New-York tribune., 1919-05-27
Police Captain
Indicted as Aid
ToPickpockets
Peabody Declares Charges
Are Result of jealousy i'm
the Department Toward
Any One Who Gets Along
19 Years a Policeman
Twice Dismissed and rs
Many Times Reinstated;
Figured i'll Could Case

TJSulCN ih VOtirU S4OSs,
Police Captain William f. Peabody.
Of the Flushing station, will appear
TO-DAY before Judge Rosalsky in Cen
eral Sessions to plead to three indict-
ments found against him yesterday by
the grand Jury, charging him with con-
spiracy to obstruct justice, petty lar
ceny and with criminally receiving
stolen goods He has been suspended
from duty by Police Commissioner En-
right.
Poabody came to the District Attor-
neys Office yesterday and asked to be
permitted to tell his story to the grand
iury. He was Informed there was no
objection if he would sign waiver Of
immunity. w.lich he did The regular
May grand jury has been investigating
charges made against him by three
men who have been convicted in New
Jersey as pickpockets. Peabody be-
came a policeman on January 8. 1900,
and has been twice dismissed and
twice reinstated.
Peabody Charges jealousy
Peabody declared, after his appear
snce before The grand jury, that he
had been the victim of petty jealousy,
the Jealousy Of any one who gets
along
In the course OF mis- remarks he said:
I'm public target, accused by no
one but crooks. I've been the Patsy
Bolivar OF the Police Department"
Have you any enemies in the Police
Department % he was asked.
"If there are 10000 men in the de-
partment, have from four to six thou
sand enemies, was his response. "Imag-
inc ne being accused of petty larceny!"
Nearly q month ago District Attor-
ney Swami said ne received letter
from three men in the ESSEX County
Penitentiary at Caldwell, n. j., saying
that they could give complete details
about IAN official of high standing in
one OF the city's Department. wac
they said, had taken money from them
promising TO fix a case against them
so that they would get light sentences.
Woman an intermediary
In giving out the names of the men
Ny Swami said only their aliases could
be known, because Of an agreement
made that the real names should not
come cut until the trial OF Peabody
TIE moH are Charles Young, JOSEPH
Has and Joseph Feld..an 4 woman
is invoived as ~ alleged intermediary.
Next to Commissioner Enright him
scif no man OF the New York police
force has greater reputation for
eleyerness than Peabody. Beginning
his career in the prize ring, he proved
fighter good enough to stand against
the redoubtable negro Joe Cans for
fifteen rounds. Then he joined the
force in 1900. In the nineteen years
since then he has been twice dismissed,
and twice rcinstated after long legal
battles.
His frs. dismissal was ordered by
commissioner Bingham in 1907 for his
connection with the Howard Could
katherine Clemmons divorce suit Re-
lnstated b. Rhinelander Waldo, he was
dismissed again by Commissioner
Arthur Woods for neglect of duty in
Isls. He had been IN command at
"hltestonc, l.. l., and the Commits
sloner said he found him absent with
cut leave, with the police station blot
yer entries manipulated.
Peabody appealed to the courts. The
appellate Division of the Supreme
court ordered his reinstatement as
captain. the rank he mad been given
oy Commissioner Waldo Mr.. Woods
appealed to the Court Of Appeals.
*hich III December Of She fol- .A>a
year affirmed the decision Of the Ap-
pelate Division. He drcw back nav
Of 1920.
Messenger Under Woods
Commissioner Woods then ordered
MN to report for duty and assigned
MN to what practically amounted to
messenger work a. headquarters He
remained al this until the series oe
1nanges following the advent Of Mayor
nyian resulted in the elevation Of
lieutenant Richard Enright to ~the
po-' OF Commissioner. Thercupon
'Ssptain Peabody was sent to the Flush
ing precinct.
r lie W. lieutenant, working with
e@p'aia William W. Mclaughlin, who
retired Il vas said, to avoid charges
"hen the Could divorce case revealed
we iact that police detectives were
'',en employed on private cases.
IN dismissing him General Bingham
said: ''N'''
he ia utterly untrustworthy, and
I'ea not hesitate to lie. Such man
20 20 on'l( to be a member Of this police
Stole Bcnefactor's
Clothing; Sentenced