsel for Mrs. Gould.
Days Developments.
DR.. Martin A. McGovern. chief police sur
geon, yesterday morning made a recon-
mendation to Commissioner Bingham that
a board of three surgeons be appointed for
the purpose of ascertaining whether the
chronic bronchitis, tonsilitis or rheumatism,
Capt. Mclaughlin was suffering was Sc
rious enough to require his retirement.
Edward Sholes later in the day called
en- Mr.. Hanson and gave his story of the
investigation by the detective bureau of
the story Of the inquiry into previous
connrmed the tale told by eab0dy.
He explained that when he had previous
ly denied that he had received a telegram
from Peabody he merely meant it in a
Pickwickian sense. His wife had received
the message, and instead Of mailing the
original to him had informed him Of its
contents in a letter. He told how he had
been summoned to the detective bureau
where he was closely examined by Inspect
or Mclaughlin as to his story Of pre-
vious marriage by Mrs. Gould. At the con-
cllsion of this conference the inspector
said: Come on with me to De Lancey
Nicoll's Office" Arrived at the office OF
the attorney, Shofes was again ques-
toned as to the report he had heard, and
after that Peabody was sent to Baltimore
on what proved to be fruitless quest,
There Is good reason to believe that the
captain, who Is in his home in East SD
street, was informed of all that went for
ward at police headquarters and that his
resignation was the direct outcome. His
application for retirement was received by
Commissioner Bingham at o'clock yester-
day afternoon and accepted without hesita-
ton. His friends, who had spoken of his
bulldog tenacity. had expected him to defy
the commissioner.
His salary was 81 800 year and yet he
is reported to be worth $1,000, 900 and owns
the splendid house in which he lives. He
was naturally one Of the strongest oppo-
nents of the Bingham bill, which gave the
commissioner of police the authority to re-
duce inspectors, and he was one of the first
to fall under official displeasure when that
measure was enacted into law