The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-12-26
"ROTTEN TO THE CORE
Is the Condition of the New York
Police Force.
So Testifies Tammany Police Captain
Before the Lexow Commissioned Bit
OF inside History Is Related to
the Commission About the
"Go-Betweeners."

New YORK, Dec. 22.-The session Of
the Lexow commission yesterday
proved the most memorable of any
since the investigation began, After
the hearing of several witnesses, Capt.
Schmittberger was called.
Capt. Schmittberger said he came
forward voluntarily to tell the truth.
Before his examination began all the
other witnesses were excused. He de-
tailed his service on the force, which
began January 2s, 1874, when he was
22 years old.
There was no civil service then. He
was sent to the ''Tenderloin" and re-
manned on patrol there for three years
and got to know the precinctve well.
Capt. Schmittberger said that the
class of men appointed between 1874
and 1884 was better than those ap-
pointed in the succeeding ten years be-
cause those appointed later in spite Of
civil service are not as fit for police
duty. 1t was more political pull than
anything else and they were politicians
rather than policemen.
According to report, applicants for
appointment are expected to have paid
for it. Can you tell us where the
money comes from and how it is dis
tributed?'
mot in the matter of appointments;
but can in the matter of promotions. ;"
There are certain persons known as
go-betweens. The only name he could
give of go-between was Charlie
Grant, ex-Commissioner McClave's priv
ate secretary. He had heard of tailor
named Meyer in that connection. The
men that are reputed to have paid for
their appointment are poor policemen.
In regard to the clubbing and other
violations of department rules the new
men are the worst, because getting
their appointment in the way they do,
they donot feel so much responsibility.
Tney are more independent
What has been the attitude of this
latter class when on trial before COM
missioners for an offense against the
laws of the land?'
'They seem more Independent and
seem to think they ought to be pro-
tected."
"Can you state why, under Special
Officer Price, so many disorderly houses
were allowed to run?''
Because they paid for protection" !"
"Who was the man to whom the pro-
lection money went directly?"
Capt. Williams
Would 1t be possible for these places
to run openly without the liberation Of
the captain?"
''No." The witness said that if the
wardman gave the officer on post in
structions not to interfere with these
houses the officers would not interfere
with them.
"And if the officer did interfere?"
"He would be changed Immediately"
The captain then said he asked and
was transferred to the ,Twenty-flfth
precinct. II made Cannon my conf.
dental man to make collections in the
| precinct. l got Cannon transferred
from the steamboat squad. There were
ten policy shops in the precinct" said
he, land told Cannon they should be
assessed $50 a month. A man named
Parker ran the policy shops. The Bo-
hemian liquor dealers paid $50 month.
/ paid Cannon 20 per cent"
"Did you give part of that money tc
any other police official?"
''Yes, sin, To Inspector Williams.
handed him the money myself"
"How much did you collect in the
Twenty-seventh precinct?"
about $500 month from three poo
rooms and ten policy shops"
The captain said he gave William.
during the nine months he spent in the
Twenty-seventh precinct about 81, 800
1t was the custom of captains of pre-
cincts to pay the inspector of the dis
tricts. He was transferred because O.
row he had with the liquor dealers
Superintendent Byrnes instructed the
captains to make no excise arrests fo
exposure.
"On, one OCCASION" continued tn,
witness, Martin sent for me to COM
to headquarters. had sent Office
Casey to the house of woman name,
Sadie West, on West Fifty-frst street
The citizens had complained about tn
house. The woman told Casey she wa
a friend of Commissioner Martins, an
it was better to see him before he di
anything. The officer told me and tn
next day l received message fror
headquarters from Martin. went !
see him and he asked me did l send
man a man around to Sadie Vests.
said did, as | had received a complain
about the house. Martin said shoul
) warn the officer and apologize to til
woman the next day. Isprotested, bu
he said should do as ! was told. Isen
around Casey and he had to apologize
to the woman the following day fc
raiding the house."
A buzz Of astonishment passe
through the court room at this test
mony. t
/, The captain then made an inportar
; statement:
4 Il think, said he, that Supcril
: tendent Byrnes is an honest man an
, means to do what is right If he waspe
mitted to do So"
!. "Do you think the police force ia co
: rupt?"
: Il think it is rotten to the very core
Big Batch Of Prisoners.
MUsKoeEE, /, T., Dec. 2s.-Chief De
4 nty Il. L. Stowe, of the Third division
! arrived in Muskogee Thursday nigl