More Newspaper Articles

[Robert]

From Joe:




Here are two clips from a Pittsburgh newspaper. The vagrant who is spoken about was not Dr. Francis Tumblety, the future Ripper suspect.










The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial

December 16, 1870

Page 4




AT HIS OWN REQUEST. On yesterday morning Francis Tumblety, a "vet. vag." was given another four months in the work house, from which he lately got out. That will board and lodge him through the winter at the public expense.










The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial

April 28, 1871

Page 4







MAYOR BRUSH gave Frank Tumblety six months for vagrancy.










From Joe: Dr. Tumblety was in the New York City area when those two articles were printed. The Pittsburgh vagrant was some other guy named Tumblety. On another matter, you may recall when Dr. Tumblety was falsely arrested in New Orleans in 1881. The details of that story came from the New Orleans Picayune newspaper. Well, four additional articles on the case have now been found, but this time the details are provided by the New Orleans Times Democrat. That newspaper went a little further in depth into the story. We'll try to have those four articles posted on this thread in the upcoming days. Thank you to Robert, Scott, David, and Mike for all your help. Ok, here is one last article for today:







Cleveland Daily Leader

November 18, 1861

Page 4




Dr. TUMBLETY REDIVIVUS. The Buffalo Courier has it from good authority that the original Dr. Tumblety is flourishing about Washington with the original dog, as large as life and a good deal more natural. Also, that he has been attached to Gen McClellan's Staff as a Surgeon.




The first part of the story is correct, and the last is perhaps a good joke. The Dr., dressed in a sort of half military suit, with his great hound behind him, gallops up Pennsylvania avenue in a style that causes half the people in town who don't know better to mistake him for one of the foreign Princes. The Dr. is a living illustration of what small means, joined in faith, can accomplish.

[Scott Nelson]

From Joe.


New Orleans Times Democrat
March 25, 1881
Page 8

A DOUBTFUL CASE

A Supposed Roper-in Put Behind Bars.

He is Afterwards Discovered to Be a Man of Means and of High Social Standing.

Mr. D. C. O'Malley, a commissioned special officer, yesterday arrested Dr. F. Tumblety, charging him with picking the pockets of young Mr. Henry Govan, a clerk in the United States district attorney's office.

The history of the affair and particulars of the arrest as given by O'Malley, in substance are as follows: On Tuesday last Mr. Govan was passing down Canal street when he was met by a fine looking elderly gentleman, who approached him after the usual style adapted by first class ropers, and after introducing himself and pretending to have met Mr. Govan before, asked him to join him in a social glass.

Together they repaired to Wenger's saloon, where they remained for about an hour talking pleasantly and drinking, and when the time arrived for Mr. Govan to go home he left his new found friend feeling as if he had known him all his life, and with a fixed determination to keep an engagement which he had made to meet him Wednesday morning.

But time works great changes, and when Govan awoke Wednesday morning, after dreaming about his new friend all night, he put him down as a fraud and concluded that he would in the future give him a wide berth. The doctor was not so eagerly avoided, however, and when Govan was about to enter the customhouse Wednesday morning, he put in an appearance and took Govan to task for not keeping his engagement. Govan, out of politeness, was forced to talk to him for a few moments, but finally managed to give him the shake and enter his office, where he found, to his dismay, that he had been robbed of his pocket book containing about one hundred dollars.

Hastening to the central station he gave a description of the doctor to Captain Malone and asked that he be arrested on sight, but as the captain gave him very little encouragement he left, feeling that all hopes of recovering his lost wealth were gone. His friends at the customhouse, however, recommended him to O'Malley as a kind of last resort, and eagerly he sought that special (officer).

To him he detailed the story of his woes, and together they started to effect the capture of the thief. Up one street and down another they continued their search, until at last O'Malley obtained a clue and tracked the doctor to his room on Canal street.

The doctor was at home and seemed glad to see his visitors until O'Malley accused him of the theft. (Tumblety) signified his willingness to go to jail, but, according to O'Malley's statement, attempted to compromise by offering to make the amount good. O'Malley was, however, firm and called on Officer Landrigan to watch the room while he conveyed the prisoner to jail.

Landrigan, however, refused to have anything to do with the case, and O'Malley was therefore forced to escort the prisoner to jail, leaving the room which, as he states, contained lots of burglars' tools and a box of medical instruments to take care of itself.

