The Washington times., 1926-08-31

But with his bigness there Is moi
the buster about him there 4
with many big men. He is silent
So much SO that when he raps
out an order, his men know he
means what he says--noth thing more,
nothing else.
This big. silent chap IL John ].
Beggans, commissioner OF Public
Safety, OF Jersey. City. That he
IS silent was proved today. Willis
others have been mentioned In the
famous HalI-MilIs murder mystery,
Beegans name has barely been
connected with the case. Yet sit.
ting In his office on the second
floor at the City Hall IN Jersey
City. the man is the silent power
behind the new investigation.
Got His Orders
one day not so long ago, Beg
gans telephone rang. he answered
Il. Take over the Hall-Mills
case
It was Mayor Hague speaking.
Senator Alexander simpson had
been appointed Special deputy At
tornsy General BY Governor A.
Harry Moore, after the New York
Daily Mirror had submitted to the
chief executive new evidence In the
famous four-year-old murder nays-
tery
The story Of the murder has
been told and retold The daily
press has devoted columns 60 the
present and the old investiga tons.
Mrs. Edward Wheeler Hail, wife
Of the murdered minister, Is free
IN her New Brunswick mansion in
$4,000 bail. Supreme Court jus
tee Charles w. Parker upheld the
evidence Of the State when be held
Willie Stevens, Mrs. Halls brother,
and Henry Carpenter. cousin.
without BAH for the grand jury.
That Is history.
But down Ia the City Of Jersey.
there q one who has been the
driving force behind the scenes.
John Beggaks.
When he was ssassigned' Co get
the facts in the Halls Mills murder.
Begeans reached Tor his teIe2IlCne
and called oeflce teEs.--
send me Inspector Underwood.
Captains Walsh, Totpey, Lieutenant
oCleciuclI and Detective Sergeant
Burke
That vas an. IN less than an
hour the officers assembled in
Commissioner Beggans' office.
Report to Senator Simpson for
duty on the Hall-MflIs case. = viii
keep In touch with you daily =
Short, snappy. concise.
Five SIeutIls At Work
Day and night since then. these
five men, the pride Of the Jersey
City police department. each with
= record OF obtaining convictions
in murder cases. have been gather
Ing evidence. verifying evidence.
submitted to them by the Daily
Mirror. And each day. Commits
sIoner Beggans picks up his seie-
phone and gives each OF his men
IN the field few sharp, snappy
orders.
The following day reports on
those orders are submitted to Beg
gans I'm person. And what the
wise ones OF New Brunswick and
Somerville declared would not
come to pass has happened. The.
clan stands charged with murder
and two are in jail.
Commissioner Beggans was ap-
pointed head Of the police and fire
departments of Jersey City on Jans
uary I, this year.
Policy Of Truth
His first orders to the Police De-
partment was that "no converse
tIonal cops would be allowed to
remain in the department" His
orders were-3.keep your mouth
1hut until an arrest Is made, then
ten the newspaper men true facts
and not fiction.P
Beggans believes that a crusade
against crime should begin in the
home.
ssTeach the children obedience
and the fear OF God and the law
and there win be no crime wave
IL q man or. woman who has been
raised under these conditions com.
mits q crime. it's time tor the
state 70 step in and AXE charge
OF them" Is Beggans' contention.
Disarm the gunman and keep
the Sieetr1G cadlE 0USIcQ OIL LOF
them" is another Of Beggans'
slogans. And this Is the type Of
man who has been In charge Of 20.
lice Ia the Hall.MiIIs murder.
Quick Action
Ever since the day he picked up
the telephone in his office and was
assigned to the case. things have
been popping. There IL a saying
IN underworld circles over in Jer-
sey City:
when Beggans picks up the
telephone, take cover and stay
put"
And when Beggans meets report
ers he tells them what he wants
them to know and nothing more.
when they leave his office they
are puzzled what to tell their "city
desks who have been demanding
this and that.
They get what Beggans wants to
give them and he plays no ia
vorites.
1siient@ John Beggans-but
count on action when he picks up
his telephone.
Why men viii leave home! Be.
AwaAa