Show WAS GREAT SLEUTH inspector byrnes death recalls activity as officer rose from the ranks to a millionaire and laid the clever trap that caught jay goulds blackmailer new york yori probably no man was better known in the world ot of police and none nona was more feared by crooks than thomas F byrnes former detective and inspector who died in tola this city a few days ago it was while inspector and in charge of the detective bureau at police headquarters in mulberry street that dyrnes byrnes won hla his greatest fame from the day hs he became a member of the police in august 1869 until ho he retired on may imily 27 1895 inspector byrnes was a thief catcher first ot of all and it ft was as such that he became a valuable servant of the people byrnes rose quickly from the ranks ile he was first a patrolman then a later on a sergeant then captain inspector and finally commis aloner thirty years ago the city was overrun with thieves chloves and thugs A reign ot of terror hat had spread over the town were committed almost nightly it was at that time that dyrnes byrnes was called to mulberry street and told to organize a detective bureau ile he had shown considerable detective ability while occupying positions of lower rank in the police department and this had attracted the attention of his bu superiors to the tha quiet but determined man in a short time ho he had organized what became known as the central office of detectives and assigned to that bureau were wera the best thief catch bo 4 thomas F byrnes ers era in the department lie ile had only a 11 limited 1 ad nun ilour of detective sergeants nl it ar his command but had the power to reduce those at any time and without trial tn in that way ho he was ablo able to surround himself with the best talent the department could afford byrnes was a man of striking personality sona lity he was tall slid and well put together ile he wore a big mustache ind nd never talked in a loud voice except when he wanted to let people know know that he be would stand no trifling his fits wife was a school teacher in her earlier days their daughters pretty bretty and highly educated adored their father who was intensely proud of them he was proud too of his fine summer home at red bank N J byrnes was a very rich wan man he was said to have bave been a many times millionaire ile ho was wa a witness before the he lexow committee and there he told how bow he came to make his fortune it was generally believed that jay gould could was among other ot of his friends who gave him valuable tips on money making byrnes was not ungrateful gould became the victim of a blackmailer w who ho wrote lie BO many threatening letters that gould was in constant fear of his life the lotters lette rs were always mailed on it sunday but never from the same box there was no clue to hla his identity and to catch him seemed hopeless byrnes undertook the task first ho he distributed photographs of an envelope addressed to jay gould by the blackmailer among the entire police force then on an a sunday lie ho stationed a poll policeman ceman plain clothes man or postal inspector at every mall mail box in the city every E very time a letter was dropped in the box was opened and the letter inspected finally tho the right roan mail dropped in the letter and was promptly arrested colonel wells vella as he be was kno known was convicted and got a long term the case perhaps brought byrnes more fame than any of his others |