graft

It looks like he was a witness in a high profile investigation of police graft in NYC. Since he was ill, it looks like these are photos of arrangements to take his testimony at his home. Here are some articles and another LOC photo: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This other LOC photo also mentions "Captain Walsh" www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2765471328/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- this article talks about taking Walsh's testimony at home, because he was ill: WHITMAN DEMANDS WALSH'S TESTIMONY; Wants a Sub-Committee to Visit Sick Police Captain at Once and Question Him Fully. December 26, 1912, Thursday Page 5, 1714 words Unless Police Capt. Thomas W. Walsh, who is ill of heart trouble, recovers sufficiently to appear before the Curran Investigating Committee within the next few days a sub-committee will probably be named to examine him at his home, 1958 Madison Avenue. Capt. Walsh was in command of the East 126th Street Station for five years and a half. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B07E6DC163FE633A... ------------------------------------------------------------------- and this 1913 article mentions Captain Walsh also: WALSH LAYS BARE SIPP CONPIRACY; Four ex-Inspectors Hear Him as a Witness Tell How They Raised Bribe Funds. May 1, 1913, Thursday Page 1, 3338 words Ex-Police Capt. Thomas W. Walsh, whose graft confession forms the basis of the prosecution's case, was on the witness stand all day yesterday in the trial before Justice Seabury in the Criminal Branch of the Supreme Court of former Inspectors of Police Sweeney, Hussey, Murtha and Thompson for conspiracy.... query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9803E1DA1F3AE633A... ------------------------------------------------------------ looks like they got a guilty verdict in May, 1913: Convicted of Graft Conspiracy Without a Formal Ballot.; WHITMAN'S GREAT HOUR May 7, 1913, Wednesday Page 1, 7172 words Ex-Police Inspectors Dennis Sweeney, John J. Murtha, James F. Thompson, and James E. Hussey, jointly indicted for conspiracy to prevent George A. Sipp, the former Harlem hotel proprietor, and his son Howard from testifying against the police graft system, were found guilty last night by the jury which had been hearing the evidence before Justice Seabury, in the Criminal Branch of the Supreme Court. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9505EFD8173FE633A...

Hussey, one of the convicted inspectors:

This was all the result of stores being open on Sunday!!! query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E05E6DB173EE233A...

NY State Senator George Washington Plunkitt (1842-1924), part of the Tammany Hall crowd; noted for his quote, "I seen my opportunities and I took 'em." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Plunkitt

Plunkett's book Plunkett of Tammany Hall is a very revealing look at the political world of the late 19th century. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the history of the period. There are some free etexts of the book online, including at Project Gutenberg.

LOC -- You (and Bain) have misspelled his last name -- should read "Plunkitt."

Thank you pennylrichardsca, Dendroica cerulea and Wystan for your comments. We will add more information about Plunkitt to the description and correct the spelling of his name.