The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-09
THE NEW yOER POLICE.
The Significant Testimony of Civil Justice
RoescI-M haf IL Shu Wa

The New York Herald OF yesterday con-
talns this editorial. summing Up the sig
fcant testimony before the Lexow Sen
ate investigating committee of the day
before:
Civil Justice Roesch appeared before
the LexOw committee yesterday to clear
himself from charges made against MN
by a previous witness His denlais eN-
plantations. and confessions must be re-
garded as the most significant. ana by
many, as the most dam5 g1ng testimony
yet tlken by the committee.
IL will be remembered that the former
Keeper of a disorderly place swore that
she had been regularly paying the p9-
lice for protection month after montn
for four years until their exacuons ara
persecution had become 50 intolerab'e
that finally she went 20 Justice KOesch,
as the Tammany district leader. and paid
him a hundred dollars for his influence
with the police in her behalf She swore
that she knew him only as p9hiician
and not rs a lawyer and that she pud
him the money for political influence ana
not legal services.
Mr.. Roesch admits that the woman APP
piled 10 him. that he knew her cparacter
and the nature Of her business, and that
he received the hundred dollars. He says
however. that he took II as q legal re-
tainer but being closely pressed, con-
fessed that he did not appear In court
in any case for her or draw any paper
terests as a lawyer He also admins
giving her slip Of paper bearing ms
signature "tO Identify her with the po-
lice"
Mr.. Roesch can hardly expect the pub
lie to take the testimony wrung IRON
him on crOss-eXamfnatiOn as a satIsiac-
tory vindication of himself. and he need
not be surprised If many Will resaru IL
as q substantial corroboration OF the
story told by the accusing witness. il
such be its effect IL can orly serve 70
lend credence to the damaSing testimony
of the same witness on other poinls-
But significant as IS this evidence OF
ex-senator ROesch, II Is not more so IMAM
other matters brought out IN his exam,
nation. These were that he had procured
q transfers Of members OF the Follce 10
make room for his political heelefs anu
had otherwise used his influence IN thelr
behalf. Moreover. ne bad received large
fees for obtaining excise licenses. anu
numbered several keepers Of disorderly
houses among his clients. He was IOIceu
10 admit that his position as lahIIldi.y
politician had as much. If not more, 10
DO with bringing such business thah MS
standing as lawyer. x.,..
No one can read the particulars OF 'hlS
striking evidence I'm the Herald TINS morn
ing without seeing In IL the proofs 81
Tammany's demoralizing influence over
and interference with the ponce loIce.
This Is the abuse which the heraId SouEHI
TO reform when il urged that larger pow
ers be given 20 Superintendent Byrhes.
the necessity Of doing this IS now shown
by revelations already brought out by the
LeXOw investigation. and VIII doubttss
he further shown by future revelations.
Meanwhile it IS pertinent 20 recall the
remark made by Justice Koesch the other
dav. that If the charges against him are
true he is unfit to SIT on the Eench. ihat
he has failed satisfactorily 10 meet tho-t
charges. and that his own testimony VIII
lead many TO believe them, must be me
general verdict. IN view Of that fact, ana
also "a view Of all his evidence given yes
terdav his prompt resignation would seem
10 be in order