Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-22
Effect of Schmittberger's Startling
Statement.
INSPECTOR WILLIAMS MUCH EXCITED
Commissioner Sheehan Denies the
Charges.
WHAT MAYOR GILROY SAYS

NEW YORK, December 22.-Police In
spector Alexander s. Williams was plainly
upset today in consequence of yesterdays
testimony before the Lexow committee.
reporter who asked him for a state
ment regarding Capt. Schmittberger's
sworn statement that money collected
from lawbreakers had been regularly d.
vided with Williams and other police OFF,
Gals, was the recipient of volley of vile
epithets hurled at him by the inspector,
who also advanced upon the reporter with
clenched and appraised hand. Get out of
here" roared Williams. Il won't talk to
anybody"
suggestion that he was the one favored
In being given an opportunity to clear him
self In the estimation of the public merely
angered the inspector the more. You're
d fool" he shouted. You don't know
enough to take no for an answer. Go out
of here or I'll have you put out"
Inspector McAvoy, who is also implicated
in brihe-taking by Capt. Schmittbergers
testimony, asserts that he never received
money from Schmiltberger. The statement
of the latter that McAvoy had professed
reluctance to accepting money collected
from women OF disrepute, and had received
1t unhesitatingly when told that it was
contributed by policy shop and pool room
keepers, he absolutely denies.
Superintendent Byrnes would not talk of
the incidents of yesterday, and took refuge
behind the locked door of his private room
Among people who generally have good
foreknowledge regarding police exposes
there is a well defined expectation that In
spector Williams will be heard before the
Lexow committee before 1t concludes the
taking of testimony, which will be on
Thursday afternoon. 1t is represented that
Williams regards himself as having been
attacked by Schmittberger with. the pur-
pose of shielding himself and Superintend-
ent Byrnes.
Friends of Williams are represented as
In aefi inn, he
enmity between the superintendent and
tho ranking inspector and the fact that
Schm1ttberger, once bosom friend and
the confidential wardman for Williams, has
OF late been on terms of intimacy with
Byrnes.
These people see throughout Schmitt-
bergers testimony of yesterday evidence
that Byrnes was always in the captains
mind, and that care was taken from first
to last to shield the superintendent. Tile
feeling between Williams and Byrnes Is
one of bitter resentment, and upon this
and theories above recited are based the
expectations of a counter confession by the
inspector.
Mayor Gilroy was asked If he intended to
take any steps to bring about the removal
OF Commissioners Martin and Sheehan In
consequence of Capt Schmittberger's state
ments yesterday.
Before taking any action charges would
nave to be preferred against these COM
missioners to me. /, being the Judge in the
case. could not take the initiative. As
yet the matter has not been brought to
my attention officially. If the charges
we1e made and proven could only recon-
men to the governor their dismissal"
The mayor was told of a rumor that
charges We're to be preferred to him
against the mentioned members within
forty-eight hours. We'll. If they are. let
them come" said he. Anyway, I don't
think I'd have time to do anything during
my TERM, continued the mayor in con-
clusion.
Commissioner Sheehan was emphatic In
his denial of the statements affecting him
which were embodied In Captain Schmitt-
bcrger's testimony, and he challenged the
captain (who Is at home Frustrated by the
nervous strain under which he has been
existing recently to produce the incrim-
mating letter alleged to have been written
in the interest of the gambler Proctor.
A special meeting of the police board
will be held on Monday to consider the
Schmittberger testimony
Lawyer Louis Grant, who Is acting for
Commissioner Sheehan, said today that
Captain Schmittberger dare not produce
the letter which he yesterday asserted had
been sent him by the commissioner with
relation to the man Proctor in the gam