New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-27
LIEUT.. ARMSTRONG,
DETECTIVE, DEAD
Well Known Guardian OF
Society and Wall Street a
Victim of Cancer.

Lieutenant Edward J. Armstrong, one
Of the old Inspector Byrnes type OF de-
tectives, noted for his work OF safe
guarding the Four Hundred at society
events and keeping crooks above the
Wall Street deadline. died yesterday
morning at Bellevue Hospital from
cancer Of the Jaw. In the last year
Armstrong submitted to eleven opera
tions to prevent the spread OF the can
Ger and lost half of his right Jaw.
Early this year the last operation
was performed at the Johns Hopkins
Hospital. Baltimore. where the doctors
became interested in the case through
the friendship between Armstrong ana
"Diamond jim" Brady, who had pre-
scented to she hospital a fortune LOT
having successfully treated him.
Eddie" Armstrong was OF the type
fast disappearing in the Ponce De
nartment. He was twenty-four years
old when he entered the department
thirty wears ago. Five years later ne
was assigned to the detective bureau
and received his training under the
hest known detective chiefs the depart
ment has ever had.
In the old days. when society leader
gave any event which would be large
lv attended the Police Department was
notified. The men assigned to tnat
duty were Eddie" Armstrong. Billy
Funston. now doing duty in the detec-
tive bureau at Headquarters. and Ed
die" Leigh. now holding high sal
aried position with the Baltimore q
Ohio Railroads detective department.
Dressed in evening clothes, the pollce
"Reau Brummels" made many arrests
and soon made New York unproductive
for society thieves. Many OF the
guests with whom Armstrong danced
and dined thought he was member
of the four hundred.
Armstrong received medal and pub
lie commentator in 1895 for resculng
seven women and children from tre
at Columbus Avenue and Ninety-fourtn
Street.
shortly after that Armstrong lost his
assignment in the detective bureau and
was sent to patrol among the goats IN
Harlem. In 1901 he was restored 10
the detective bureau, and when by an
act of the Legislature. detective SER
qeants were made lieutenants, Arm
strong was advanced to that rank.
In more recent years Armstrong was
in the Wall Street district. When the
dead line" was re-established at Full
ton Street, Armstrong. who knew every
exnert thief in New York, again be-
came prominent.
The dead lieutenant numbered among
his friends many of the society people
in the city He was as well known to
the frequenters of the great white
way as Oscar Hammerstein and Diam
ond jim" Brady. Brady and Armstrong
were fast friends and were often seen
at first nights and in the restaurants
About two years ago Armstrong
learned he was suffering from cancer
He was treated several times, and
underwent the first operation last No
vembers Before the end of December
the doctors Of Johns Hopkins Hospital
had operated ten times.
The lieutenant was compelled to re-
enter the Baltimore institution in the
latter part of January. Then large
part of the jaw was removed. Several
weeks ago he was again troubled with
the Jaw and entered Bellevue. Sunday
afternoon he became unconscious.
No arrangements have been made fol
the funeral. The Armstrong home. al
III East Ninety-fourth Street. will b.
the scene Of notable gathering. No
only will special police hOnors be paid
70 his memoir. owing to his connec
ton with the Homo. Legion, but many
prominent men of the city are eX
pected to pay their respects.