New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-11
GOOD WORDS FOR THE POLICE
THEIR EFFICIENCY WARMLY PRAISED.
MIR. VOORHEES, ALLEGATIONS DENIED-THREE
IrDGES ON TIE STAND


Welt Committee in anticipation of some SUCH starting
testimony as on Friday. This expectation was no'
realized The usually punctual chairman MI hooSo'o''
was an hour and ten minutes late COlohel biisS o"
poyed the time in looking over large bundle oil papers
which he had brought with him, at times frownms
omnously which augured Ill for any witness against INC
Police Denartment But Of the witnesses turned
ont 70 he in favor OF the Department State Senaor'
Gibbs Cullen and Daggett, OF the committee Oh 'iteS'
were present in the afternoon
nock Commissioner Voorhs recalled ana cross
examined by Colonel Bliss concerning the alleged In
,css of tho Police Commissioners to the enforce
ment Of laws respecting gambling and dsordery houses
He said ,,,
The difficulty was as have stated, there was ndiilSI
the part Of at least nan ,e h force feeling
existed that they did do what the rules OF inc Gar h
fhe laws required it would probably result IN tnelr
being transferred their position being hac very u
wot did Won do 10 bring about Improvement
Al watched for specific cases upon which conld ss
tain the rules of the Board by PROOF before haAns
charges .,,..
Mr. Voorh reiterated what he had said on the previous
dav regarding conversation he had with supeHntcn
dent Waing about these matters, when the supcrnten
dent said that Commissioner had told INN not 10 poter
his head about H. etc He also related n conversation
that he had had with Captain Mcdonnell concerning the
aarant breaches OF morality in his precinct. MrNoorhs
demonstrated with Captain Mcdonnell Much to his
surprise the Caran said in effect that he didn't care for
him Later Mr. VoOrhs instrumental In
working up some evidence tending to show that MELON
nell cxtortcd money from Keepers of questionable houses
The captain was acquitted but Detective Murphy, who
was also implicated, was "broken." Mr.. Voorhis was
then questioned concerning some knowledge he had re-
necting on the character OF Captain Washbun He asked
that he might excused from esying on this point rs
his motives might be misunderstood and he had no feel
ing against Captain WaShburn. The committee INSISTED
that he should testify. Mr. Noorhs' then sail that III
1874 there was general transfer OF police captains, and
~lt praHf he
Twentieth Precinct On the evening which the trans
fer WAS made by the Board Washburn sent for him and
expressed himself much aggrieved that he had been
transferred III you mad let remain" he said "unti
LIST of January 1t would not matter so much "Why
asked Mr.. voorlis. at makes difference of 5000"
said the captain Mrs Washburn would have received
present OF $500 from the steamship companies by the LIST
of January as is customary On that occasion Captain
Wa hourn was abusive. said Mr. VOorais. The captain
had since told him recently January of this year
he well satisied that he was III precinct that
paid him better than the old Ninth.
Lewis VI. Clark recalled. Police Captain John H.
McCulagh was requested step forward and the wit
ness was asked if could identify him He had testified
on Friday he had Bernstein give an envelope to
somebody whom he supposed to be Captain Nc
Culagh GarS S,reH haF1 hard Tdp's an hIm
Then Clark SAID he could not identify him Captain
Mculagh lis bat over his eyes put on ms over
coat and turned up the collar a. Clark had testte the
man whom he supposed TO be Captain McCulagh had ap
detective King concerning whom the witness also testi
fled on the previous day, was then brought Forward
" He looks ike The man., SAID the Witness.
