The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-23
THE SUPPRESSION OF CRIME.
Session Of the Legislative
Committee Of Inquiry.
Remarkable Statements by
a Police Sergeant.
HOW PANEL HOUSES ARE RUN

The Legislative Committee. who were recently
appointed IN Albany TO inquire into the alarming
increase OF crime in the cry o. New York, again
met Yesterday afternoon, at three O'Clock. IN the
Aldermcn's old room, city Hail. The members OF
the committee present were Messrs. Campbell,
Dessar, MCGOWAN and Hess. General Hustled was
absent. ana Mr.. Campbell took the chair Inc
subject Of investigation 'Ilouses OF prostitu.
\ ton and such like dens OF VICE.
/ The heat OF the day being sensibly felt by tine
\ members of the committee, these gentlemen did
4 not put in an appearance until a good nalf-hour
after the appoin ed time for opening the proceed
ings. Yesterday there were more spectators on
hand than at either OF the two former meetings Of
TINS committee As The Investigations proceed
public in crest considerably increases touching
the unexpected revelations made by some OF the
Witnesses pointing TO the disagreeable TACT that
/ the Municipal Police are more or less indirectly
concerned IN, and cognlzant Of, many dens OF
! crime that ought to be abolished al once.
Among the people present we're noted the Hon.
John K. Kennedy Alderman Glon. Mr.. Dillon and
Mr.. Power Of the Marine Court.
Mr. Townsend, counsel Tor the committee, upon
4 being Informed that Ambrose J. KinSslaud, who
was 10 have given evidence to-day, was III, called
to the stand Police Sergeant Jonn r. Groo, OF the
Sixteenth precinct. THIS oiIlcer proceeded TO tcs-
! thy 70 the following erect:-
i
1865, ana mas been for two ana half years a
4 geant in the force. Had served under Captain
\ Edward lyman and also With Captain Williams OF
i the Eighth precinct where there were three SER
4 geants besides the Witness He knew q certain
eTerwllliger who was q special ward detective.
When the deponent served IN the Eighth
precinct there were in IT, to his certain
knowledge, both panel houses and dens
| OF prostitution. In January February 1874, the
| INTO "parlor houses houses OF designation and
room houses" Tho witness testified to having
seen o report OF Sergeant Brown, in which 1t was
Officially stated that there we're 345 girls OF bad
morals in the precinct, occupying the whole or
part OF eighiy-,hree houses. This report was
made for the information OF the Police Commits
soners; and copy OF 1t was sent TO them, and
one also to the District Attorney. After the rem
dering OF lhls report houses OF ill-fame sup
\ pressed on only one block in the dsreputable
neighboruood. THIS closing OF these Dlotches or
4 iniqutty effected through the efforts or the
4 city Board OF Education. But the women and
/ their friends only moved out or one block and into
\ an adjoining street, where they renewed their
\ disorderly aud sinful mode OF lle The
\ witness repeatedly Informed Captain Williams,
both verbally and IN writing, OF the frequent COM
\ plants that bad been made by various persons
Y who mad been robbed In these low houses. The
4 deponent had taken .precaution 10 keep memo
randa OF these matters, and had the notes now IN
I his pocket From the paper In MS hand the de-
i ponent read TO the following enact:-"November
4 20, lS73 complaint against the house No rs
i Greene street was made 10y two young men. These
were detained IN the station house and some Of
\ ncers. dressed in plain clothes, 10 ''pul the
house" and arrest its inmates. On this ., CASTOR
the Captain came out OF the room in the station
house and converted with the complainants. the
onicers who had been sent 10 the house did not 70
In the vicinity here IL was situated, but IN the
upper part OF the precinct. some girls OF
the class who walk the streets were
4 brought In. They mad no connec-
ton whatever with this particular robbery
but were now locked up on a charge OF soliciting
male passers-ov. February u 1874. two panel
houses were opened in the precinct tthc Eighty,
and witness aiterward conyersed with glrl, who
told him that $50 had been paid to Detective Ter
wllliger tas hush money on the night or the Open
ing. complaint was made to deponent about a
robbery committed IN Greene street. The matter
was taken in charge By TerwIlger or the Captain,
and not heard or any more. on February 0
man was robbed OF $50 In No. rs Greene street;
no arrests were made. February 81, 1874, a rob-
i berry was committed in the panel house No 143
Mercer street, but no arrests followed. February
% dcponent saw Terwiger go into the same
panel mouse at haItpast ten O'Clock at night. In
addition 10 the above still another COM
Y plant was made against the house
No. ll3 Mercer street. but the re-
4 part was not forwarded to Police Headquarters.
February IS man was robbed OK MS watch and
\ cnaln IN the den No. l43 Mercer street. The de-
I ponent reported TINS, but no arrests were made.
! las Mercer street. lie was VIKING 10 enter a
/ formal complaint The deponent informed Ter
wlhger OF this, but he MADE no arrests. man,
/ who
DECLINED 10 GIVE his NAME.
was robbed OF $40 on the 5tn OF March IN the same
place as tnat mentioned above, and, although
detective Ierwilger was promptly iaiormed, ne
made no arrests. On the 18Th OF Marcn man
was robued Of $50 the house No. 143 Mercer
street. TerwilllAer was informed, but no arrests
followed. March III, u man IRON Cleveland, Ohio,
street. Inc perpetrators escaped win impunity,
although the house was ''puledN or broken M,
ana on the nth of the same month the inmates ol
Ii removed 10 No. IS Wooster street. In this place
1 Fred, Lewis was robbed Of $40 on the Iein OF
i March, and the case was turned over 10 Terwl-
\ Tiger, who, however, caused arrests to be
made. A man from Chicago was robbed OF $3.50 IN
\ NJ. So Wooster street on the 24tn OF Marcn. Tie
usual report was made to the detective and the
i usual absence Of arrests followed. All the rob
Y berries followed each other IN SUCH quick success
\ sion that IL was thought advisable to close tue
i house in Wooster street no. 52l and No. Us
Mercer street until tue cXcltenent which tsey
u ca~ioncd SHOULD subsde. The witness had
means 81 knowing wat complaints were made
! by The other sergeants 81 TINS precinct. Inc
q let III MaI ZEN s na abo rd on we
amer the last robbery Referred 10 IN ms notes
had been committed In tnirtyfour days seven
rouperles committed IN panel house
aoue; TINS was No. l34 Mercer street. No arrests
had Dcen made IA any instance. By general un-
derstandIgg among the officers OF the precinct
tile serious complaints whisn had been made
against she several houses named were not
forwarded TO Pol-e Headquarters. Important
IoDberles always reported Immediately TO
Headquarters. The rObbcres now mentioned by
acponcnt were not entered upon the botter or
any Ol the official books kept Tor this purpose In
the different precincts Inc witness had con-
yersatlon at her room with French girl
uFn IF h4r RI mn Nh -
aepOnent went-ln the course " his duties 10 sec
the url. she said that she mad To pay - a week
u TO ferwiger; tnat rms was verr hard, rs
BUSINESS WAS EXTREMELY DUH,
and she did not always nave the money TO pay.
she SAID ierwilliger had reluctantly received
s3 instead vi S5. Terwiliger told her that naf OF
the money was for himself and the rest Tor tine
captain 81 the precinct. RMS conversation TOOK
place 40 No. 100 : Greene street. lie alrlis name
Is Anna Maynard. she also stared that every
saturday night TerwilEer came 10 her Tor the
money. TIE captain Oi the precinct Williams
WIS fhen on terms VI Intimacy Win Police COm