New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-10
WERE THE POLICE BRIBED ?
HOW POLICY DEALERS WERE PROTECTED.
Confidential EMPLoYE TELLS HOW 1T WAS
| nnNr-EIIs srArrNIENTs DENIED.

When the time arrived for resum1ng the work
of the Roosevelt Committee yesterday Mr. Roosevelt
the only member present He said that the other
members would not be present until later, anu that ne
had been authorized take testimony meanwhile ROD
ert A. PnkertOn the detective, the first witness he
said that he had been engaged by DistretAtorney Nc
Keen to break UP the headquarters Of the policy dealers
at No 263 BOwery, and described In detail the raid OF
August 1892. Simmons. Nathan and Bernstein VIII
nesses who have previously testified were among the
people found in the when broken into MT PnAer-
ton identified lot OF books and papers that mad Deeh
seized at that raid.
Dock Commissioner John r. vOOrhls. who was
Police Commissioner intervals from 1874 TO 1880 was
then sworn. He said It was customary 10 nave TWO
Commissioners appointed from one party and TWO from
another. This he thought detrimental 00th 10 the
public welfare and the efficiency OF the police force lie
did not believe that politics should be considered IN tne
appointment of Commissioners He favored the appoint
OF one Commissioner only with undivided RESPONSE
biIity While he was Commissioner It was customary
for applications be made for appointments to the
police force as a reward for political service
DO you know Of any reason why any notorious policy
shop gambling house should be allowed oexst for any
length OF time r. asked Mr. Miller.
mo, Sir" replied Mr. VOorhis, it is the intent or de-
sire of the Board Poceor majority OF them that they
shall be closed To put mildly be continued there
was an indifference among OF the members OF the
Board Of Police to the existence Of these gambling
houses"
Mr.. Miller-To put II strongly.
Mr.. Voorhis-There is a common runner that some OF
the Board were Interested in having these places remain
Q-Is your opinion that money paid for the pro
lection OF these pacesi Al believe that there was
Mr.. Voorhls added that he found there was feeling
among police captains that OF the Commissioners
were Indifferent the closing OF these places and TINS
rendered them less Jealous superintendent WallnG had
told him In the OF several conversations that ne
vaae 4fiel all will
Board that the Board WAS not unit on that question
that IL would not be agreeable TO thom as
Il 70 him (voorhis to have these places closed
Later in the examination, when Mr. Voorhis was again
questioned above these conversations with superintendent
waning He said: ~ would say to superintendent
Wslinu why don't you enforce the rules and suppress
these places and he would reply What ia the use OF
saying thai to You dent get out OF the door before
Commissioner gets and tells not to bother my head
about tn Officers mad told him that they were AFRAID 10
their duty with reference 20 gambling houses etc. for
fear they would get into trouble He believed con-
nuous aud steadfdst policy adopted for the govern
meRt OF the police force under a single Commissioner tie
members of the force would all fall line and carry
out the rules. lie did not think that
dsorderly houses could be absolutely suppressed, but
that they could be placed under regulations and kept
within that would admit OF regard for plOhc
deceney He thought money had been paid for protec
ton of gambling houses and immoral houses. He In
stauced the case Of the keeper gambling house in
Grand-st who had con- Dlatned bitterly Of being dis
turcd after being allowed to pursue his business without
molestaton for seventeen years.
what Commits ioners were not in sympathy with tho
closing OF gambling houses p asked Colonel Bliss.
my opinion was that M Dlsbecker and Mr. Matsell
we're Indifferent. My was that never saw them
take any earnest steps the way forcing the subor
mates OF the Departments comply with the rules Gen
era Smith gave some evidence Of desiring their suppress
sion Coming along later In service, thought that
Commissioner Nichols indifferent. Commissioner
French at times be earnest and sincere in de
string their suppression
How was Indifference shOwnl"
By showing no interest in the complaints that were
made before the Board"
Mr. voorhis believed that the Dock Department should
have asinEe-headed government Colonel Bss said ne
would crossexamine the wines az iengtn a.