On the way to the station, Dr. Tumblety informed O'Malley that he would find the money in his bureau tied up in a piece of paper, and again tried to compromise the case, but being again unsuccessful was lodged in the third station. When searched he was found to have in his possession a lot of diamonds of fabulous value, in fact the stone in one of his rings was as large as a rifle ball, and was supposed to be worth an immense amount of money by all who saw it.

O'Malley subsequently obtained a search warrant, and ransacking the room, found $30.65 in the paper as described by the doctor, but also found that the burglars' tools and case of medical instruments had been removed during his absence.

This ended O'Malley's story, and a TIMES reporter took it up where he left off and visited the third station. Dr. Tumblety was seen behind bars. He had nothing to say, but his appearance showed that he was a gentleman and a remarkably fine looking one at that. He is about fifty years of age, tall and stout, and wears a remarkably long moustache.

He was dressed almost like a naval officer, and wore a white duck cap. During the evening Mr. de Fonblanque, the English consul, called at the station and interested himself on behalf of the prisoner. He said that Dr. Tumblety was very wealthy, a gentleman of refinement and education, and one of the best known physicians in the country, and was traveling for pleasure, having arrived in this city on the 25th of February.

A visit to his elegant apartments disclosed the fact that he was a very pleasant person according to his landlady's statement, and very fond of the society of his gentleman friends.

Dr. Tumblety is in possession of a number of medals and decorations which should be a guarantee to his respectability. He has an elegant gold medal, presented by the citizens of Montreal, Canada, on March 4, 1858, for his skill as a physician; a Maltese cross presented on Sept 24, 1860, by His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales; a cross of the legion of honor presented by Napoleon, an iron cross from the emperor of Prussia; a decoration from the emperor of Austria; another from the Czar of Russia, and a number of other medals and decorations from other notables.

He is said to be a surgeon in the English army, and from all accounts is a man with an unblemished reputation.

His board bill at the City Hotel, where he boarded, was always promptly paid and so was his room rent at his establishment on Canal street.

The regular detectives say that they noticed and watched Dr. Tumblety for some days, but finally concluded that he was a gentleman of means with peculiar ways.

Somehow it would seem from the above that O'Malley made a slight mistake, but the trial before the courts will bring out the true facts.

[mklhawley]

From Joe: In this article, the newspaper changed the spelling of the man's name from Govan to Gaven.


New Orleans Times Democrat
Saturday March 26, 1881
Front Page

TUMBLETY'S TROUBLE

Leads to Serious Complications.

What the Doctor Has to Say for Himself.

Dr. Francis Tumblety yesterday morning appeared in the Second Recorder's Court, accompanied by Mr. De Fonblanque, the English consul, who stated that he appeared officially for the accused, as he was a British subject.

After some little conversation, Mr. De Flonblanque requested that Mr. Henry Gaven make a direct affidavit against the accused, as O'Malley's affidavit was made simply from information received. Mr. Gaven then entered the judge's private office and made the charge as directed, but it could be easily seen that he did not feel over-confident of securing the conviction of the doctor. He volunteered a statement, which was in substance the same as that made by O'Malley and published in the TIMES of Friday morning, but said that he could not swear positively that the doctor took his pocketbook, but judging from the fact that he held his hand in close proximity to his pocket, he came to the conclusion that the doctor was the thief, and made O'Malley acquainted with his suspicions.

At half-past 10 o'clock Judge Miltenberger took a recess, when Capt Bachemin arrested O'Malley as a dangerous and suspicious character and lodged him in the third station. Upon being searched a revolver was found in his possession, and he was accordingly charged with carrying concealed weapons. When the court reassembled Judge Miltenberger refused to entertain the charge of being a dangerous and suspicious character against O'Malley, but placed him under appearance bonds on Captain Bachemin's affidavit of carrying concealed weapons.

Dr. Tumblety was then arraigned on Mr. Gaven's affidavit of petty larceny and released on bonds for his appearance on Tuesday next, when he left the court in company of friends. O'Malley also left the building very much crestfallen and amidst the muttered curses of the regular detectives who look upon him as a very dangerous man and one calculated to work considerable injury to innocent strangers.

Dr. Tumblety was subsequently interviewed and found to be very communicative. He said that he had met Gaven on numerous occasions, but did not fancy him as he tried to rope him into gambling saloons, and seemed to him to be a sharper. As far as O'Malley was concerned he did not hesitate to denounce him as an unmitigated fraud and a blackmailer of the first water.

