The Irish standard., 1907-11-02
Thieves Dominate
Police Department
STARTLING CONFESSION is MADE
BY HEAD OF THE CHICAGO q.
DETECTIVE BUREAU,
SAYS ARRESTS WOULD
BE WORTH HIS JOB
Capt. o'Brien Gives information Show.
Ing the Powerful Political lnflu.
ence Welded by Crooks In tho
Windy City-To Start Investigation

ence Welded by Crooks In tho
Windy city-To Start Investigation
Chicago. Oct. 31.-Capt P. d.
O'Brien, head of the Chicago detec.
tive bureau, admitted to Mayor Bus.
Sc Wednesday that he was afraid to
cause the arrest of big thieves in the
city, because they would cause him to
lose his position If he did so.
The facts given by the executive
are startling and reveal a state Of
seeming rottenness in the police de.
partment which is unrivalled in Amer.
lea.
That the big thieves and crooks
overawe the police officials, big and
little, the executive is satisfied.
Following a series of circumstances
that looked suspicious and reliable re.
ports that the police officials in high
places have been afraid to take in
h1gh-grade crooks, the mayor placed
Capt. OBrien and Chief Shippey "on
the carpet"
Busse's Straight Talk.
Here is the way the mayor put the
situation up to Chief Shippy and Capt.
O'Brien:
you, shippy, and you, O'Brien, know
every crook in Chicago. You men not
only know them, but every policeman
who has been in the department for
the last ten years knows them.
"Why are they not driven out of
Chicago? Every now and then some
poor devil Is arrested, but we never
hear Of the big fellows being taken
in.
"WouId Get My Job" Says o'erien,
The mayor was amazed when Capt.
O'Brien came back at him with the
declaration that 1t would be as much
as his job was worth for him
(OBrien) to arrest any Of the big
thieves and crooks.
"Why, Mr.. Mayor" replied O'Brien,
these fellows are bigger than 1 am
in the department and they would
soon get my job. This political pull
would mean that I would be transfer.
red"
Make Test, Executive Replies.
The mayor was staggered at this
confession and he came back al
O'Brien in this fashion:
"OBrien, do you mean to tell me
you are afraid to do your duty because
of political interference? Now, let us
put this to test. You go out yourself
and make q few arrests personally
Take in the biggest fellows you car
find and We will see what political pull
counts for. will stand by you, and
you just make try"
Capt. O'Brien then pleaded that he
could not trust his lieutenants, and
when this proposition was under dis
cussion the interview reached a eli
max. The mayor told O'Brien again
that he had the entire police force tc
pick his men from. "Just signify those
you want and the chief will give then
to you"
Rotten to the Core.
Investigations and confidential talks
: with men who have been on the DO
lice force for a score of years has con
! vinced the executive that in spots it is
rotten to the core" He has learned
that the favorite system of intimidat
ing not only patrolmen, but men high
up in the department, is the transfer
system" This is the club the big fel
lows among the thieves and crooks
swing effectively when they make &
killing"
The mayor has been told by detec
tives in a position to know that 1t is
generally understood the big fellows
are to be let alone.
"Why," one of them told the mayor
I'VE have understood for years thai
1t was worth our job to take in an in
fluential guy This class of thieves
use political pull to good advantage
For instance. during Luke Colleran's
time as head of the detective burea,
was called to the front office ant
given the names of some ten or twelve
big fellows ordered to be arrested.
told my commanding officer that tc
pinch them would mean my transfer
from detective headquarters and / dfc
not like the prospect.
II was assured it would be all righ
and that l need have no fear. wen
out and made the arrests. My fear:
were realized. 1t was only a question
of time until was transferred from
the detective bureau. That is the wa,
the system has been working fo
years."