William J. Flynn
Operative in charge of the U.S. Secret Service New York District, whose daily reports of 1903 to 1910 record the watch on Morello and Lupo, the barrel-murder arrests, and the 1909 counterfeiting case; a government witness at the 1910 trial.
- Aliases
- Chief Flynn (New-York Tribune and The Sun, 1903), Special Agent Flynn; Capt. Flynn (189 F. 305)
- Role
- Operative in charge, U.S. Secret Service, New York District: he signed the district's daily report of January 1910 "William J. Flynn, Operative in charge" (NARA 151196549, page 833).
- Rights
- Biography on this page is limited to what the cited records state.
On the record
- April 1903 — The National Archives catalogs the Secret Service daily reports of the New York District for April 1903 to April 1904 as "William Flynn: Volumes 9-11" (NAID 151173326).
- 16 April 1903 — The New-York Tribune reports that Inspector McClusky asked "Chief Flynn of the Secret Service Bureau" to let his men work with the police detectives in the barrel inquiry. A newspaper report.
- 16-17 April 1903 — The Secret Service report copies a telegram signed "Flynn" to John E. Wilkie in Washington about a letter Morrello was said to have mailed to New Orleans (NARA 151173326, page 106).
- 21 April 1903 — The Sun reports that Detective Sergeant Petrosino obtained from Chief Flynn the names of counterfeiters recently sent to prison. A newspaper report.
- 15 November 1909 — The New York District report records the search warrants executed on "Morrello et al." with the help of ten members of the Italian Squad (NARA 151194549).
- January 1910 — He signed the district's daily report covering about 3 to 6 January 1910 as "Operative in charge" (NARA 151196549, page 833).
- 20 February 1910 — The New-York Tribune calls him "the chief of the Secret Service here" and credits him and his men with the counterfeiting case. A newspaper report.
- 19 June 1911 — Calicchio v. United States, 189 F. 305, records his testimony as a government witness and refers to him as "Special Agent Flynn" and "Capt. Flynn of the Secret Service."
Role. The role field quotes his own signature block on a Secret Service report held by the National Archives. The newspapers call him “Chief Flynn,” and the 1911 opinion “Special Agent Flynn” and “Capt. Flynn of the Secret Service.” No family is stated; he was a federal officer.
This page goes no further than the records cited. His later career is not covered by any record filed in this section.
Records
itemSecret Service daily report, New York District, about 8-9 April 1903: search warrants and the watch on Morrello and Lupo (T915 roll 109, pages 47-49)Typed pages of the U.S. Secret Service New York District daily report from the week before the barrel killing: an application for search warrants for premises including those of 'Giuseppe Morrello' and 'Ignazio Lupo', and operatives' surveillance in a counterfeiting inquiry.
itemSecret Service daily reports, New York District, 13 April 1903: the watch on Morrello at Stanton Street and Elizabeth Street (T915 roll 109, pages 85-89)Operatives' reports for 13 April 1903, the day before the barrel was found: agents followed 'Morrello' to La Duca's butcher shop at 16 Stanton Street and to Elizabeth Street, where he met 'Cascioferro' and other men.
itemSecret Service daily reports, New York District, 14-17 April 1903: the body identified, the arrests, and a telegram about a letter to New Orleans (T915 roll 109, pages 103-111)Secret Service reports received on 17 April 1903: an operative's identification of the body at the Morgue as a man seen 'with Morrello et al.' the day before, the arrests of 15 April, a telegram to Chief Wilkie about a letter that 'indicated that murder was to be done', and the list of suspects.
itemSecret Service daily report, New York District, 15 November 1909: search warrants on 'Morrello et al.' with the Italian Squad (T915 roll 116, pages 162-173)The New York District's report of the day Secret Service agents, helped by ten members of the New York police Italian Squad, executed search warrants against 'Morrello et al.' in a counterfeiting case. An agent wrote that he was 'satisfied' Morrello held 'very damaging "Black Hand" letters'; that is the agent's belief, not a finding.
itemSecret Service daily report, New York District, early January 1910: the watch on Callicchio and the arrest of Comito (T915 roll 116, pages 831-833)Pages of the New York District daily report for about 3-6 January 1910, three weeks before the counterfeiting trial: agents on watch for Callicchio, the arrest of Comito, and a list of charges, signed by William J. Flynn as 'Operative in charge'.clippingNew-York Tribune, 16 April 1903, page 1: eight arrested in the barrel caseThe New-York Tribune front page of 16 April 1903 reports the arrest of eight men by police and Secret Service agents on suspicion of counterfeiting and of the killing of the man found in a barrel two days earlier, and names Giuseppe Morello among them.
clippingThe Sun (New York), 21 April 1903, page 1: man found in barrel knownThe Sun's front page of 21 April 1903 identifies the man found in the barrel as Benedetto Madonia, a stone mason of Buffalo, and credits Detective Sergeant Petrosino and Inspector McClusky's staff with the identification. A scan is stored here.clippingNew-York Tribune, 20 February 1910, page 3: sentencing story continued, with press speculationPage 3 of the New-York Tribune of 20 February 1910 continues the counterfeiting sentencing story under portraits captioned 'Italians sentenced for counterfeiting', and repeats detectives' unproven suspicions about the barrel killing and the Petrosino killing. Flagged as speculation.itemCalicchio v. United States, 189 F. 305 (2d Cir. 1911)Second Circuit opinion of 19 June 1911 affirming the 1910 counterfeiting convictions of Giuseppe Calicchio, Giuseppe Morello, Ignatzio Lupo and five others. It holds a question about Morello's 1903 arrest in the 'Barrel Murder' improper but cured, and says: 'The arrest of Morelio for the murder proved nothing.'