The sun., 1910-05-08
INSPECTOR BYUNES IS DEAD


Hefteds cuNANtiNettluA NuA many NAN''
crimes were prohibited, and Byrnes's
system worked W we'll that the number Ot
such crimes was very materially de-
creased.
Byrn-s's methods were not those Of
the story book detective. although they
sometimes yergsi on the theatrical and
he was by many supposed 10 he kind
oI sherlock Holmes. lie was q man Of
force aud not hnesse Ills business was
20 check the actions Of criminals and 20
this cod he made Il q part Of hrs routine
to know criminals and employ stool
pigeons. In the early 'sOs when TheO.
aOTe Roosevelt. then az the beginning Of
his political career headed a legislative
committee 10 investigate the Police De
paFtmant. nyTnes a. a witness surprised
the committee by saving that he spent
two hours day with thieves.
-Im in their company now. he said
looking around the chamber. IL you
lost your watch you would not expect me
10 20 TO some eminent divine 10 get it
but 90 ,tae my acquaintance with the
thieves He explained later that his
daily interviews with thieves were usually
conducted AT Police Headquarters. where
members Of that trade Who had been
picked up we're brought in TO I've inter
viewed
THIRD DEOREE ~ HIs own
Byruss had third degree of HE own
by which 10 force confessions. He
method may he illustrated by the case OF
Michael MoGloin. Who shot and killed
Louis Hanier. a wine shop keeper IN West
Twenty sixth street in iSs7. 4 - calihre
bullet was found In the Frenchman's
heart. ByTnes'a men learned that Nc
0loin had paWnsd = revolver Ot the same
caliors the dAy after the shooting Byrnsa
vas certain that McCilOin was the mur-
derer. but couldn't prove u unless Mo-
0lOin confessed. He arrested McGlOin
and three men Who were with Mctiloin
when the shooting took place Mc0lnin
maintained HE Innocence. but while he
talked he aaw through a window 10y
which he had been purposely seated
one of hia cOnfederates heing led TO the
prison pen Mc(ilOin didn't know until
then that this man had been arrested
Fifteen minutes, later another Ot Nc
Gloin's accomplices was led across the
yard As though he had just been arrested.
and at the end Of like period the third
uas led IN.
MeanWhile Byrnes had not said a word.
hut had watched MctilOin and had seen
the latter change color ~ each man was led
past the window. Then a pawnbrokeT
entered the room where Byrnes and Me
Gloin we're seated aud without a word
laid on tho inspectors desk MctilOin's
pistol McCiloin looked Rt ByTnes. then
a. the revolver which the inspector was
examining. and dropping on his knees
begged 20 bs saved from the gallows.
Byrnes always treated thieves brought
kafnra him urtfh the nNunnaf nOnramnf
He spoke 20 them a. II thcy we're the
dirt In the street He spoke of them as
Contagious diseases On the highways
Il was his theory that there IN no honor
among thieves. and he was always ready
10 stake q broken down Crook. believing
that he would get his moneys worth in
information
GENERAL LOCE.UP on SHOW DAYS.
u has heen aaid that Ryrues had another
side % hia character aud that he would
20 10 great lengths ~ help reform any me
who Was Just starting IN crooked WayH.
but a professional thief had no rights
IN his eyes. and Il Waa Byrnes who first
put in operation the plan II protecting
the public upon the occasions 81 great
gatherings by locking up beforehand all
the known crooks In the city tie began
this system at the time u Gen. Grants
|
Il as long AZ he was IN Office. Upon each
occasion he issued a proclamation warn
ing criminals that II they were s~en on
the streets they would he arrested and
kept locked up until the shOw was over
u Magistrates discharged the prisoners
after byTnea had Kept them the time
allowed by law before arraignment he
Threatened Ia rearrest the men at onoe
upon the sidewalk outside the couri.
A. chief u the detective bureau
Byrnes obtained from the legislature
certain powers which made him inde-
pendent even of me Police Commissioners
u the then bipartisan hoard A. CHIEF
inspector he got an extra salary and was
ex ofiicio head nf the detective bureau
During the eighteen months lefore the
retirement u Supt. Murray and while
the latter was On sick leave. Ryrucs
renched the height of his power ~ poiicr.
man. He was virtually ia command ~
the force and was able 20 dictate the
terms upun which he would aC"ept the
place of superintendent
N TROUBLE As HEAD OF rHF EORcE
A. Superintendent he was constantly
ia trouble with the Board ~ Commits
sioners and the Crosby society. later the
Parkhurst society His Ofer II his resig-
nation 20 Mayor Strong before the latter
took ofics was one of the sensations Of
the IaK0w investigation. That investi-
cation, while Il disclosed great corruption
IN the Police Department. failed 90 smirch
Bynes's I~rsonal reputation. In his
testimony ByTnes NJ that time admitted
that he was rich. that he owned a tine
house near the Plaza and handsome
country piaoe at Red Bank. n J. His
statement that he had acquired bis wealth
through the friendship II rich and in
fiuentlal men was never doubted jaw
Gould and CommOduTs Vanderbilt were
among the men who were mentions a.
having given him a chance 10 make his
money Jay Gould had rras0ns 20 ~
grateful.
THE TANOUs JAY OoULD CASE
On October Il, 1881, the editor oT the
Wall Street Daily NrWs received com
muncati enclosing a letter directed
10 jay Gould with the request that II be-
forS arded The letter. written in
disguised hand but evidently by a man
Of education began in this engaging
fashion.
Jay Gould. Fen Sir. Il Is my painful
duty 10 inform you that within SiN davs
from the date ~ fhis letter your body
Will bs returned Ia the dust from whence
u came
The writer continued by entreating
Mr. Gould ~ make his peace With God.
and declared that the writer had uU wish
~ take the hnancieTg life bat was -in-
spired and requested by the All Iiving
God 90 do ~ a. a public neCe-aity and for
the benefit ~ the community at large
He said that hr had intsrded ~ shOut
Could the providing Friday. but Just
NJ be- had h,s pistol ready be had heard
a voice from the lard, saying: Hold
On. give him time 20 T"pent lest he he