New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-22
BROKEN HEART KILLED
WALSH, FRIENDS SAY
Police Captain, Whose TeStI-
mony Doomed Four Ex-ln-
SpeCtorS, Dies at Home.
ADMITTED BRIBERY CHARGE
Was to Have Appeared Before
Justice Golf Friday for Sen
tence-Death Will Not
Affect the Situation.

AL VIC
Former Police Captain Thomas W.
Walsh. whose testimony was chiefly re-
spousible for sending the four former
police inspectors. Dennis Sweeney. John
T. Murtha. James =. Husscy and James
f. Thompson. to Blackwelrs Island for
year. died at his home. No. 1868 Madison
avenue, at O'Clock yesterday morning.
The physicians say the immediate cause
of death was heart disease but Walsh's
friends say nc died Of broken heart
due 10 the disgrace he brought upon his
wife and daughter as the result OF his
revelations concerning the tribute wrung
from keepers Of resorts in Harlem for
police protection.
When District Attorney Whitman re-
turned from Connecticut last night where
he had been addressing the LtchneId
County University Club. he said he was
gricved TO hear of Captain Walsh's death
His death will not change the Sltua-
ton" declared the District Attorney, who
was the only man who had the confidence
of the accuser of the system.
Felt Sorry for Hartiean.
N-alsh's chief worry since ne first con-
fessed to District Attorney Whitman on
the night Of February ., when he believed
he was dying. was that he was the chlet
instrument i'm sending Patrolman John j.
Hartigan. his protege. to sing Sing for
periury. Walsh felt little pity for the in
spectors. however, and spared none OF
them when he testified at their trial
Walsh's condition was serious even
then His testimony was uttered IN such
inaudible tones that his answers mad TO
he repeated TO the jury. During the grill
ing cross-examination that counsel for
the four inspectors subjected him TO- only
>ne thing cut deeper than the insinuatlon
that he was fegning to be more seriously
in than he was. that was the charge ne
lad confessed TO save himself.
Walsh's testimony on this score was
that he confessed because he believed
himself 20 be a dying man and wanted
n make what atonement ne could for the
wrongs he had done while he was living.
Walsh was stric6en with an attack OF
heart trouble Friday afternoon while pac-
ing the floor Of the dining room OF MS
home. His wife and daughter carried him
10 his bed and summoned Or. ). X. Al
Darez and Dr. curt Nicolai. the family
physicians.
When the physicians reached the mouse
Walsh was unconscious. RestoratVes
were administered and these succeeded
i'm bringing him back to consciousness loI
:, time lust before he sank into his last
coma he asked that a priest be called.
Word was sent to the rectory of All
Saints Church, and Father James W.
Power. the pastor, came at once. Al MD
night. when it was apparent Waish had
only a short time to live, the priest adj
ministered the last sacrament.
The death Of Walsh will not affect the
case Of the four police inspectors and
that Of Hartigan. according TO attaches
Of the District Attorneys office. George
Carbon Rattle. OF counsel to eX-lnspector
Sweeney. said he could not say offhand
what effect. if any, the death OF Walsh
would have on the case of his client in
the event A successful appeal were taken.
To Consider Appeal Tomorrow.
THE question as to whether an appeal
will be taken in the case of Sweeney will
be decided on Monday said Mr.. Battle.
ION that day l will take the matter up
with Alfred ]. Talley, who was Sweeney's
counsel before l entered the case.
Dr. Nicolai who was in attendance on
Captain Walsh up 10 the time Of his
death. was asked yesterday if he thought
The police exposures FASTENED Nalsh's
death He said:
1t Is possible that the strain fastened
the captains death. but his physical con
dtion was such that ] am surprised that
ne lived so long "a ne did. lie had
badly dilatcd heart, acute kidney disease
and an enlaS1ed stomach.
Walsh filled rapidly from the time
George \. Sipp, the Harlem hotel keeper.
testified before the Curran committee he
had paid money for police protection TO
Patrolman Eugene Fox, and that he I'M
derstood the money went to the inspector
Of the district Sweeney
The following day Sweeney, Walsh,
Mrrtha, Thompson and Hussey went be-
fore Police Commissioner Waldo and said
they had never received a cont from Sipp
or any one else for graft This satisfied
the police, hut District Attorney Whit
man was not satisfied. and then began the
proceedings that finally landed the four
high police officials behind prison bars.
II was while Sipp was under subpoena
that ne was induced 10 leaTe the state by
the police officials involved by his test-
lnony before the Curran committee, ana
who feared further revelations IL was
due 10 this testimony that the four in
spectors went to Jail Hartgan was con-
victed because he denied under oath that
he brought an envelope containing $500
from Inspector Sweeney 10 Captain
Walsh's home when Sipp was I'm New
Jersey. hiding. This money, along with
$50 that Walsh added 10 il, went 10 Sipp.
Edward Jackson Newell. lawyer who
since pleaded guilty TO an indictment
found against him. acting as the go-be-
tween. ,
Walsh also pleaded guilty 10 an indict-
ment charging bribery, and was 10 have
appeared before Justice Golf on Friday
for sentence. 4 copy Of the death ceru-
Ncate will be FLED with the papers this
week and the case legally closed
The funeral OF Captain Walsh will be
held on TUESDAY morning at All Saints's
Church. Madison avenue and 18th street.
The burial will be I'm Calvary Cemetery.