Pinkerton Report - Jan 26, 1891 (Document)

Pinkerton Report - Jan 26, 1891

Pinkerton, Robert A. (Robert Allan), 1848-1907

81/2 x 14"

Jan 30, 1891

Danbury (Conn.) -- History

MS020 1/13

New York Jan 30, 91.
Jos. M. Ives Esq.
257 Main St
Danbury, Conn.

Sir.

Our operative J.T. McM. further reports.

Monday Jan 26, 91.
After breakfast, I went to Grand st where I again made a house to house enquiry for some information regarding the mysterious man of one week ago. At No. 64 Grand st lives Mr. Terence E. Brady. I learned that he could be found at his store on Keeler st near Main st. I went to Mr. Brady’s store where I found him. I told him that I wanted to make some enquiry if he or any of his family had seen any strangers about his house of late, he then made me a statement.
It will be seen that he made the statement that Capt Keating told him to say nothing about it, so that it is very easy to see that Cap’t Keating is
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putting every thing that he possibly can in my way, from my getting any information, it was evident from his reluctance in giving me the name of James McNab, as his suspect and it shows more so tonight, in the arrest of the young man Derrigan [Darrigan], as will be noted later on in my report.
After getting the statement of Brady I went again to Grand stt. And made enquiry at houses of William Allen and Henry Auethenk on Wooster st. near cor of Grand st. no notice had been taken of any man hanging around the corner by any of the families.
I again returned to the store of Mr. Bradey and got statement of Mrs Brady. When I had finished with her, it was 11.50 a.m and I returned to the hotel and had dinner. I then left to look up McCarty. I found him on White st. I instructed him to come to my room. I wanted his report on Hack. I returned to my room where I waited about 5 minutes when McCarty came. He stated, “I met Hack about 7.30 on Saturday night on White st. and went to Grand Central Hotel bar. had drinks with him, remained there until 8p.m. when I went to Geiser’s saloon and played two games of seven-up with him
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and after the games were finished, I said to him, ‘I see they have not yet got the fire bugs.’ And Hack said “No, and I hope when they do, that they will hang every one of them.’ Hack was joined at this time by several R.R. men with whom he sta[y]ed with until 10 p.m. when I saw him go home. I did not see Jenne on Saturday night, nor did I see Hack or Jenne on Sunday, they were not on Main, Ives or White sts. Stevens was not in town on Saturday or Sunday night.”
McCarty then told me that he had got hold of a story this morning, that he did not know how much there was in it, but that it was worth looking into, that he would bring the young man to me, and let him tell his own story, that he could have the4 man there in 3minutes if I would wait. I told him, I would wait. McCarty then left and at 3.10 p.m. returned with Edward Darrigan, a young man about 18 years old. Darrigan has a hard name but tells a very straight forward story, and one that chimes in with that told by Parker, his daughter and Mr and Mrs Brady; and I have good grounds to believe that the party seen by them are one and the same party. His story
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regarding “Sleepy” Gaylor, is worth looking into, which I will do tomorrow morning, the first thing. Derrigan then made a statement.
At 4.15 p.m. I went to Mr Parker’s house cor of Grand and Whitlock sts where I had met his daughter, Maude, age 13 years. Her story is the same as told by her father as will be seen.
I called on James Scanlon and James Flynn on Deerhill ave. they both made statements.
I returned to the Hotel and at 7p.m. I went to the cor of Mountainvill ave to meet McCarty and Derrigan as agreed upon, to see if the strange man spoken of in Darrigan’s statement could be seen. On my way down Main st, I met Capt Keating. He did not seem to want to stop to speak, but I stopped him, and said, “Cap’t, have you a special out on Deerhill ave.” he said “Yes, I have one out there”. He did not seem inclined to talk, so I passed on. I stood at cor of Mountainvill ave and South st which is the extreme southern end of the city, and had been there about 5 minutes when I saw Officer Fisher come down South st. when he got to me, he stopped and began speaking about the “Special” on Deerhill ave
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Saying that Keating had one out there. While we were talking, McCarty and Derrigan came along, and Fisher said to me, “Excuse me for a moment, here is a fellow I want to see.” With that he walked up to and away with McCarty and Derrigan. I did not like the look of things, so I shadowed Fisher and the two young men, saw all three enter the Station House. I waited awhile, saw McCarty come out, and asked him what the matter was. He said that Keating had seen Derrigan with him today and had an old charge of eight months ago brought up against Derrigan, the charge was for stealing a pair of pants from infront of Spenc’s on Main st.
Now the real cause of Derrigan’s arrest was in my opinion, Keating does not like McCarty. Keating knows that McCarty has had conversations with me, and thinks he is giving me information. He saw Derrigan with him, and was afraid that Derrigan, belonging to the Ives st gang, and a friend of McCarty’s, might give me information, and to stop any such information, brings up this old charge of eight months ago, when he has been in the city almost all the
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time.
I at once saw Granville Holmes at Hura’s saloon, and told him, that I did not want to appear in this affair, that he should go to Station House, see Derrigan, and tell him to say nothing as to what he knows, regarding this strange man or “Sleepy” Gaylor, as I firmly believed that Keating would do anything to defeat me in my efforts.
I saw Alderman Foley and told him of the arrest of Derrigan which he said was an outrage. It is a common expression in the town that Keating would spoil any person who he thought was getting any information in regard to the fires.
I thought best to let matters remain until morning, and see the mayor before Court opened, and try and arrange it that the charge be squelched or laid over, as I believed that Derrigan can pick up that man, if he comes out his way again. The man[,] who ever he is, is in my opinion crazy.
At 11.10 p.m. I saw Derrigan pass the Hotel. I spoke to him. He told me that he was discharged by Waggoner, Mr. McPhelemy, and Alderman Foley, haven spoken to Sergt Waggoner for him.
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I intend to see the Mayor in the morning regarding the actions of Cap’t Keating in this matter. although it is quite evident to me on Friday of last week, I was shadowed by Officer Reed, although I said nothing about it excepting to the Mayor.
At 11.30 p.m. I went to the vicinity of South st and Mountainvill ave where I remained until 12.45 p.m. but did not see any person to answer descriptions of man.

Yours Resp[]
Pinkerton Nat. Dect Agy
Robt. A. Pinkerton
Genl Supt Ediv.
[END REPORT]