He seemed to think that O'Malley and Gaven, seeing that he was wealthy, had arranged a plan to force him to contribute to their depleted finances, and with that object in view had arranged the arrest. When O'Malley first entered the room, according to the doctor's statement, he approached him and said: "Well, you have picked this young man's pockets, and I advise you to square it."

The doctor, of course, feeling perfectly innocent of the charge, declined to square anything and said that he would go to jail before he would give up a cent. O'Malley then sent Gaven for a policeman, and while he was gone O'Malley repeated his request for a settlement, saying that he would square the whole case if it was made worth his while.

By this time the doctor, who was half undressed, had arranged his attire, but while so doing had placed a package containing forty five dollars on the bureau, which he asked O'Malley to let him take, but the latter refused and hurried him off to jail. On the way to the station (Tumblety) informed a police officer where the money was, and thinking that he might need it during his confinement, requested that it be sent for and given to him. He denied most positively that he had offered O'Malley any money, and said that if he had, O'Malley would certainly have released him.

Regarding the burglar's tools said to have been seen in his room, the doctor produced a letter from Mrs. Fields, his landlady, which gave that statement the lie direct. The letter was addressed to the detectives, and conveyed the information that the doors of the doctor's room were always open, and the interior of his big chamber in full view of any one passing the hall. There never was a burglar's tool or anything resembling one in the room, and what was more, the apartment was not entered by any one from the moment that the doctor left it with O'Malley until the latter returned with the search warrant.

In proof of his respectability the doctor produced letters from Vermilye & Co. bankers, New York; W. F. Lawrence, New York; McCalllogh & Co., London; Dreckson, Morgan, & Co., New York, and other well-known people, all regarding money matters and requesting information of how to invest the doctor's wealth of which he seems to have an abundance. He has documents also showing that he served in the French army in 1870 and '71, and in the English army in India. He also claims that all his decorations are genuine, and was desirous of producing the fact by documentary evidence.

In concluding his statement the doctor said that he intended to prosecute O'Malley and Gaven to the full extent of the law, and would not rest until his honor was vindicated.

The doctor is well known to a number of prominent people in New Orleans, who have interested themselves in his behalf, and will assist him in his attempt to vindicate himself.

[mklhawley]

New Orleans Times Democrat
Sunday March 27, 1881
Page 11

THE TUMBLETY-O'MALLEY MATTER

The Tumblety-O'Malley affair grows more complicated each succeeding day, and yesterday a new phase was developed by the arrest of D. C. O'Malley by Chief Boylan.

It seems that O'Malley furnished the reporter of the States with certain statements damaging to Col. Boylan and his officers relative to blackmailing gamblers, and upon being questioned on the subject, yesterday, on St. Charles street, by the colonel, who felt aggrieved that his name should have been connected with the affair, acted so insultingly that the colonel concluded to place him under arrest.

He was charged with being a dangerous and suspicious character, and Col. Boylan says that he intends to push the case, so that O'Malley will be afforded an opportunity to tell all he knows about the police and blackmail.

Col. Boylan further stated that since the matter had been made so public, that he would request an investigation by the grand jury and the Police Board.

[GUT]

Thanks Mike, an interesting character, that's for sure.

[Pcdunn]

I can't help thinking that Dr. Tumblety was a LVP version of a "reality celebrity" -- someone who is famous merely for being famous, and to whose escapades the newspapers willingly gave space, because they "sold papers".

[Mayerling]

From Joe:


The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial

April 28, 1871

Page 4







MAYOR BRUSH gave Frank Tumblety six months for vagrancy.










From Joe: Dr. Tumblety was in the New York City area when those two articles were printed. The Pittsburgh vagrant was some other guy named Tumblety. On another matter, you may recall when Dr. Tumblety was falsely arrested in New Orleans in 1881. The details of that story came from the New Orleans Picayune newspaper. Well, four additional articles on the case have now been found, but this time the details are provided by the New Orleans Times Democrat. That newspaper went a little further in depth into the story. We'll try to have those four articles posted on this thread in the upcoming days. Thank you to Robert, Scott, David, and Mike for all your help. Ok, here is one last article for today:







Cleveland Daily Leader

November 18, 1861

Page 4




Dr. TUMBLETY REDIVIVUS. The Buffalo Courier has it from good authority that the original Dr. Tumblety is flourishing about Washington with the original dog, as large as life and a good deal more natural. Also, that he has been attached to Gen McClellan's Staff as a Surgeon.




