The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-21
POLICE CORRUPTION.

Meeting Of the Legislative Committee Of
INQUIRY In Heference 20 tho Polioo Bill
Testimony OF the Mayor, the Mayors Clerk,
and Chief Kelly.
This morning at II o'clock the Legislative
Committee appointed to inquire whether cor
rupt means had been used to defeat the Metro
poiitan Police bill met in Common Council
chamber. Three members of the committee
were present. Messrs. Bum, Elliot, and Harlan.
Daniel NJ. Fox, Mayor, testified that he did
not know that any meeting of the police lieu
tenants had been held in reference to the Police
bill did not know of any assessment being made
upon the members of the present police force;
did not think that there had been, from the fact
that no warrants had been issued this year; the
men had no money, and were in very bad con-
dition, and were very much in want of funds
he did not know that any powers of attorney
had been made out enabling other persons to
collect the money on warrants when they should
be issued, except what he had heard from
popular report
Charles t. Wolf the Mayors Clerk, testified
that no assessment had been made whatever to
his knowledge.
Question to witness by Mr. Elliot, a member
of the committee--Have not assessments been
made upon the police every few days since they
have been in office
Answer-NOnc whatever to my knowledge;
/ have very little to do with the police force;
issue warrants, and that is about all.
The witness also testified to the fact that
assessment had been made on the last November
of the contested election. About $7500 had
been collected by subscription, $500 of which
had been paid for printing and the remainder
had been handed over to the lieutenants. 1t
had been expended for lawyers fees and the
like.
q. Do you know how much money has been
raised by subscription or assessment of the
police force from Jan. !, 1869, to Jan. /, 1870!
A. have no idea whatever. The money
never passes through my hands. The usual
Way is TO Day il to the leutenants.
Chief Kelly was then called and testified as
follows:-
know of no fund having been raised to de-
feat the bill; have never talked to anybody in
reference to such fund; never knew of any
meeting of police having been held for such o
purposes; subsequent to November, 1869, an
assessment or rather subscription was made TO
help defray the expenses OF the contested cleo
ton; the amount assessed on each officer was
$10 cannot possibly tell what the total assess
ments were for the year 1869; have only been
| sworn in since November; have no idea of the
| amount; there have been no other assessments to
| my knowledge but this for the contested cleo
| ton since have been in office; usually hear of
such things when they are going on.
O. BY Mr.. Elliot. Is it usual for you to re-
| ceive the money in such cases?
| A. No; the money is usually paid to the lieu
tenants About $50 has passed through my
hands for such purpose since have been in
office, and that is all; know of no powers of
attorney being signed by officers to enable par
purpose of defeating the police bill; l know of
| some who have sold their warrants, but the
| reason was that it was necessary; some men
cannot live month half n month without
| their regular pay; do not know who advanced
| the money on these powers OF attorney; some
| were made out in the name of Mr.. Yerkes, a
| broker on Third street; never had any conver-
sation with Mr.. Yerkes; the rate charged was
| 81 per cent; this is not an unusual rate when
| no warrants have been issued; the men in this
| case sold the right to collect the money before
| they received the warrants; no warrants have
| been issued this year; there has been no appro-
| priaton: have very little to do with the lieu
| tenants or the warrants.
q. How much money has been signed away
in advance in this manner?
A. Probably about fifteen or twenty thousand
dollars; should suppose that come four hundred
men have signed away; / have never received
ceeling where men wish to do this is for the
| receive the money for the men; since have beer
| do with assessments except to the extent of $50
it is customary thing for the men to sign these
| powers of attorney; it has not been customary
that it was the common way before that time; il
| the case of the Jan. 1870, warrants, it was ne
cessary; the men were in want of money.
No more witnesses being present the commit
tee adjourned at half-past eleven IL o'clock, t.
meet again at the call of the Chair. Previous II
| adjournment steps were taken to insure tn
attendance of lieutenants of police and othe
witnesses at the next meeting.