New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-24
MONDAY DECEMBER ~. IS9t-rEN PAGES
GLOOM IN MULBERRY ST.
POLICE WEIGHED DOWN BY SCHMITT-
BERGER's DISCLOSURES.

SURPRISE AT GENERAL KERwIN's UTTERANcEs-
REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT HE HAS
KNOWN ALL ALONG THAI coRRUP-
TIoN HAS BEEN RIFE IN THE DE-
PARTMENT-RUMOR THAT sU-
PERINTENDENT BYRNEs
WILL TESTIFY on
WEDNESDAY
Yesterday was a fine cheerful. sunlit. bracing
day. yet the gloom which has settled over Police
Headquarters in Mulberry-st. did not lift for
a moment Nobody there who wanted to
say anything about Schmittberger or the fright
fu disclosures made by him and other Lexow
witnesses, showing the hideOus condition Of
things in the department Superintendent Byrnes
did not appear there. nor did any of the ac-
cused inspectors. Captain Schultz was in COM
mand. but he seemed to have little 10 engage
his attention Some Of the inspectors and cap
tains sent messengers to inquire for their mail
but the disposition the part Of the wearers
OF gold shields seemed to be to keep as far as
possible away from headquarters
An interview with General Michael Kerwin.
the last Police Commissioner appointed by
Mayor Gilroy. which was published yesterday,
reused a great deal Of surprised comment and
no little criticism. General kerwin was quoted
saying: Il am free to say that Captain
Schmittbergcr's testimony the stand before
the Lcxow Committee yesterday did not
prise me in the least. | have known for
great many years that this thing was going on
just persons all over have known it was going
on. and the revelations that have been made
before this committee are not revelations to
great many people at all. It is simply that
the facts have been brought to the surface"
II General Kerwn has been in possession Of in
formation about all these ible things which
Schmittbcrger related for "a great many years"
az the Commissioner now declares. people wonder
why he has been silent all this time. He held "A
post Of importance and responsibility under the
General Government before hc became n Police
Commissioner. and II he had made public any of
the astounding revelations which have lately hor-
rined this city and the civilized world. he would
have gained an immediate hearing. Yet he kept
II all 10 himself. and not even when he was ap-
pointed Police Commissioner to succeed John
McClavc. who was forced out OF office by
the testimony brought out before the Lexow
Committee did Mr.. Kerwin lift up his voice
and reveal. either In the Police board
or to the investigating Senator. N"
appalling r1ttcnness. the bold conspira cies tho
blackmail and bribery which he says now that he
knew all about II surely his duty AS
public spirited citizen. particularly one holding
an Office Of honor and profit. to bring these
crimes 20 the attention II the authorities. that
tho guilty participants might be arrested and
punished Rut when hc became a Police Com
missioner how imperative was his obligation to
the citizens II Ncw-York. especially charged as
he was With the protection of their lives and
property. to dcnouncc H., faithless and corrupt
officials who were hiding their true character
behind falsely assumed devotion 70 duty. He
should have exposed them forthwith and caused
them TO be driven from tho places they have dis
graccd
General Kcrwin. however. knowing. az he now
says all that Schmtthergcr has testified 10
for a great many years" has been IA mute as
the dead Eui now he proposes 10 proceed. re-
rardcss II the views and plans of the Lexow
Committee. and probe things 10 the bottom
punish the guilty and reward the vrtuous
1t is difficult for him to agree with the Lexow
Committee he says. and he proposes TO set to
work and weed out from tn" department It's
dishonest men" lie does not think it in the
power Of the Senate Committee to prevent as
Police Commissioners. Martin. Shcehan. Murray
and myself doing this. or to interfere with us
I'm the conduct OF trials or discipline of members
Of the force"
There are a great many citizens Of New York
who believe that ihls work of wedding out
the department" might be intrusted To better
hands than Commissioners Martin. Shcchan
and Kerwin Martin and Shechan have GER
tainly been shown 10 be nt subjects not only
for "wceding out" but FOR Indictment and trial
by the Criminal Courts. If kcrwin. as he now
asserts knew all about this atrocious Sound
relism blackmail and bribery for years. and
never revealed It. either AZ citizen. public
official or a Police Commissioner. his place s
hI., tc f..
charged with the reorganization of the Depart
ment Of Police The general sentiment ycster-
day that this work Of wedding out and
bringing order out OF chaos might better be
held In allegiance until after the passage OF
the Mayors Power Of Removal bill so that
the pruning and wedding and r"organzing
can be done by an entirely new Police Board
in which there would be neither a Martin. n
She.han nor kerWin.
when the Lexow Committee resumes its scs-
sons on Wednesday. II is expected that all the
officials smrched by Schmittbergers confession
will be- called To the witncssstand and examined
by Mr.. Con regarding the terrible accusations
brought against them by this indicted police
captain. Martin. Shcehan. Williams. McAvoy
and the rest Of them will. II is believed. all be-
called well as Police Justice Noorhis.
There ~ also dccp-seated popular belief that
the investigation will not be- complete without the
examination of Superintendent Byrnes. II. as Is
the suppOstion, the reorganization of the Police
Department is to be pursued under the Superin-
tendent's care and direction the committee ought
to have the benefit Of his views and suggestions
as to the proper methods of preventing recur
renee OF blackmail and bribery, and the rotten
ness corruption and crime Of every description
which have pcrmcated the department in the
past |, was said yesterday what was under
stood To- be good authority that Mr. Iyrnes - 10
be the first witness called on Wednesday,
The exposure Of Police Commissioner Martins
methods has brought Tammany Hall into worse
straits II possible. than before. Martin Is chair-
man of the Tammany Hall Executive Committee,
and he is the To call the meeting of that
body which must set In motion the machinery
of the organization so that the annual primaries
may be held and the organization continued III
existence for another year Well-infOrmed Tam
many men said yesterday that the Executive
Committee must be got together and the prima-
rles ordered before January |. or under the
provisions Of the constitution the organization