j. whitney gave much tesLho1y LII
Williams had testified before Judge Gderssese that he
knew nothing against the hadahe. t5ptaIh WIZ
i4psr.Rs Iiai9 ne s,glJIGa' G.loai. hs 9ah'"fid
| he knew nothing against the French Madane
Ashley Cole. private secretary OF Ruins aa5ch, VINO
made arrangements To accompany Mr. ComstocS on the
raid "A Adamss place IN zee must IN 'aG
vance OF tue about hundred yards he rushed PACK
Titn and 6 men cot there the place Was desered
| The witness ascertained personally that NUMBER Oh
sloaed that nght. sporting men" told him chat they
were all closed that word had been passed around that
raid was made. and a. they d not know Whefe He
| lightning was % strike, all closed Up. - .t
/ (rln Due 3D.
mony c0rroboFltye OF Comst0cks Wn reicrece 10 t1e
raid on Adamas place. tending 70 sh1W tl- Oh'sr 5I
OF Captain Niamss precnc utl OseA IH''i ~
| giving it away
CONFIDENTIAL POLICY MANS STORY.
Lewis u Clarkhlm was next sworn 70 the hrst ques-
ton Of Mr. Miller "Wlere were You in 1877 a.
promptly replied: decline to answer on the ground
that il would degrade and crimnate me- Mr. Miller IN
tnated that the committee coad compe! MN 20 an
C1onel Bs.-1 advs. youthat there Is no committee
! here 10 compel YOU 10 answer
NJ Miller said That toe witness could be compelled TO
/ answer before full committee to-day. Inc Will h
wanted To know II there was anything To prevent mn
IN anpesr ON saturday Mr. Roosevelt explained taat DIS
presence could be- required On saturday Oh Tue
J with which he already served .
Colonel Biss-Ihe committee cannot cDHPett }pd ~
testify now, but there Is no question tlaI Tue lu com
mttee can bring yon mere to-iIolO r '' - P,yor ~
TESTIFY sand the conse lence oil reis1 ~ ""uH !"
J ciitate matters al around If you testify now. .,
The witness took tns view OF cue matter a7O' ana Stu
that ne would answer all questions freely AM ne kept
rbsE be was emooysd at No 500 Broadway IN 1879, by
Uppington and Lackarian E summons ne Wis pane -
! Lottery, which by simmons and 1ahuei "
Dickersou There was OotA lottery ana pJAcJ o4 ness
| q What was your position with MI Uppnston
/ A.-IaspecJOr Bymes told me- that W.s c0nddeht'I
and the combination Of the safes me policy DusiRei
was the Merccr-st side, under me charge Oh ~ -
Bernstein had noJhins u DO WIKI 'Ae uah1S oi '1''
0.-Do you know how Ar. Uppingon came to be part
ncr o. Ar simmons Ale told me th3t ne hli Iot me-
com nation with certain officials by wlch the Dust
ncs. would ne protected. Mr. simmons had 70 give MN
/ % per cent 81 tue business; Otherwise Il "ouu D'
[ smashedup That was the understandings.
/ O.-What do You mean by prOtecuOnt A-PtOtectlon
fro interference by police and from MI COlAA.ocA
also. -
Q.-What the amount 10 be paid, 50 Iar a. yoh TN
dpls.OOd As 1000 year
Q-With wnoni was lt unde stood that MT Uppinqtor
had made tnis agreement TIC Police commits tloner-
County Clerk 1iilam A. Butler, aud Commissioner O
Jurcs gorge Caul1eid Inis was '4i among nl7 rtHu
O.-Wefe you Ia toe habit or making appointments lO
meeting between Mr.. PcnuA-,Ol aud MI CtuInsu
A-Jne day Mr.. Caulnel4 seut word mat &c WEl5u u
see Mr.. Pcnhlug OI the Fory-second street. Depot
/ Rr. Pennington could meet In there ana ne ln5"
am en- .ageucnt fOr IA meet at saiOOn a. bfoa"
| and CnIlaersst.
Odd You ever take anything In an envelope uou
I MI Pennington Ip Mr.. 8utLcri A.-le', IT. -,
f...r mar 1l