The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-29
NAVY DISCRETION
FACTORY FOUND:
THREE. ARRESTS
Hamilton Detective Bureau
Charged With OBTAINING
Sailors to Get Reward.
TOOK MEN INTO CUSTODY
Then Held Victims Until
Leave Limit Was Up Before
Surrendering Them.

The District Attorneys Office believes
It has discovered a factory which has
been taking good United States blue
Jackets slightly the worse for wear and
making deserters out of them. Two
young men In sailor uniforms were taken
from the offices Of the Hamilton Detec-
tive Bureau, Fitzgerald Building, 14S2
Broadway. near Forty second street
Both complained they were detained
there over night against their will
william c. Hamilton. head OF the
agency, was arrested. with two Of his
employees.
Hamilton admitted he had done an ex-
tensive business in finding deserters
from the navy and returning them to
the authorities, receiving a Government
reward II the Information given Assist
ant District Attorney Alfred J. Talley
BY the two young men and told also to
oficers at the New York Navy Yard by
two other sailors proves correct, desert
ers literally have been manufactured in
the Hamilton bureau.
$50 for Each "Deserter."
For the return of a straggler, = man
who has overstayed his leave Of absence
BY fewer than ten days, the Government
pays a reward of $25. The compensa-
ton paid for the return of q deserter.
one who has overstayed his leave ten
days or longer, is $50. II the stories told
by the four young men in naval uniform
are substantiated the private detective
agency has made deserters OF stragglers
by OBTAINING them until after the expira-
ton Of the ten day period.
The two young men taken to the DIS
tr.ct Attorneys office in addition to the
three prisoners were Kenneth O. King,
Is. a seaman on the y. s. s. Seattle, now
ofY Oyster Bay, and Frank Phillips. %.
whose cap bore the name Des Aoines
After much questioning Phillips admit
ted, according to Talley. that be had
never been in the navy but had mas
queraded in a sailors uniform because
many Of his friends are In the service
He will be turned over to the Govern
ment.
The three men arrested were Hamil-
ton, who gave his address as 401- -Wsat
Thirtieth street; Capt" Harry A. Read.
l4s State street. Brooklyn. director OF
the desertion bureau operated in con-
nection with the agency. and Joseph
Glass, 90S East l6sth street. said to be
one OF the detectives. All three were
taken TO nlEnt court IaSt nIBnt.
Young King. who enlisted In tho navy
In March last. said he was arrested
by one OF the detectives near the corner
Of Broadway and Forty-second street
about Q o'clock Monday morning He
had stopped In New York on the way
back to Oyster Bay from Fall River.
Mass He had been visiting his dying
mother and had overstayed his leave a
few days. Glass. he said. had displayed
badge and given him to believe that he
was an officer
Men Kept Under Guard.
Phillips was picked UP in the same
neighborhood at about / O'Clock Monday
morning. Both men were taken to the
detective agency. where Talley says
hey told him they had been kept un-
der guard constantly. save at meal times,
when they were taken to nearby res
taurants. One slept on a cot Monday
night, the other on the bare floor, men
With blackjacks sleeping near them,
they said.
The information which led to the ar
rests was given by Capt. s. w. Brew
ster. United States Marine Corps, re-
Tired Judge Advocate. Capt. Brewster
called at the District Attorneys Office
6nd complained that Ray f. Davidson
and Sailor Haliett when brought up for
trial by court-inartial at the navy yard
on desertion charges. said they had been
detained in the Hamilton office.
Davidson's story was to the effect that
ne was arrested" by detective named
Eden and held during the nine days
from August to August "a, when he
was delivered to the receiving ship. He
had oVerstayed his leave few days be-
'o'e his alleged detention and his ex-
perlence was said to have placed him in
'he desert!on class. Hallett was turned
over To the authorities after reported
detention % three days. which was suf-
ne'eht to cause charge of desertion TO
oe made against him also.
Washington Refutcs Hamilton.
On receipt of this information Mr.
Ial'ey sent detectives attached to the
District Attorneys office to the Fitz-
gerald Building to investigate. They
found the Hamilton Detective Bureau
occupies five rooms Of an eight room
SUITE and has direct connection with
'ne three others.
The three prisoners and the former
captives were taken before Mr.. Talley
hamilton said he had authority from
me Bureau Of Navigation In Washington
10 detain suspected deserters. Talley
vas advised from the Navigation Bureau
'Aal this was untrue
Read, according to Talley. admitted
,Hat his only service in the navy had
"eea as fireman. He explained his
possession Of a title by saying that hs
Wa captain of the detective bureau.
The case of Hamilton and his asso-
'"tc' was unique in Talley's experience
'lh he was at loss at first to know
"hlI charge to prefer against them. HI
'did last night
" j. unlawful 10 make an arres
W'AoG' authority or to hold a persoY
80 arrested against his will. Anothe,
"Hon Of the law provides that a per
ION arrested on a Federal charge mus
'o taken before United States magis
Fale AZ once