The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-10


possible will say hero that no was very nervous.
when told him that could not 20 without him. he
pulled out bill and extending It toward me. said:
you have been very confederate: take this'
II do not know the denomination OF tho bill. NOR ala
care but told him did not want the bill Again he
persisted and tried to get to the money Iwss
surprised and politely possible refused his ofsr
Once moro he held IL out Then gave him to under
stand that would not touch his money. He went
away. and when ready We got bondsmsn and wsntto
court. I went to Judge GRADY At once ana TOLD MIN
what had occurred"
This story Of the officer is confirmed by
Mr.. GoDK1N, tho World tells US. he having
answered thus question Of ono OF Its re-
porters as to Its truth:
=" Tho statement 10 true. He was In my house with
warrant for my arrest $780, the morning WANTED
him to 60 away and offered him - Dill. which no
very properly refused"
Ibid you consider that you were trying to bride him
not to perform his dutyi"
"wel. wanted him to 60 away. II was annoying to
mo- my family. and suests. Any man would pay
g to got policeman out OF his house ON Sunday
morning. He refused the money very properly.
wasn't going to run away. didn't think anything Of
1t afterward."
II this is an accurate report. Mr.. GoDKN
is In very serious situation. He has not
only violated the principles which he pro-
fesses and breaches. but he Is also indict-
able and punishable under the Penal Code.
For years past he has been persistent and
violent in his denunciation Of bribery as an
offence Of the basest character. More es-
pecially he has charged that the police Of
this city are guilty Of taking bribes as
price for negligence In the performance Of
their duties. He has held them up a. ser
wants Of q municipal Government itself cor
rupt, and which. therefore. fosters corrup-
ton in all its subordinates. This Govern
ment he never tires of describing as Gov
eminent oil" criminals and semi-criminals."
who are seeking to rob the people by every
means In their power; bride givers and
bride takers.
The Grand Jury also. In its recent pre-
sentiment. took tho same ground. It
charged generally against the police that
they profit enormously by wholesale sys-
tenn OF bribery. established and perfected by
themselves. and in consequence OF which
vice and crime are protected and encour-
aged in New York to large and very
dangerous extent. Mr.. TABER. the fore
man of the Grand Jury making this pre-
sentiment. has declared In public in
terview since its adjournment that
although the evidence obtained and
obtainable by the inquest was not sufficient
to Justify the indictment Of any particular
citizen or officer for bribery. it was ample
to produce the moral conviction In the
Grand Jury that the crime of accepting
brides is committed systematically by the
police force. Mr.. TABER even went 80 far
as to declare that tho amount thus received
annually by the police is millions Of dollars.
He said. however. that as the Penal Code
makes both the giver and the taker Of a
bride guilty Of the crime. 1t Is next to i'm.
possible to secure evidence for an indict-
ment on which conviction can be obtained
before petit jury.
The Grand Jury. therefore. without legal
evidence. and simply as matter Of infer
ence, stigmatized the whole police force as
corrupt and criminal bride takers. Such q
reflection. OF course. does great damage to
the reputation Of the police. whose conduct
otherwise the Grand Jury was obliged to
commend in the most laudatory terms;
and in tending to impair the public respect
in which they are held. 1t tends to impair
their efficiency It puts them under gen.
eral suspicion and degrades them In the
eyes of the people. and especially OF the
lawless. with whom they have to deal more
particularly.
In Justice to the police. and In Justice to
the whole public. the Grand Jury. there
fore. should promptly bring an indictment
against Mr.. E. L. GoDK1N. II the circum-
stances of his arrest were as related by the
World. The precise and positive evidence Of
brlbe Offering. which was not obtainsble by
the March Grand Jury. can thus be secured
n 4 49, l. II -
ment and q conviction under 1t this odious
crime can be punished and the police and
tho public made to look on 1t In It's true
Nervousness. Even Mr.. GoDKN himself
should Join in this demand. for. although
he may be deprived OF his liberty In con-
sequence. he will be sacrificing himself for
principle which he has strenuously and
persistently commended should be enforced
against every offender. on the ground that
the crime Is only preventable by the terror
OF sure and ignominous punishment In
aIcted without regard to persons or to
political or other influences.
II the remarks Of Mr.. GoDKIN. giving his
reasons for Offering the bribe to Ofioer
CONNOLLY, arc reported truly. he was In
auenced by the same motive which gov
erns all those from whom the police are &C.
cused OF taking brides. He wanted him
| to 20 away" He wanted the officer to let
him alone; and hence he pressed upon him
the acceptance Of q bride Of five dollars to
induce him to disobey the order OF the
Court. These being the facts. palmer.
squarer case OF an attempt at bribery. as
defined by section rs OF tho Penal Code.
could not DO sent to the Grand Jury from
| the Jefferson Market Court.
That section Is to this effect: "A person
who gives or offers. or causes to be given or
offered. bride. Or any money, propestSs os