Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-03
G0ULDS AND POLICE
Lieut.. Peabody Must Answer
Two Charges for His Share.
RECORD MAY SAVE HIM
His knowledge of Crooks Also of
Great Value to Department.
GOULD'S ANSWER THIS WEEK
Expected to Make Reply to His wife's
Serious Allegations at Great
Length.
G0ULD'S ANSWER THIS WEEK

NE" 1ORk, June 3.-The police record
OF Lieut.. w. Frank Peabody may save him
from dismissal from the detective bureau
when he is called this week to answer
charges incident to his connection with the
Gould case. 1t is known that Commissioner
Bingham was pleased with the detective
work of Peabody prior to the exposure Of
the part he played In the alleged activity
of the detective bureau in gathering evil
dence for the of Howard Gould in suit
for divorce against his wife, formerly Miss
Katherine Clemmons, the actress.
1t is known also that the commissioner
believes Peabody is one of the most capable
men in the department on cases requiring
an intimate knowledge of crooks and their
ways.
1t was announced yesterday that two
charges would be filed against Peabody
either today or tomorrow. One will be
making false report to his superior" the
other being absent without leave from
headquarters
The Baltimore Trip.
The first grows out of Peabody's trip to
Baltimore on March % in search Of evil
dence to confirm the rumor that Katherine
Clemmons had married George Dawson in
that city prior to her marriage to Howard
Gould, and that she had never obtained a
divorce from Dawson. 1t was While IN Bal
timore that Peabody sent a telegram to Ed
ward Showles, a race track man Of this city,
telling him that the records in Baltimore
showed that George Dawson and Harriet
Londsdale were married there and asking
ShowleS, Can this be her?' 1t was ShOWleS
who started the police activity by remark
ing that Katherine Clemmons was a biga-
mist.
When Peabody was questioned about the
Baltimore trip by Deputy Commissioner
Hanson, Just before the resignation of ex-
Inspector Mclaughlin, the lieutenant denied
that he had sent telegram from Baiti.
more to Showles. Later he made a full
confession. His first denial is the OASIS OIL
the charge.
The second charge is the result Of Pea
body's action the day before his con-
fession He had been ordered to remain at
headquarters, subject to a call from the
commissioners office for further examina-
ton Peabody asked for leave to go to
lunch and did not report to headquarters
until the next morning. During that time
he sought De Lancy Nicoll, attorney for
Howard Gould, in the hope that Mr.. Nicoll
would help him out Of the hole he sup
posed that he was in.
PeabodyS defense on this charge is that
there was a misunderstanding and that he
thought he was al liberty to go home until
the following day. 1t is believed at the
central office that he will be excused on
this charge.
In Bureau Six Years.
Peabody has been in the detective bureau
half a dozen years 1t Is said that the in
fuence which got him on the police force
was that of the late AL Adams, the policy
king Prior to that Peabody had been as
ISOLATED with Adams, it is said, and at one
time wrote sheet for him.
Peabodys service in a patrolman's uni
form was short. When Murphy was police
commissioner several policemen were taken
into the detective bureau. Peabody was
one of them. 1t is said at headquarters
that Peabody has more stool pigeons"
(men from whom he can get information
about crooks) than any other detective in
the department. They have been of value
to him on cases in the Tenderloin, where
Peabody has done his best work.
Before he joined the police force Pea
body was a boxer. His friends assert that
he Is the only man who ever really Knocked
out Joe Cans, the negro prize fighter. That
was before Cans had become a champion.
1t was announced yesterday on authority
from Commissioner Bingham that the trial
of Peabody will not end the police investi-
cation Of charges that the detective bureau
was used by wealthy men for the gathering
of divorce evidence. AS soon as Peabody s
case is disposed Of Deputy Commissioner
Hanson will resume the task of clearing up
all the charges that have been made since
the Gould inquiry started, three weeks ago.
Six other detectives will be ordered to the
front and asked to tell what part they
played in transactions which are looked
upon as questionable by the deputy commits
sioner.
Howard Gould and his attorney have four
more days in which to reply to the bill of
complaint served upon them by Clarence j.
Shearn in behalf Of Mrs. Gould in her suit
for a separation. On Thursday the twenty
days allowed by law for the reply will ex-
pire Mr. Nicoll may ask for extension
though the answer is said to be ready.