The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-17
PULL OF COTHAM'S POLICE.
LeXOW'S Committee Turns More LIGHT
on Their RdSCality.

Lawyer Moss Gives Notice That in Due
Time the Police Commissioners viii
be Called Upon to Explain Why
Brutal ohAcers Are Allowed to Re-
main on the Force Undisciplined-Rot-
tenness in the Tombs.
New York. Oct. 16.-Policeman Gala
hans pun" was the subject of the earii-
est inquiry to-day by the Lexow commit
tee. James Smith, who keeps a restaur-
ant in Greenwich street, told the commit
tee how the officer came into his place
intoxicated one day last week, threatened
him with a revolver and otherwise con-
Quoted himself in disorderly manner,
winding up by taking the witness to the
police station.
Lawyer Moss told the committe that in
all due season the police commissioners
would be called upon to explain why Cal
lahan and other brutal or drunken Off
GERS were permitted to remain on the
force undisciplined.
Joseph Frankel, a saloon keeper told
of paying Policeman Shelvey $40 a week
for protection" and of having been ar
rested upon a trumped-up charge and
bulldozed into paying $500 for the assist
ance of Silver Dollar Smith to save him
from state prison. Frankel was dis
charged without a hearing by the police
justice after the money had been paid.
Counsel Goff called the committees at
tention to the registration of pauper3 IN :
criminals released from Blackwell S
Island. He said he had written to Super
tntendent sByrnes and the commissioners
Of afo
tration He read a reply from Mr.. Byrnes,
in which the superintendent said he had
taken steps to bring to justice those who
had registered Illegally
Mr.. Goff said 500 inmates of the work
house had been released without judicial
proceedings
After Counsel Goff had assured the
committee, as Mr.. Moss had already done
that when the time was ripe they would
be asked to consider the Onenses of the
higher ofticials-the police commissioners
John Johnson, an inmate of the Tombs
was placed in the witness box. He re-
lated that when first arrested he was
lodged in the Jefferson Market prison
where Keeper Leach insisted, with curses,
that he must engage a lawyer nemed
Gatlin. On two occasions the witness paid
Leach 81 for the privilege of walking in
the corridor. This was the custom. Leach
sold whisky 10 the prisoners for about
A'1'l 'iiAAN9 10 FoAuC' A4Sdtil was CdItQ 10
the stand.
DO you know what perjury is?" asked
Mr.. Goff.
NO, 1 don't" said Leach nervously.
The nature of perjury was explained to
him and he was forced to acknowledge
that he had received money from pris-
oners and that he had recommended law
yers Gatllng and Pentecost to prisoners.
Chairman LeXOw then succeeded in
getting the witness to admit that it was
the custom of the keepers to share law
yers' retainer fees But Leach strenu-
ously denied that he ever sold whisky to
prisoners.
Patrick Mclaughlin was the next wit
ness. He said he was a first cousin of
John B. Mclaughlin, and that his rela-
tive was a perjurer, and never was in the
army. This puzzled the committee, and
the probed into the conflicting testimony.
1t was found that there was hard feel
ings between the cousins. The witness
said his cousin came to him and said he
had secured a discharge paper from the
army for friend of his, and he was go
ing to use 1t to help him get on the police
force.
Policeman Mclaughlin was recalled to
the stand. He described the different parts
of a gun and the duties of an artillery
man.
Chairman Lexow said he believed the
officer was telling the truth. The cousin
persisted in his assertions that the police
man had never been in the army
"One of you ought to be in states
prison for perjury" commented Senator
O'Connor
Moses V. Hamilton, a herman OF
fremont, brought to-day's proceedings to
a somewhat dramatic close. He iden-
tilted Capt. Martens, who was present, as
the officer he had paid SIS to two years ago.
This was to secure the privilege Of letting
his store for a registry and polling place.
The city pays $50 for these stations and it
appears to have been the custom Of the
police to demand St5 out of IT,.
Police Captain Berghold testified that
he examined Quinlans hotel and found
evidence of an attempt to colonize voters.
The committee then adjourned,
There was a demand for the committee
Ito go up higher" By this is meant that
some of the members Of the committee
are tired Of the investigation of policemen
and minor criminals and that the police
commissioners and Ieadin politicians
should be placed on the stand. This de-
mand was expressed by Senator Lexow,
who said that it was time to go higher up.
Senator O'Connor echoed his sentiments
in stil stronger language. He said that
enough testimony had been produced
against the rank and file of the police
that it was now the duty of the commis-
sion to find out just how far the higher
offices OF the force had been Gerelict in
their duty
Chairman Lexow said that the public
demanded this.
Mr.. Goff in reply said that he was not
quite ready to 'go up higher" but that
he would soon be ready to call the police
commissioners 10 the stand.