The first part of the story is correct, and the last is perhaps a good joke. The Dr., dressed in a sort of half military suit, with his great hound behind him, gallops up Pennsylvania avenue in a style that causes half the people in town who don't know better to mistake him for one of the foreign Princes. The Dr. is a living illustration of what small means, joined in faith, can accomplish.

An interesting point on this matter from "Wikipedia". The "Mayor Brush" of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is Mayor Jared Brush (1814 - 1895). He was, during the American Civil War, a member of the United States Sanitary Commission (established in 1861) that monitored and tried to take care of the soldiers camps and hospitals in the Union forces. Among those who served in it were Samuel Howe (husband of Julia Ward Howe), George Templeton Strong (of the New York State section - he is a well remembered diarist, and in the Ken Burns' series for television "The Civil War" the author George Plimpton read entries from his diary regarding the war effort), Louisa May Alcott (who served it as a nurse for the wounded soldiers), and Mary "Mother" Bickersdyke and Mary Livermore, both of whom (like Clara Barton) did yeoman service taking care of the soldiers on the fronts as the heads of the nurses (Bickersdyke serving under General William Tecumseh Sherman, who admired her greatly). I bring this up because it might mean that Jared Brush had some acquaintance with Doc Tumblety in 1861 - 1863 in Washington.

Jeff

[David Orsam]

From Joe:* Much of this article was difficult to transcribe.* I placed words in brackets that I'm guessing*were the same as the words that were printed in the newspaper.


New Orleans Times Democrat
Wednesday March 30, 1881
Page 3


THE TUMBLETY CASE

(Irresponsible) and Unauthorized Parties
(to) Arrest and Imprison Persons Against
Whom There is no Evidence (to) Base
an Accusation.

The case of Dr. Francis Tumblety (charged) with petty larceny, was called yesterday morning in the Second Recorder's Court.* Mr. De Fonblanque appeared for the defense, and Mssrs Dart and Guthelm for the prosecution.

Mr. Henry Govan, the prosecuting witness, was first placed on the stand.

He said:* I first saw Dr. Tumblety at 10 o'clock at night on Canal street, between (?) and Bourbon streets.* He commenced a conversation by speaking about (a) matter, and then asked me to take a (drink).* He also invited me to visit him at (his) room.* When he left me that night he made an appointment to meet me at (Wenger's?) Garden the following night.* I failed to keep the appointment.* The next day I (met) Dr. Tumblety at the corner of Customhouse and Decatur streets, and he placed his right hand on my left shoulder and asked me why I didn't keep my appointment.* I made some excuse and went (away).* My pocketbook was in the (outside) pocket of the coat...When I went to Dr. Tumblety's room the next day in company with (O'Malley) the doctor seemed delighted to see us, and asked if I had brought a friend with me.* I demanded my pocketbook, (and) he denied all knowledge of it, (professing) his innocence.* There was about (seventy) dollars in my pocketbook.

D. C. O'Malley next took the stand and said:* At 12 o'clock Wednesday, Mr. R. (Stewart) informed me that Mr. Govan wanted to see me, and I called on him in (his) office.* Mr. Govan told me that he had (lost) a pocketbook with sixty or seventy dollars in it.* He also said that Captain (Malone) had told him to call the first policeman and have the man he suspected (arrested).* I then agreed to take the case, (and) together we went and looked for the (man) whom he suspected.* From a (bartender) we obtained a description of Dr. Tumblety, and we went to Mrs. Field's (house) on Canal street.

(The) door was opened and when we entered the doctor sent a young man who (was) in the room to go to the post office.* (Mr.) Govan then asked for his pocketbook (which) the doctor denied having taken.* I (then) placed the doctor under arrest, and (when) we were in the hall the doctor said:* "(You) will ruin me to go to jail, and if this young man has lost his pocketbook I will (give) him sixty or seventy dollars."* Mr. Govan, however, refused to compromise (in this) case, saying that he would put the doctor in a place where he would not be (able) to victimize other young men.

On the way to the station the doctor said, "You will find the young man's money on my bureau."* I told this to the (judge) before I obtained the search warrant.

(When) cross examined by Mr. De Fonblanque -- Is it true that you have incurred the (displeasure) of the law?* Yes, sir; I have been (accosted) about eight times by Mr. Boylan's police through prejudice.* I was (convicted) in Cleveland, Ohio, for buying (stolen) property, and fined twenty dollars.**I saw suspicious looking tools in the doctor's room.* I would know the young (man) whom I saw in Tumblety's room.* (Another) witness identified a Mr. McMurry as (the) man.* I did not see the doctor take the money, which I found on the bureau, (and) in*the pocket of the pants which he was repairing when we entered.

