Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-02
Why Were Some Officers Who
Were Guilty
Allowed to Retire on a Pension and
Others Punished +?
Three Men Buried Alive by a caye-ia at
Rochester.

New York, Sept. The Lexow COM
mittee resumed investigation, today. Major
W. II. Kipp, chef clerk of the police de-
partment was called and identified paper
containing list of complaints, charges and
specifications against the officers arising out
Of the testimony given before the Lsxow
committee. Mr.. Golf asked if the case
case against Sergeant Hugh Clark,who was
allowed to retire on pension, was not IS
clear Us Sergeants Jordan, McKenna, PARK
inson and Liebers, tried with Clark and
dismissed from the force. The witness
considered it so.
The cases of Cap.ai Cross, Stephenson,
Dewey and DoEerty, dismissed from the
force, as we'll as the cases Of a number OF
ward men dismissed, were reviewed by Mr..
Golf who read the designations on the police
force since June, 1894, including those OF
Commissioner John B. McClave, S. Wood
McClave and Charles A. Grant, clerk to
Mr.. McCiaye. Mr.. Golf asked where Grant
was now. Major Kipp did not know.
George w. Carpenter, contractor, testified
that while blasting rocks in FOrdhsm Police
man Higginbottom told his brother he would
have no trouble if he did the right thing.
He put 800 in an envelope monthly and
gave it to the policemen. Carpenter said
he could not swear Higginbottom was one
of the policemen he paid, but he thought be
was. W ....--,:+
Lawyer Lewis Grant testified he had
charge of 40 eases of appeal by policemen
from the decisions of the police board. He
said that the courts held in great many
cases that the evidence did not justify the
finding of the police commissioners. He
heard other things beside the evidence enter
into trials before the commissioners. He
had known members of the police force
who had been dismissed, retained and vice
versa. Members of the police force whom
he had defended had suggested that he OBJ
tim influence in their behalf ontsil lie the
evidence in the case but he never acted on
their suggestions.
Elk Police Commissioner Chas. F. Nc
Lean was called. Mr.. Mclean said in his
opinion the law which permitted the re-
viewing of the action of the police board
was injurious to the force. The judges OF
the superior court h I'd not sufficient appre-
citation of the evidence that went before the
police board He thought the police de-
partment would be improved by one
headed commission. Each police commits
sioner generally had absolute control Of his
own appointm .nts on the force. Promo
ton nominally was made by the civil ser
vice examinations. The operation of the
civil Law had not improved the police force
"Does it devolve upon the superinten-
dent asked Mr.. Golf, ''in every case, to
enforce the law?" . T.. s.f
yes Members of the police board do
not belong to the force"
us it your opinion if the commissioners
adopted resolution hampering the superin-
tendent in the discharge of his duties, he
should disregard such resolution
'Not disregard it; the adoption of such a
resolution does not release the superinten-
dent from his duty to carry out the law
Mr.. Golf was referring to the resolution
adopted by the police board against police
men entering saloons, in civilian dress, to
procure evidence.
"Were you aware, during your connec-
ton with the department, that appointments
were paid for?'
mo sir, not personally. There was a
general impression that promotion and ap-
pointments were paid for"
did you ever personally try TO find out
if that was fact?'
81 did several times, when l card the
rumors."
"Was it not rumor that captains ha TO
pay for promotions to that rank?"
at was"
"Was not that matter brought before the
board?"
Witness said that once formal investi-
CATION was made by the superintendent of
police of particular rumor. The witness
said there was better class of men APP
pointed under the old law than under the
new civil service examinations. THE
present system" said he, "allows much
more opportunity for purchase than the old
system"
Benjamin p. Van Buren,, formerly chief
mailing clerk in the Jersey City post
office, was sworn. He said: "In 1898 my
attention was attracted to mail matter which
| suspected contained green goods circulars.
! informed Postmaster Dickerson and he or
dcred strict watch kept on them and If got
an envelope open to examine the contents.
The goods were sent back to New York and
sent again from jersey City postofiice from
that office" Witness stated the postmaster
afterwards issued instructions that any
thing duly stamped ard mailed should be
sent out.
Then the green good, men," said wit
ness, "began to mail circulars in immense
numbers. We received frnm 5000 to 49,
600 letters day. This Continued about
six weeks until Anthony Comstock made an
investigation. On account of extra work
the mail clerks got dissatisfied and that was
how Mr.. Comstock got the tip"