When he appeared against the lawbreaker in court next day, he found the court-room crowded with influential Tammany Hall politicians, backed by one or two Republican leaders of the same type; for Calahan was a baron of the underworld, and both his feudal superiors and his feudal inferiors gathered to the rescue.

His backers in court included a Congressman and a State Senator, and so deep-rooted was the police belief in "pull" that his own superiors had turned against Bourke and were preparing to sacrifice him.

Just at this time I acted on the information given me by my newspaper friend by starting in person for the court.

The knowledge that I knew what was going on, that I meant what I said, and that I intended to make the affair personal, was all that was necessary.

Before I reached the court all effort to defend Calahan had promptly ceased, and Bourke had come forth triumphant.