Connecticut western news., 1894-12-20
Inspector Steers Implicated.

NEW YORK, DeC. lS.-HOllCe sergeant
 John J. Taylor of the steamboat squad testified before the Lexow committee that ex-Inspector Henry V. Steers had system atically exaeted moneys from policemen
 who were raid for extra work by steam ship and railroad companies.
 Other witnesses swore that Captains
 Max F. Schmittberger, Anthony Allaire and George Gastlin had been guilty of similar offenses.
 A futile effort was made by Counsel Golf to elicit from John w. Reppenhagen additional facts of importance concerning the payment by Captain Creeden of s15,- 900 for his captaincy.
 The days developments before the sen- ate investigation committee entangled po- lice headquarters in the net of official cor ruption. Despite this fact, however, pub
 lie sentiment is far from as turbulent to- day as 1t was Friday, when Captain Cree den's confession set the city agog with ex- citement.
 Byrnes Was Amazed Still in official circles the news of the days exposuress has brought amazement
 unbounded. Superintendent Byrnes, when told of Sergeant Taylor's testimony against ex-Inspector Steers, manifested great as- tonishment. "I am mamazed-astounded, ?
 was his only comment, and no argument could induce him to pronounce an opinion. Inspectors Williams and Conlin evinced similar feelings.
 Sergeant John Harley, who was former ly detailed to duty in Inspector Steers office said: 1T have always and do now consider Inspector Steers a man of un-
 blemished character. I cannot believe that
 he ever accepted any bribe money" And
 so many other officials of the police depart ment expressed themselves
 Steers for many years was captain of the city hall squad. He was made inspect or when Superintendent Murray took charge of the department and retired two years ago. At that time he was as chief inspector, in command of tho detective office. His pension of s2, 500 per annum goes with the now defunct rank of chief
 inspector. He is conspicuous and pop
 ular member of the Washington Heights Methodist church.
 The sensational evidence against Steers
 was not brought forward until late in the
 afternoon, Counsel Golf having paved the
 way with number of witnesses, who swore that steamship and railroad com panies had paid tributes to the police for guarding their property. One after anoth- CT a stream of policemen swore to this fact, and then the big sensation of the session was sprung as fitting climax to the days proceedings
 Gave B,acSmal Money to Steers. Taylor professed that he knew of the collection of money under the regimes of Captains Gastlin, Allaire and Schmittber-
 ger only by rumor. But he acknowledged
 that during the time he was acting cap
 tain of the steamship squad officers paid
 him part of the moneys they received from the various companies on whose docks | they were detailed. His collections aver | aged S20O a month.
 ''I gave the bigger portion of the money | to Inspector Steers" said the witness. This was the sensation. The audience became greatly excited, and Mir. Golf was
 not able to proceed for some time Then Taylor told that Steers orders were | for him to keep 20 per cent of the money,
 and that he (Steers) was to get the other | so per cent. When Allaire was placed in
 charge of the squad, Taylor placed the
 money in an envelope and left it in the | sergeant's desk at the station house
 Steers told me to give it to Allaire, said | Taylor. "The envelope was marked street cleaning report '
 When Steers retired, Inspector Mo Laughlin succeeded him, and Taylor con
 tinued to leave the money in an envelope
 as before. "I wasn't responsible for the | money to any one, y said the witness 1T | only EnaXN if t.N rta