THE POLICE FORCE COMMENDED.
judge Rufus b. Cowing Of the Court Of General SEES
sous, was next swOrn lie said:
During the past five years have had very frequent
occasion 10 sec many 81 the poicemen ana rom waat
have seen aud conversations with them | unhesatlngy
say that as body they are bOh efficient and trust
worthy I consider Captain Williams very brave and
eficeS oiocr have no personal knowledge that would
lead ue 70 question his in'eality
Henry Bergh president OF the Society for II Proven
ton oil Cruelty TO Animals. said
During past eighteen nineteen years have been
daily contact with the force, and in my opinion
compares fdvoaby with any similar force in the world,
parment under universal suage form OF government
be- where all from The chief executive down to the
nmncst citizen. recognize the Omnipotence and supreme
authority OF politics.
Judge II. A. Gillersleeve sad:
Ii is my Judgment based upon observation OF the police
and personal relations Win them thai the force IL
exceedingly efficient one very Trustworthy and one OF
which tue city should be proud.
Ex-Judce Russell called attention 10 the case of
"luuco" man who had been sentenced by Judge Glider
sleeve to four months i'll the penitendry and concern
in whom Mr. Coastock bad testified before the commit
tee that he had great difficulty in securing conviction
Judge Gildcrseeve said that before the tried
Mr. Comstock had told him that tine prisoner an III
fortunate young had been led a.tray through getting
mo pat cooS Wri.tep bv Tonstont 70 thc ~
Ato.ney. which the latter sent 70 Judge Glider
sleeve. the letter COmstOck stated he had learned that
u thousand dollar had been offered TO prevent The com
pIainant rom appearing against the accused man.
that he was Bad man q professional 'bnn-
severely punished, etc. Ju4-e "ider"ceyo gave other
evidence tending to show discrepancies between COM
stocks 81 tenents to hiln personally and 10 the Com
mtee. He volunteered Tue statement that he had known
Captain MashbuIn twenty Yeas; had served win nm
through the war and believed him to be "a big noble
Gns,av Frank one Of Pnkerton. detectives said that
he had Policeman No. 500 playing policy in shop
naaer Frank was supposed t. be- tod hm that on
August 81, 1882, he had Oiccr william Hughes OF
WIS wen known that policemen OF Tenth Precinct
played policy at No. l2G Bowery and used bootblack to
purchase slips, etc
JOEL p. ERHARDT ON THE STAND.
United States Marshal Joel b. Erharli said he had been
a Police Commissioner from 1876 TO 1879 He was chair
man OF me Committee Rules and Discipline, whcso
especial duty it was 10 attend to the disc pne of tho
force.
Nj Russell--In your own way please give your judg
Nh Erhard- think the character Of the police force is
without exception better than the character of the
number OF engaged in any duty In this country or in
any other country they mean to do right and they do
do right OF course bad men may be nterspersed here
and there they viii creep III everywhere, even at the
communion liable
the police captains also He thought they had many diff
fcues to contend with, the press and the public clam
orng for the remedying Of evils for which the laws pro-
yided no proper remedy, such gambling houses and
houses of i'll Tepute. Concerning the latter he thought
the public ought mott attack the police but should
tain appropriate legislation. This legislation I'm his
opinion should aim TO ocalze the the evils he aid not
think It cOuld be suppressed. He thought Captain Will
isnss character Tor efficiency and integrity of the
highest
''DO you remember conversation with me prior TO
this inyestigatiOni" asked Mir. Miller.
" remember your coming TO my office and Offering
the nomination for Sheriff." replied Mr.. EThaTdt.
THAT two years ago. There nothing out OF
the way about that conversation, was there"
No; could repeat the whole of it,"
There great desire 10 have you at that
time"
ayes, and took yOa all TO Demonlcos, treated You to
soda water and remarked that got out of that strike
cheap" lLaughter
This little BIZ OF pleasantly was followed by lively
scene Mr.. Bliss interrupted Mr. Miller with somet re-
Elections his method Of conducting the examination
Mr. Miller turned fercely upon Mr. Bliss said that he
would not stand that Mr. Bliss pitching his voice In
high key. said that Mr. Miller has right along put ques-
i,..lu iunt hnt a. nninn n