The morning call., 1893-05-10

VtHci ""IuS, tUuI every latitude SD0ulu De
given either sdein allowing counsel to cross
examine witnesses and a stenographer to
take down the evidence, so that in the
event of the charges being brought before
the Grand Jury it could be submitted to
them,
Sergeant Whitman and CORPORAL Parrotte
were in close consultation yesterday. They
intimate that on Monday night Judge Con-
lan's charges will return in the shape of
startling boomerang.
In reviewing the whole affair Chief
Crowley declared: ~ do not believe that
am at the head of gang of thieves and
blackmailers, but If l am wrong the sooner
L know it The better. If Judge Conlan can
prove bis charges no one will be more
pleased than myself. and no one will prove
better friend to him. | am quite willing
to render him all the assistance in my
power to bring the guilty officers TO justice
II there IRE any such. 1t seems to be in-
conceivable that If a system Of blackmail,
such as IS represented. has been going on
Tor years among large number Of men
1t should not have come to light long
ere this.
Charges of the same nature have been
made before the commissioners on previous
occasions. but they were never substan-
tlate1. AS | told you before l have per-
sonally gone TO these women with inter
prefers and told Them that they need not
be afraid 10 speak the truth as they would
have nv protection, but in every instance
they denied that they paid one cent TO any
officer Of the police force.
when | heard that Officer Briggs was
to prefer charges against Sergeant Witt
man little over two years ago quietly
removed the sergeant from Morton street
without arousing his suspicion, so that the
women on that street would not share the
fear of intimidation.
II sent Officer Fusier, n Frenchman, who
was entirely unknown to the women or
even TO the patrolmen as he had been for
twelve years stationed in the North Har-
Dor district, to thoroughly investigate the
matter and report 10 me. He had my au-
thoriy TO afford every protection to the
women. Fusier is not now member of
the force. but he was a thoroughly reliable
officer. He reported to me that he had
made n most searching investigation, but
could not find the slightest ground for tile
charges.
"rhe in nvestigation was held before the
commissioners; the charges were dis
missed and Morton street was again put
under Wittman's SUPERVISION. l will
say this for Whitman, that he has always
carried out my orders to clear those places
and they were never cleaner than they are
now. He has always done his duty fear
lessly
Another thing, the patrol in tue dis
trict where the houses of i'll fame are To-
Gated. Morton street, Grant avenue. Du
pom. street, Berry street, Quincy place and
so forth, is changed every six watches,
watch constituting six hours, so that the
same men are not cons family on duty
there.
Now. would like to give you few
facts and figures, which think will show
that under my present administration,
which commenced on the first Monday in
December. 1879, about thirteen and a half
years ago. Tie police have done some thing
in the interests of morality and for the
suppression of lotteries ana gambling.
The facts and figures will speak for them
| selves.
There have been, on an average, 400
women arrested every year in connection
With prostitution.
during the thirteen and a half years
gambling fines and fOrieitures, and I6,0G0
arrests in connection herewith.
There are in this building a bout twenty
tous of Chinese lottery tickets seized by
the police within the same period. and
about $4,000 other lottery tickets. l con-
slider thai is a very fair showing.
"Wilhiu that period also 4lS officers have
left the force, and out of that number
resignation. The others have been DIS
missed for various causes. You will see,
therefore, that II has been my am to have
an honest and effective force under my
charge"
In conversation with a reputable attor-
ney yesterday. who will, IN all probability,
be an important witness at tho nvestiga-
ti0n, he said that II was well known to
any one who had been around the old City
Hall for any length of time that the police
not only levied assessments on keepers OF
houses .of i'll fame. but on lottery men,
keepers of dives and even saloon keepers.
"At rough estimate" he said. 81
should think between S25O,O0O and $500, 600
is contributed annually by blackman INTO
the pockets Of members Of the police
force.
You can have no idea of the amount
that is levied by tie 'squar!ng' of cases,
and very large proportion goes in to the
pockets Of those whom you would least
suspect. l am not referring to Chief
Crowley, who is an honorable man in
every sense of the term.
Il am prepared TO give at the proper
time dates and circumstances that viii
show state of rottenuess that is simply
appalling. know Of men being arrested
on felony charges and tie police being in
possession of undoubtable evidence for
conviction, but the cases have been dis
missed. Why? By Instructions from the
front Office. How do you think it is pos
sibIe for officers to buy ranches and erect
$40, COO houses OH the salary they gelP
81 know that officers are in the habit of
telling prisoners that they need not get the
services Of an attorney if they would only
tip them $50, or perhaps $40, to make it
worth their While to get them off in court.
People talk about shyster attorneys, but
they should turn their attention to shyster
police officers.
81 know of a warrant being issued
against a man for a serious offense, and the
boi being fixed at $1,000, but. strange to
say, the man was never brought into court.
II is no uncommon thing for a man to give
$40 cash bail to get out of prison. and being
advised not TO appear in court next morn
ing The case would be called, fine of
$50 imposed. and the other $50 would 90
not to the man.
81 simply give you these instances to
show you how necessary it is to have
thorough investigation into the rottenness
of the Police Department, and l am glad
We have at last Judge who will push it
fearlessly. l was talking to an ex-poice
officer last night whu told me he had re-
ceived money from women of bad repute
and had been able to put away tidy sum
in the bank besides being the owner of a
lot OF valuable jewelry. How ridiculous
it is to say that no assessments are levied.
just wait ill Monday night and you will
hear something drop"
STORIES BY WOMEN.