The Helena independent., 1894-12-20
POLICEMEN GET RICH.
A. Least It's So In New York, Say VII.
nesseS Before the LeEow
Committee.
CORRUPTION NOT FAR FROM sYRNes
Protection Money Was Paid to Ward Men
in His District When He Was
Captain.

Captain.
New York Dec. 9.-superintondont
3yrnes figured conspicuously IN the tes-
! timony OF the witnesses before the
l.eNow committee to-day. John Mar
rctt, formerly agent Of the Society for
the Prevention OF Crime, testified that
Superintendent Byines had bulldozcd
him with threats and force into diyulg-
ing the secrets Of his society. and had
uttrrward TelcHted when he learned
that witness was brother Mason.
MGttie Ross, "A colored woman who
some yenrs ago conducted two dis
orderly houses IN this city. swore she
paid protection" money 10 ward men
under Byrncs. superintendent Of po-
lee. Superintendent Byrnes denied all
allegations against him. Ex-Inspector
Steers announced his readiness 10 go on
the stand and deny Sergeant Taylor's
accusations. Taylor testified yester-
day that he put money paid him as
extras in an envelope and left It on the
sergeant's desk.
Police Inspector Williams who with
other inspectors. had been subpoenaed
10 testify before the Lexow committee
to-day, was excused until tomorrow
DIR. owen j. Ward, OF Governors hos
pital who was yesterday appointed TO
examine Honest" John Martin. re-
ported the latter very III. and not in con-
ditlon to testify before the committee.
Policeman Interman was placed on
the stand. He stated that h. had not
told the truth yesterday. Then Sem
ator o'Connor turned and asked: "Can
you tell me, officer, why It is that a
police officer will get on the stand and
swear 20 an untruth? Is II fear Of their
superior ofiicers2"
Yes. that is IT,"
Sergeant Burns, one OF Capt. Affairs
subordinates, swore that he did not
know that dock policemen had to pay
one-half OF their extra earnings TO the
captain of the steamboat squad. He
admitted that IL is common rumor,
however.
Now. about Sergeant Taylors tes-
timony. Can you tell US what became
of the envelopes which Taylor placed
in the desk?"
Witness had no recollection OF seeing
such envelopes as that described by
Sergeant Taylor marked Street clean
in report" In packages daily sent TO the
inspector.
"Will you swear you know nothing
whatever about this envelope contain
ing money!"
Yes"
Taylor was recalled to the stand
Gon then read from an interview with
Ex-lnspector Steers, I'm which he was
quoted as saying Taylor's testimony
was tissue of falsehoods. and was
given simply as a mode OF vengeance
for his refusal 10 grant the sergeant a
favor.
Are you still prepared to swear as
you did yesterday"
81 am"
"Did you call on Steers last Satur-
day. as the interview relates2"
II did and told him that 1 intended
to tel the truth. He asked II | in
tended TO mention his name. and told
him | was going 10 tell the truth, no
matter whom 1t might implcate."
Con- led the witness 10 say that the
money was paid TO the captain OF the
steamboat squad i'm order that the Of
ficers might be permitted 20 take their
assignment To duty on the docks. Wit
ness said he had been approached by
several people in reference to his testi-
mony of yesterday, but refused to say
anything about il. lie had no knowl-
edge Of any other money being collected
In that precinct besides dock money.
Shortly before the opening OF the af-
ternoon session Ex-lnspector Steers en-
tered the court room and took a seat
beside Capt. Affair. Capt Affair was
the FIRST witness this afternoon. He is
now in command OF the steamboat
squad,
did you ever hear of any ward men
making collections in the various pre-
lcincts?"
mo except by rumor."
"Did your men collect money in your
preeinct?"
| mo"
How did Frank Wilson get rich in
your prcclnctY
~ don't know"
"And George Hess and John Wade?'
81 don't know anything about that"
"l3y the way, captain, did you ever
know the notorious Mrs. Martini
| "Nes"
"She Hourished in one Of your pre-
cincts several years ago. didshc notI''
"She did not flourish. she lived there
These women are arrested over and
over again. I've seen a woman get six
months twice a week
How ala they get loose?'
IL don't know"
This all happened in the Tenth pre-
lcinct. I believer"
Witness said that I'm the Tenth he had
raided the houses time after time, but
that II was not In his power. even as
captain 10 suppress these houses.
why" asked Con.
1T is failing Of the law" replied the
cnptain.
Capt. Affair said he reported these
houses every three months 10 his su-
perior officers. Ne was not aware that
the houses sold liquors in opposition "a
the excise laws. The captain gave II
ns his opinion that excise laws could
not be perfectly enforced In this city
because the police could not know oi
all places where II II violated,
"ilnw about the disordcrly housrE|
lcontinued Con YOU rnidCd those
houses every once IN u while In order
TO ret blood money did you not|
mo We raldvd them IN order lp
ldrlyc them away frum the precinct
Sergeant Taylor has sworn that he
put In your desk an envelope With
money Ina Il every month. DO YOU know
IanythlnE about that'
"Nui ! don't"
Matte Ross, culorcd, was then called
She swurc that IN 1879 she opened dldr
orderly houses IN Wooster aud WcHi
Third streets and paid the ward man
$50 month for cuch house, THIS was
paid To Wardmau = Levin.
who was captain VI the precinct az
the tlmc2" asked lioM
capt. liyrucs. nov superintendent
AZ tha luncturr tho committee nd.
lourued until Tomorrow
New York, Dec, lA,-Thc court ot
oyer and Turmiucr was crowded to-day
with Indicted police officials OF nll ranks
They included capt Schmlttbcrgcr
Ex-Captaln Dohcrtyi Sergeants Melon
nan, Clarke, t.ibrrs, jordan; petec'
Tive Frink and x-Wardmcn Smith
Burns, Hicks. Barnes. Levy and Glen
non.