New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-16
THORNE HAS CONFESSED.
ANOTHER POLICE "SQUEAL."
AN INDICTED OFFICER TELLS ABOUT
DEPARTMENT CORRUPTION
MEN IN HIGH PLACES IMPLICATED


SION AND THE COMMISSIONERS ACTION
THE PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR FROM
MEN HIGHER Up RIGHT AWAY
fresh sensation created in the city yes
terday when the news spread that Policeman
Augustus G.. Thorne had made confession in
the Tombs Prison duplicating half dozen
police captains besides ex-Captaln Stephenson.
who convicted Thursday OF having bsen
brbed with basket OF peaches to allow a fruit
dealer to violate the sidewalk ordinances. Thornc
arrested on two indictments on Friday
charged with perjury and forgery. and with aid
ing and abetting ex-Captain Stephenson. He
has been thirteen years in the service as a
policeman. and during that time was ward man
under Police Captain Eakins, Siebert. Schmit-
berger. Cross. Ryan. Doherty and Stephenson.
II is understood that Thorne fully carried out
his promise to make clean breast OF II" when
he sent for Assistant District-Attorney John ID.
Lindsay to whom the confession made.
That Th0rnes revelations are Of vouminous
character may be inferred from the fact that Mr..
Lindsay and stcnographer were cioseted with
the policeman for ove~ three hours yesterday
IN SPITE OF HIS COUNsELs ADVICE.
Il was made In spite OF the advice Of Thorne's
counsel. Frederick r. House. Of the law firm OF
Friend G. House. who urged the indicted ex-
ward man to fight 1t out" But Thorne IS
quoted replying Il don't want TO fight any
body. ! want to make a clean breast Of it and
tell everything know"
Friday night. In the Tombs. was sorrowful
one 10 Thorne and he arose yesterday morning
fully determined To- tell all he knew about police
corruption When seen by reporters his eyes
were bloodshot and red with weeping. In speak
ing OF his connection with Captain Stephenson, he
said:
''I didn't get anything myself. not oven an APP
pie or a peach" He was in great distress. and
spoke Of the disgrace brought upon his wife and
children. Mrs Thorne is reported 10 be extremely
III.
Thorne's confession was said 70 be n remarkable
story II police corruption and the tactics adopted
by different captains in their backmang
schemes II was believed that Thorne has given
testimony which affects some of the highest OIL
cals Of the department.
"Thornc has discounted Sehmttbergers olfer
,o give away everybody" said a retired police
officer last evening.
HIGH OFFICIALS MAY BE INDICTED.
When the confession was completed Thorne
said that It had lifted n great load from his
heart Many ihlictments expected to result
Although Assistant Dls,rict-Attorrcy Lindsay
said tha, he could not make public Thorne's con-
fession I'm full. as II implicated many men who
are not vet under Indictment. hc would say that
Thorne had maze fun confession Of the part he
took I'm the bribery of ex-Captain Stephenson,
and had said that Stephenson tried 10 get him
to rerIure himself again during the Captains
trial last week.
Thorne was not called - witness In that
case but was In the Courthouse while the triai
was going on. and he says that stephenson tried
~ get him - perjure himself. but that he re-
fused absolutely 10 do Sc
As a result Of Thornes confession. the Grand
Jury Will have charges against a number of high
police officials laid before ii next week
Thorne went into the entire system y bribery
and corruption and mentioned name after name
or men who have hitherto not been charged at
all duplicating them all IN the elaborate sYS-
TEN Of corruption.
,cilon was taken by the Disirict-Aitorney
office as soon as Thornc had finished his story,
and men were sent out 10 watch certain men
who must know that charges VIII be brought
against them. and who. Il Is thought may want
f. escape from the Jurisdiction Of the courts
who these men are the District-Attorney can
not SAY as IT would be a misdemeanor for him
10 make their names public.
Thorne was subsequently released from Gus
tody on $3.50 bail. Ludwig Mayer. of NO IN
Franklin-st. becoming his bondsman Judge
MARITIME approved the bond
Thorne became policeman in ISL Thurlow
Weed recommended the appointment
While Thorne making his confession, In
spector McAvoy and Captain Grant called at the
Tombs. and had a long conference with the con-
victcd Captain Stephenson in the Tombs counsel
room.
ANOTHER COURSE OF HUMBLE PIE
More humble pie was eaten by the Police Board
yesterday when Captain Timothy J. Crceden was
restored to duty In command OF the Morrsah'a
nolIce The dish was made paatable as pos
slble and even then one Of the commissioners
John G. Shechan. already under indictment for
contempt refused TO partakc Of H. Conmis- |
s,oner Murray was the cook. He was not present
AT the meeting of the Police Board on Friday
when the resolution to suspend Creeden from
dutv was passed Perhaps If he had been there |
the Commissioners would not have been In such |
haste to serve notice on other captains that |
they must not "squcap' before the Lexow Com |
mittee.
Mr. Murray was the first Commissioners to ar
rive at the Central Office yesterday morning. and
one of the first things lie did was to announce
that he had taken part in the resolution
passed on Friday. He had left the building when |
Superntendent Byrnes carried to the other
Commissioners the Information that Captain |
Creeden had confessed to paying $4,000 for pro- |
notion and he had known nothing about the
sudden resolve to suspend the captain and order
charges 10 be made against him.
When the other Commissioners arrived az
the Central Office about ii a. m yesterday ana
conferred with the superintendent, they held a
II, tha tnat tinn "A
said later that one Of the Commissioners had been
advised that they could not be legally punished |
for contempt II they stuck to the resolution |
which had been passed Friday. Three of the |
Commissioners however. did not feel wiling to |
.sa. .,rdar the imnutatinn that the resolution |