Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-12-15

that the expression Of the committee hc
forwarded to the police board
Superintendent Byrnes Called.
The excitement which prevailed was still
more intensified when MIR. GofT loudly
called for Superintendent ByFncs. The
crowd in front of the bench swaycd hack
ward rs tho burly form OF the supcrin-
tcndcnt was seen forcing its way toward
where Mr.. Goff was standing
The superintendent wore n gray over
coat. and Hs he took the stand Appeared
perfectly sclf possessed. When he had
| taken the oath, which was administered
him by Chairman Lcxow. Mr. Cor start
cd in by asking Mr.. ByrnCs IL he was not
the superintendent OF the New York city
police force, and ON receiving an answer
in the affirmative said:
This committee has reason to helievc
that, acting ON your Recommendation or
some other official action ON your part
the police commissioners have today sus-
pended Captain CrcrNlcn from duty
THAT Is true. sir. -
ION what grounds
"on taking his appointment he swore
before the commissioners that he paid no
money tn any one for his appointment,
| while today on this stand he acknowledge
cd that he had paid SIS. 900 for IL. That
| statement showed that on one occasion he
must have committed perjury. and
| Thought that the matter should bc invcs-
tigatcd. On this ground made my rcc-
UmmcndatiOn for his suspension tn the
board
''Bcforc this committee several captains
have been charged with accepting brides.
You arr aware Of that
II am -
You arr aware that captains have bccn
indicted for accepting bribcs:"
Yes"
We had Captain Schmittbcrgcr here
today, who is under indictment, and he
refused to answer any questions ON that
ground. Arc You awnp' III that"
Il am.
Now, have any Of these captains who
have been charged and indicted been sus-
pended. ar have you recommended their
| SUSPENSION
They have not been suspended nor have
| / made any Recommendation that they
| shou ld be-
Have you any good ruaSon To show
why distinction should nc made between
Captain CreCdcn. who has come here and
told the truth. and thc>C indicted cap
tains:'
Byrncs Knew No Precedent.
We'll" said Superintendent Byrncs
after pause, ii has hccn always under
stood that while an officer j. on hail, with
charges pending against him. he should bc
allowed to remain on duty until the
charges are proved | never remember any
Cas" of this kind coming bcfnr' the police
| huarti. -
But" rrtortrd Mr.. Guff. you drew n
distinction between the men who are
actually under indictment for accepting
hribcs and Captain CrCvdrn. who only
gave evidence truthful tu this COMMITTEES. >"
Il drew no distinction. | brought this
matter before the police hazard in the dis
rhargc nf my duty
will you tell me whether there is any
precedent for your action in Captain Crec-
lens case
No, | never heard al n imilar case.
Do You think that - far a. the inter
SIS of the public service and welfare ar,
Concerned that il j. mon di~gnCcful to
keep man VIII" i under indictment for
bribery on the polio f"v,',' than a man who
las confessed To making mistake"
Well. in one cas-. the. person charged
las not been convict. |. hut Captain Cree
Ion is guilty of perjury and also ni taking
money ON his own acknowledgement. -
DO you not know that in any other
public department when charges arr made
against an official hv i suspended until a
decision as Ia his guilt ha~ h1'n arrived
At DO you think that any lower stand
irl should pp'vail in thu police depart
mcnt than in other public DEPARTMENTS"
Il do not think am qualified tn OK
PRESS an opinion ua that question.
Then Mr.. Golf rfCrr,Ni t" the police cap
t-1inS who. rImnr SLY. haN" paid for their
appointments.
- l. it not common rumur:" he in
luir'd. Il ask you This matter Of
public nutOricty.
Il have no knowledge III the matter"
You consider that this statement Of
captain Cr'cdCn mrrit"d >u~r'n>inn>''
Yes"
do you stand ready to- do all in you
power to purify the police Department.
Yes, and to give this COMMITTEES any
Information | pu$SsrSS which will a>>is
them in doing
You have b,p.n 81 years in this depart
mcnt. You must know how difficult i
is To obtain positive testimony i'm tran~aC
ti"ns III this kind.
That j. 81 -
Then MIR Gnn said. Won say You AR
disposed Ia aid this Cummitt,r' tn Obtain
evidence to- expose the different evils nj
fcctinG the police department III this city. =
IC>. I am
At Mr. COTS request Mr.. Moss thci
rad the recorder elects statement un h,
half of Captain Cr'C,lcn and asked If tn
superintendent was aware Of the desire q
the committee when he made his recon-
incubation to- suspend the captain.
The witness said he knew nothing abnU
IL at the time
Chairman I"xow observed that Captain
! Crccdcn had by his testimony rrndcrN
great service To the city.
Byrnes Was willing.
Now" said MIR. GofT in stern tone,
THAT yuu know and understand what tn
formal opinion of this committee Is. wi
you do all in your power to have Capital
= | Cr,Nnfisn r,sStnr,sd I'm his rnSifiOnS''
Yes" said Mr.. Byrnes. After the e,
preston O: opinion the committee hav
j, made shall cndCavnr to carry out thci
wishes
: AT the earliest moment possible
quericd Mr. Golf.
y Yes. sir. -
"Will you bring up this matter Mt til
next meeting of the police commissioners
The resolution of this committee will
g forwarded to the police board, and it is c,
g pccted they and you will act on it. ="
: Il shall under the circumstances, " n
: piled the witness amid applause, and b
Il then left the stand.
r When the applause, which lasted som
c minutes subsidized, Chairman Lcxow sal
the committee were both surprised an
e pleased ut the extraordinary development
e which Mr. Golf had brought before then
The thanks of the community were due
e Mr.. Gofr for his untiring efforts to purif
g the police department.
This culogy of Mr.. Golf was applaudet
J. and then Senator Lcxow closed the Sc
IL sion by stating that the committee woul
y not meet until Tuesday next, as Mr.. Go
/. required some time to prepare for his a.
IL animation of most important witncSscs
r Captain Crcctlcn, who was standing i'm II
room, was warmly congratulated by lara
|, numbers of the spectators.
n Lena Meyer testified that she had pal
protection money to Police Capital
Brugan, but her testimony was lost bessie
the scnsationulism Of the other cxposur
II of the day.