In answer to a question from the judge: *I thought Tumblety's actions (were) very strange because he recognized Mr. Govan when we entered, and then afterward pretended not to have met him before.* Mr. Govan was absent during most of our conversation, but he was absent for about fifteen minutes looking for a policeman, it was (then) that Tumblety used a number of slang expressions, generally used by thieves.

...Ross Stewart, the next witness, said:* I saw Tumblety and Govan together on Wednesday last at the corner of Decatur and Customhouse street.* They were facing (each) other, and were very close together.* (I was) passing at the time and saw that (the) doctor had his hand in an elevated (position), but cannot say that he had it on Govan's shoulder.

(Mr.) Dupart, barkeeper, corner of (Dau??) and Canal said:* "I saw the accused (and) Mr. Govan together on Monday week, (they) took two drinks.* Dr. Tumblety said (he) had no use for gamblers and shook (hands) with me;* Mr. Govan laughed at the remark.

Officer Lannagan, said:* I saw Govan Wednesday last; he met me...and complained that he had been robbed of his pocketbook.* I advised him to (seek) the first policeman and have the suspected party arrested.* O'Malley was (present) and asked some questions.

(During) the evening Govan called on me (and) said he had his man and wanted me to arrest him.* I then went to Mrs. Field's (house) where I met O'Malley, who told me (that he) was a special officer, and asked (me to watch) the room as he suspected that it (contained) burglar's tools, but I declined, as (I did) not want to see the thing bungled up.* (On our) way to the station the doctor told (me that) he had forty-five on his bureau in (his room) which he wanted me to go and (retrieve but I) declined, until I could consult (with my sergeant.)

(That) concluded the case, and Judge Miltenberger discharged the accused, saying (that) the complainant had failed to (substantiate?) any facts which would tend to (show) that the accused was guilty.

...Dr. Tumblety was then discharged, and (left) the court looking exceedingly happy.

[David Orsam]

More from Joe:


The Leavenworth Times
Leavenworth, Kansas
May 25, 1881
Page 2

The "New York Times" Libel Suit.

Dr. F. Tumblety, who was arrested at New Orleans on the false charge of picking the pocket of an acquaintance on the street, and received an honorable discharge, has sued The New York Times for publishing a telegram on the subject and refusing to retract.


Philadelphia Times
December 8, 1888
Page 4

WHERE IS TUMBLETY.

He is Believed to be in Cincinnati En Route to Chicago.

Chicago, December 7.* Dr. Tumblety who was gaining an unenviable notoriety by reason of a fancied connection with the Whitechapel murders, was expected to arrive in Chicago this morning on the Pennsylvania limited.* He failed to appear, however, and a conversation with the Pullman conductor developed the fact that a man whose description answers to that of the physician with the odd name, rode from New York to Pittsburg, but was transferred to the sleeper which went down to Cincinnati.

The doctor in all possibility, however, may have changed his plans at the last moment and arrived here by another road.* It is not improbable that if Tumblety isn't already in Chicago he will soon drift around here, as he is known to have friends in this city with whom he could stay until the present excitement in connection with his name blows over.

[Pcdunn]

I have a question about O'Malley, who is described in an earlier article as a "commissioned special officer", yet seems to admit during his testimony that he has been charged with illegal acts.

Would he qualify as what we call today a "private detective", do you think? Who commissioned him, anyway?

[Robert]

From Joe: According to Tim Riordan's book, Dominick O'Malley often got himself into trouble.




"Most of what is known about O'Malley comes from later in his life. He was described in 1891 as having served a ten-month sentence in the Workhouse and having been in court nine times for carrying a concealed weapon, jury tampering and witness intimidation...The O'Malley Detective Agency was widely reported to be in the service of the Mafia."

[Pcdunn]

From Joe: According to Tim Riordan's book, Dominick O'Malley often got himself into trouble.




"Most of what is known about O'Malley comes from later in his life. He was described in 1891 as having served a ten-month sentence in the Workhouse and having been in court nine times for carrying a concealed weapon, jury tampering and witness intimidation...The O'Malley Detective Agency was widely reported to be in the service of the Mafia."

Thanks, Robert. Interesting fellow. No wonder cops looked down on private detectives!