New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-10
THE POLICE IN ELECTIONS.
SENATE COMMITTEE MEETS
INTERFERENCE WITH VOTERS AND FAIL
URE TO PROTECT THEM SHOWN.

THE INQUIRY - POLICEMEN WHO wINKED
AT TAMMANY FRAUD AGAINST THE Ball
LOT OR WHO OPENLY AIDED TT.
w. GoFF NOT PRESENT - ANOTHER
SESSION TO BE HELD TO-DAY.
The investigation Of the Police Department in
this CITY set on foot in obedience to a wide
spread public sentiment begun in earnest
Yesterday by the Committee Of the State Senate
appointed for the purpose. The branch OF the
subject which first engaged the Committees at
tention was the interference of the police with
elections There were several reasons why this
choice was made. In the first place, the evil
dence was at hand and could be presented with
little labor while other fields of inquiry cannot
be touched until a great deal Of preliminary
work is done. Again, as w. A. Sutherland, coun-
sci OF the Committee, said election frauds strike
at the very root Of popular government and II
Is natural to begin with them The present
time is also peculiarly auspiciOus to such an in
vestigation, as the public is thoroughly aroused
on the subject Of crimes against the suffrage.
QUESTION OF WIDE INTEREST.
In addition to this Senator Lexow chairman
Of the Committee said that a chief reason for
setting to work on this aspect Of the subject was
that il appealed more directly to the people Of
the State at large than did the alleged black
mail complained Of by Or. Parkhurst's society.
All citizens Of the Commonwealth were affected
by frauds at the polls in this city, while the
other abuses more or less Of purely local
concern. The Committee represented the entire
State and therefore. might well first engage in
the inquiry. which of widest interest.
Mr. Sutherland explained clearly and forcibly
the mission Of the Committee in his opening
address.
Five witnesses We're examined. They gave
significant testimony concerning the inter-
ference OF police with the rights of voters. or Of
omissions to protect citizens in the exercise OF
their privileges and duties. One man told OF
having been threatened with violence by Tam
many Hall captain in polling place. the police
man looking on and saying nothing. Other wit
nesses described assaults committed in the
presence Of policemen who did not raise hand
10 protect the victim. Ore man caused a gen.
eral laugh by his account of how a policeman
had avoided catching person who had voted, or
tried TO vote illegally. The witness had been
beaten by Tammany ru1ians for exposing the
crime The policeman calmly watched the as
saut until the formally demanded protec-
ton. Then the officer called off the as
saants.
General c. H. T. Coils and other witnesses who
had been subpoenaed. failed to appear; only
a brief afternoon session was held. The hearing
will go this morning at 1890 o'clock. when L
u nhba1utaIuul 401l1111~(H
The committee will sit only few days each week
while considering the subject of police AT eec-
tons but it is the intention 10 hold daily ses-
sons when the alleged partnership of the police
with vioators of the law is taken up. Six Of the
members Of the COmmttee-Senators
Lexow. OConnor. Robertson. Pound. Cantor and
Bradley-were present yesterday the absentee
being Senator Saxton.
THE QUESTION OF COUNSEL.
Mr.. Sutherland appeared as the sole counsel
Of the Committee John w. Goff, who had been
named to act with him. not even in court.
No one could tell just how matters stood between
Mr.. Goff and the Committee. Senator Lexow
said that on Wednesday he received telegram
from Mr. Goff saying that he (AIr. GofO had
sent the Committee letter defining his posi-
ton The Senator had not received this
letter. Mr. Goff would say nothing TO re-
porters However. Mr. Lexow declared that even
II Mr. Goff did not participate in the first part Of
the inquiry. that would not prevent his coming
into the investigation at later period.
In case Mr.. G0ff does not accept the appoint
ment the Committee may name William Travers
Jerome or John Brooks Leavitt to act with Mr..
Sutherland Mr.. Jerome's experience in the Dis
trict-Attorneys office has given him special in
sight into police methods. He has also been
counsel in several criminal cases in which the
police seemed TO have extraordinary interest
In securing conviction, and conducted some re-
markably fearless and searching cross-eXamna-
tons Of officials Of the department Mr.. Leavitt
IL prominent in the Reform Club and City
Club candidate for the Assembly last fall against
the Republican and Tammany nominees. Either
appointment would probably prove acceptable 10
the City Club. DR.. Parkhursts society the
Chamber OF Commerce and the Board OF Trade
and Transportation.
TO ASSIST IN THE CoMMITTEDs COUNSEL
Henry Grasse the weknown Republican law
yer of this city. and exAssembyman Alfred r.
ConlIng were in consultation with Mr. Suther-
land the investigating committees leading coun-
sell last evening and aided him in preparing the
details of to-day's work. II has been decided
that in the future conduct of the case Mr.. Grasse
will assist Mr. Sutherland and act generally as
associate counsel both at the public hearings ana
also in helping to arrange for the presentation
OF testimony. Mr.. Grasse Is ably equipped Tor
this work. He has been identified with the Re
publican organization Of this city in the old
XXIIId and in the present XXVEIth Assembly
District. and in 1892 one of the Republican
candidates for Judge of the city Court. lie Is a
member Of the Republican State Committee, rep
resenting the XVIII Senate District His law
office IS at No l67 Broadway and he lives at No.
124 East One-hundred- and d-twenty- -seventh-st
Fx-Assemblyman Conkling, who has been active
in exposing the infamous election frauds OF last
November and in securing evidence for the IN
dictment and conviction of the violators OF the
law will also assist Mr. Sutherland and the
committee as special counsel whenever he can
he OF advantage to them. No man in New
York Is more thoroughly conversant with the
methods which the rascals pursued In consum-
mating the frauds upon the ballot-box or better
understands the course followed by the police IN
recent elections and the motives which impeiled