The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-12-22
ALL OF THEM TAKE BRIBES.
CAPTAIN sCHMirTBERGER GIVES SOME INTERESTING TESTIMONY.


 Inspector Williams is Brought Into the In- vsstigation Through the Words of the Witness and So Arc Commissionrrn Mar tn and sheehnn-Hs Had Confidential Man When He was captain-Money What
 was Paid to Him and What flo raid.
 New York, Dec. A.-The greatest sen- sation of the Lexow committee took place to-day, when Captain schmitt- berger of the Tenderloin was called to the stand. He was promised full pro- lection and his confessions implicated several officials high In the department. Early in the day several witnesses were examined, but their testimony did not amount to much.
 Captain Schmittberger was then call ed. He was captain of the Nineteenth precinct.
 You are called here. captain" said MT. Golf, "as a witness for the state or New York to testify in matters relating to the police department You recog- nize the oath you have taken?
 "Yes, sir," replied Schmittberger. Il have come here voluntarily to tell the truth"
 Chairman Lexow then explained to the witness the purpose for which the investigation was instituted.
 Before he began the examination MT. Golf excused all the other witnesses.
 Captain Schmittberger said he joined the police force in January 2S, 1874. He was then twenty-two years old
 Did you pay anything for your ap- pointment?" "No, sir. There was no civil service then"
 He was sent to the Tenderloin and remain on patrol there for three years and got to know the precinct very we'll. Some of the policemen there then were favorites,, he said. Such were excused from duty form time to time. He was not prepared to answer what caused the favoritism, but the interference of po- 1itical leaders have something to do with it. The influence was detrimental to the force. The sergeant recognized that the politicians could influence his superiors. It was . fact that man looking for promotion had to depend on his political pull" rather than on his record. The witness had never observ- ed that a patrolman had won favor with his sergeant by giving him money He had heard that it was done.
 Captain, can you give us an idea as to whether or no the class of men ap- pointed between the years 1884 and 1894 are any better than those appointed be- tween 1874 and 1s84?''
 'T think the men appointed between 1874 and 1884 were the better men, be- cause the men appointed in the last ten years dn spite of civil service examina- tions are not, as strong or fit for police duty. It s more political pull than anything else" ...
 "The new men don't seem to catch on. They are politicians, rather than policemen"
 According to report. applicants for appointment are expected to have paid for 1t. Can you tell us where the money comes from and how 1t Is distributed?"
 'Not in the matter of appointments, but I can in the matter of promotions"
 There arc certain persons known as go-betweens. The only name he could give of 8 go-between was Charlie Grant, ex-Commissioner McClave's secretary. He had heard of . tailor named Meyer in that connection. The men are reput- ed to have paid for their appointments are poor policemen. In regard to club ping and other violations of department rules the new men are the worst be- cause getting their appointment in the way they do they do not feel so much responsibility and are more indepen- dent.
 ''What has been the attitude of this latter class when on trial before the commissioners for an offense against the laws of the land?"
 '"They seem more independent and seem to think they ought to be protect ed. They depend more on their pull than on their defense to get out of it."
 At this juncture MT. Golf announced that he would take a recess.
 Captain sohmittberger resumed his place in the witness chair at 2:5O o'clock.
 MT. Golf asked the captain if he knew of instances of patrolmen under his commend who violated the rules of the department and defied his authority. The captain replied that he did not.
 The witness said. however, that he heard of men who stated that their pull would be sufficient to get them clear of a violation Of the law. These men generally belonged to political clubs.
 Did you know many officers who be- longed to the Pequod club, for in- stance?" Yes. sir. was asked to jodn the Pequod club"
 "On what grounds?" sI was told 1t would be for my benefit, because Com missioner sheehan was president"
 He said he did join because he bellev- ed 1t would further his interests He would not have joined but for that req son. He also said that Captains Price, Devery and Schultz were members of the Pequod club. These are the only captains I met Ut the Pequod club: there may be others. though" said the witness.
 Do you know anything of the tickets for the outings of the Pequod club?'
 T bought four or five tickets for an outing once and went to the excur- sion." The witness said 1t was a common occurrence for policemen to sell these tickets, and 1t was true that policemen kho uoI 70