The evening world., 1893-12-28
SHEEHAN IS The man.
The Police official Who Made
Overtures to DR.. Parkhurst.
Hindered In His Purpose by Over
Cautious Frank Moss.
DIR. Parkhurst willing to Meet on
Neutral Ground.

Over his own signature, Police Com
missioner John C. Sheehan comes out
to-day and boldly that he was
the high official referred to as one OF the
number making overtures to Rev. DR..
Parkhurst, anxious to assist the latter
in exposing the %rottenness of the De-
partment and furnishing the offenders.
These overtures, for the present, are of
altogether. There Is an intimation, how
that his offer may yet be accepted.
Commissioner Sheehan, in admitting
hat he Is the party referred to, does not
tell all he story in the statement given
out. He does not. for instance, say that
he made the overtures to DR.. Parkhurst
practically on the suggestion Of Richard
Croker. Yet such Is the fact.
Neither does he give the real reason
for seeking the President of the Society
for the Suppression of Crime. This is to
the effect that the present officials have
been placed in a false position; that in
the fight to down Supt. Byrnes by the
Police Commissioners, the former has
the best of it: that corruption and
blackmail have been going on or twenty
years In the Department.
Another reason is that Tammany thinks
it should only come in for its share Of
censure from the time 1t has had abso-
lutte control of the Police Department.
Boss Croker wants the parties who had
control before them to receive their share.
This is the statement in full given out
by Commissioners Sheehar this afternoons:
Possibly l am the high police official
referred to as willing to furnish DIR.
Parkhust with information with regard
10 the Department. The statements as
given out. however, dc not give an ade-
quate idea of the situation.
n information has been offered or
suggested to Or. Parhhurst.
For some time the Reverend Doctor
has complained that his work as head
of the Society for the Prevention of
Crime has been h'mpered by politicians,
and that the Board OF Police Commits
aioners has been the retnrding influence.
This krow to he an unfGir prescntn-
ton Of the situation. and l was willing
to dc anything possible to have the
real condition publicly eNnlnine1
since ! have been a Police Commits
ton in regard to the Department. and I
am certain that all the Commissioners
are Of the same way Of thinking. DIR.
Parkhurst evidently believes differently,
as he gains his information from other
sources.
about ten DAYS ago I .maGs the re,
mark to q friend that If DIR. Parkhurst
really desired a complete inquiry into
police affairs. ! would gladly cooperate
with him. A few daus ago I said to
this man that ! would be glad to meet
DR.. P~arkhurst, and talk over the situa-
ton. As | said before. ] was positive
the other Commissioners were all of the
"I went further and said that I would
he very much pleased, indeed. to meet
him. and that I would freely cooperate
sire was to- improve the present condi-
ton OF affairs.
AT that time I stated that I would
meet him by appointment, either at Pc
lice Headquarters or at any other suit
able place. was satisfied that the
other commissioners would be also glad
to see him.
There was no thought on my part Of
the suggestion that I was afraid OF the
issue OF the present controversy Is too
ridiculous to be considered.
Or. Parkhurst that his view Of obstruc-
missioners. was based upon lack OF
knowledge OF the real facts"
Just at the most interesting point Com
missioner Sheehan stops short in his
statement. He does not say why he did
not meet DIR. Parkhurst. The fact is that
the latter reInSpl 70 meet MIN without
first consulting his counsel, Lawyer
Frank Moss.
The latter believed a trap had been
laid, and said that Sheehan shonla, only
no seen Mt DR.. Parkhursts cum residence.
Commissioned Sherhan offered to zee them
on neutral ground, but his offer was not
accepted.
Dr.. Parkhurst said this afternoon that
the story of the overtures made to him
as told in the first edition of THE Even
ing World" today was correct. He was
sorry, however. that the facts had leaked
out, He said he fully appreciated Mr..
Shochan's position, and that no blame
attached to tho latter In the matter. He
was willing now to meet the Commits
sioner on neutral territory.
As THE Evening World" stated in It's
First Edition. Commissioner Sheehan
was even willing to meet Or. parkhurst
at Mr.. Moss's office. He was also willing
to have the lawyer present at all the
interviews contemplated, Mr.. Moss,
however. would not yield, and as DR..
P%arkhurst believed in his counsel, that
aattIaI tha rnattpr