New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
GOULD MAIL M0LESTED.
POSTOFFICE ATTACKED.
Investigation of Story To BE Made
by Officials Here.

II is expected that the next move in the Gould
divorce will be investigation by the pos
tai authorities Of the truth Of the assertion
made by Mrs. Gould that her mail had been
tempered with several occasions Mrs.
Gould is quoted as telling Deputy Commissioner
Hanson at their interview on Friday night that
last summer she noticed that the letters that
she received had been tempered with and that
tracings had been made OF the addresses.
II is Mrs. Gould's belief that the tampering
was done in the postofflce in this city, and 1t
was said Yesterday that if Mrs. Gould would
furnish the letters to the authorities rigid in
vestigation would be made The postoffice Off
Gals have said that they had no official knowl-
edge of the charges made by Mrs. Gould, and
that they would take no formal action unless
complaint made w. S. Mayer, inspector
IN charge of the New York postal district, said
yesterday: IF Mrs Gould will furnish US with
the letters will make an investigation as in
ali similar cases The department takes no cog
nizance of charges that mail has oeen tempered
with I'm civil cases unless the charges are
brought officially attention"
1t is expected that Commissioner Hanson will
go 10 BlackwelPs Island the first of the week
and ask ABE" Hummel just how much he
knows in connection with Mrs. Gould.
II is said that Hummel had warned Mrs.
Gould Of attempts to drug her and get her into
compromising position, and that he also
warned her OF the fact that her steps were being
logged by Central Office detectives. II such is
the case Commissioner Hanson wants TO know
how Hummel got his information bout the po-
ncemen that were supposed TO be on Mrs
Gould's track In regard to the efforts Of Mrs
Knowles to arrange for a dinner and meeting
between Mrs. Gould and Inspector McLa ughln.
IL is said that one of the reasons given by Mrs
Knowles to Mrs. Gould for the desirability Of
such dinner was that the inspector had the
impression from several sources that Mrs. Gould
was a Quarrelsome woman, and that ii would be
a good thing for her to meet the inspector that
he might Judge OF her disposition.
II is expected that Mrs. Gould Will appear at
Police Headquarters some day this week and
pick out the detectives who she says have been
following her for some time. Commissioner
Hanson already has in his possession the names
OF several of these detectives.
The Deputy Commissioner was asked IL Il was
the that Lieutenant Peabody had resigned. and
he said that he had not heard of f. and that
he did not believe that Il true. He said
that at the present time there were no charges
pending against Peabody. He said that Section
4S OF the Penal Code sets forth that any public
official who uses his department for any private
purpose or for any private gain advancement
IS guilty Of felony for which he is punishable
q fine Of not less than $4,000.
Has Mr.. Jerome done anything IN the mat
ter?' he was asked.
II don't know; am not interested in the
criminal end of this inquiry
Justice Mccall is mentioned as coming to
Police Headquarters 20 intercede for some one
connected with this Investigation"
7 haven't heard OF that" said Mr.. Hanson.
Lieutenant Peabody Is reported to have said
that there was little left for him IN the depart
-Tnent, and that he was willing to get out at any
time. although his resignation has not been
handed IN It is believed that it is only a ques-
ton OF time when he Will get out. He has been
known of the clever men Of the depart
rnent and has many arrests TO his credit. He
knows most Of the crooks by sight, and stands
high on the list for promotion TO the rank Of
captain.
1t is expected that the next move in the in
vestigation now being carried on by the Police
Department Will be the inviting of Mr. Gould to
Police Headquarters TO tell what he knows in
connection with the activity OF the police IN the
case Commissioner Hanson would not say yes
terday that such action intended, but II
was reported on the best Of authority that Com
missioner Hanson was anxious to learn just
Row far the police were connected with the dog
ging Of Mrs. Could.
Commissioner Hanson said last night that
there would not be any developments IN the
police end OF the case until the first Of the week,
and Just what would happen then he did not
know.
One Of the rlIrnors current yesterday was that
Thomas Byrnes, the old head of the detective
bureau, had. at the request of George Jay
Gould, put his men out to watch Mrs. Howard
Gould and to investigate her career. Their in
vestigaton, il is said, took them far afield as
San Francisco.
Cx-Chief Byrnes denied last night that he had
ever done anything Of the sort or had been con-
cerned in the at any time. He said that he
never had assigned or had been asked to as
sign. any of his TO such task. The first
he had heard of such thing. he said was when
he read the story in the evening papers.
The former chief plainly was much angered
at the story. He said that he had requested his
counsel to find out just. what statement Mrs
Could had made about his alleged connection
with the case. and then take steps TO prevent
the issuance and circulation OF such reports
N CaNEn