The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-22

trutD. This answer caused a sensa ion.
Ihen Senator Lexow warned the witness
OF the danger of perjury. Mr.. Gift ex-
cused all the other witnesses in the court.
Schmlttberger said he Joined the force in
1874, and was before that confectioner
lie paid nothing to be patrolman. He
was first assigned to the Tenderloin Pre-
c1nct. He was there two years and knew
the precinct WELL His duties at first were
light on account of pull he had with the
sergeant at the desk.
ut has been said that ward politics has
had something to DO with promotions. Is
that sop
Eyes. it isl
"Well. what influence can these politi-
clans exert?"
"They can exert an influence through
the commissioners and sergeants for fear
of removal"
Captain, have you ever heard of case
where patrolman paid sergeant any
money to be assigned to light work?"
Yes, have heard of them" In an
swer to further questions, Captain
Schmittberger gave it as his opinion that
the policemen appointed fifteen years ago
make better policemen in every respect
than the recent appointments.
Now, captain, testimony has been
taken here that there are number of men
in this city who are known as 'go-be-
tweens.' They are really not connected
with the department, but in order to get
an appointment it is necessary to go 10
them. Do you know any of these men ?"
There is Charley Grant. Commissioner
McClave's secretary, and a man named
Mercer, tailor on Broadway"
At this point Mr.. Goff suddenly an
nonnced recess. Immediately after re-
cess Schmittberger was replaced and the
aftern oon promised to develop another
sensation even greater than the Creedon
case. Captain Schmittberger admitted
that owing to political influence many of
his subOrdinates were able to defy him.
They belonged to a Tammany club in
which Commissioner Sheehan was prom
inent. Many captains belonged to this
club. There was a tacit understanding
for the protection of fast houses and law
breakers.
The captain went on 10 tell what he
knew of several dives in his precinct,
which were frequented by all the crimi-
nals of New York. He said. further that
no pretense of observing the excise law
at these places was ever made. and the
fast women and criminals did as they
pleased.
Would It have been possible for these
places to run open without special arrange
ment with the police ?'
Certainly not."
'Do you know of any case where a
policeman was instructed to cooperate with
the keepers of these dives to crush out the
facts about small crimes?"
Not personally. but is was understood
that this was a fact"
Mr.. Golf asked about the famous Cietelle
and the art gallery attached thereto, which
became so notorious before it was sup
pressed. Witness acknowledged that the
dive had not been closed before because IL
was under police protection. Witness re-
| viewed his services as a sergeant briefly
and came to his appointment as a ca plain.
He said that Commissioner Voorhees, did
not ask him to pay cent, and that VoOr-
hees was honest and all the charges
against him were false.
Now, captain, about the time you were
in command of the steamboat squad.
You learned, of course, that the men on
the docks had to give up half of their
salaries?"
Eyes. Warden Vail told me of it. told
him did not want to keep it up. and he
told me that l was fool; that men had
just as soon give it up as not, and might
as well get it,"
''And you finally agreed to this?"
"Yes."
''And Vail was your collector, L be-
lieve?"
"Yes for about two months, and then
Cannon was appointed. would like now
to brand Vail as liar for saying on this
stand that wanted all of the money from
the men,"
How much did Vail collect for you
each month ?"
About $780,"
And did you never have to give up any
of this money to any other police Off
cials?"
''No, did not" Witness then went on
to say that he had conversation with In-
spector Steers, who told him that there
was little in The precinct aud he could
have it all.
Ibid you ever give up any money to
him ?"
mo, I did not get enough"
Mr.. Golf led the witness to say that he