The morning call., 1894-12-15
Captain Creedon Bought
His Place.
IT MADE BYRNES ANGRY.
Not the Corruption So Much as
the Exposure.
MR.. GOFF STRIKES 1T RICH.
There Will Presently Be No Thief in
New York Safe for His
Liberty.
MR.. GoFF STRIKES 1T RICH.


who was instructed to prepare charges
against him.
The Lexow committee had agreed thai
Cree don should be granted immunity IRON
punishment for his purchase OF cap
taincy, and when the action OF the Ponce
Com missioners became known they, a.
we'll as Superintendent RyTnes. were sub
penaed to apper this afternoon before the
investigating body.
Captain Creedon's confession was the
biggest sensation brought forth by the
Lexow committee. In Itself the captain'i
statement was merely confirmation oil
testimony elected before thea committee
but the startling facts essentially inter
woven with his sensational exposure
puts the faint of dishonor anc
corruption upon some men who have
had some Of the most responsible
offices in the gift of the community
But public condemnation is not heaped or
Creedon's head. He has served in the
local police department for thirty years
with honor and distinction. He is war
SCARED veteran whose record shows thai
in twenty-three engagements OF the clyl
war he risked his life for his country.
The captains fault is forgotten by the
popular mind in sympathy for his present
trying position and respect for his past
record. Commissioned Sheehan, when
told of Creedon's statement. asked, who
got the money! When told that this
point had not yet been fully developed, he
said: That's what they want to find out.
If they keep up their investigation long
enough 1 guess they WILL"
The scenes In and around the meeting
room of the committee in the old Tweed
Courthouse were dramatic and sensational.
The courtroom was filed with representa-
tive citizens who were DESTROYS of hearing
the testimony. The captain had said on
the witness stand that he had paid
no money for his caDtainey; but
10 day after Captain Schmittberger,
who Is under indictment. refused
by advice Of his counsel to answer ques-
tons. Creedon was allowed an oppOr-
tunity to tell the truth. He told it. He
had been reared in that part OF Ireland
where the role of an informer was deemed
the most despica BILE of the human charac-
| ter and he had prepared TO sacrifice him
self rather than implicate those who he
said were his friends but he had thought
| the matter over during the night and de-
cided to tell all he knew.
The witness spoke slowly and with
downcast eyes. He was moved by con-
| flicting emotion, and the sympathies OF
| his auditors went out TO the white-haired
veteran. In straightforward, though
| shame-faced manner. he told how he had
risen from the position of patrOlman to
! sergeant bow at last a captalney was
| offered him for money.
| The expense of educating his eight chill
dren had been very heavy, and be wanted
| the position of captain, with It's Increased
emoluments. But he mad submitted the
matter to his friends They raised the
money. The amount necessary to secure
the appointment was $4,000. because Ser
geant Wegand had offered $4,000.
His friends, Barney Rourke and John
Rappenhagen, secured the money, OsteD-
| sibly on his notes. He had paid the money
to ex-Assemblyman John j. Martin. 1t
was his understanding that the funds went
to Police Commissioner Voorhees,. now
Police Justice. The conclusion of Captain
| CreedOn's testimony was followed by an
| impressive pause. and Mr.. Got apoioglzeo
for causing the captain the unpleasantnese
he had experienced.
"And," continued Mr.. Gof, 1T Is the
unanimous opinion Of this committee that
| in view of the splendid services you have
rendered to your country and to the COM
munity, the public interests Will not De
subserved by disturbing you IN your POSI-
ton as police captain"
Then there.was burst of applause such
as no man could stop. Captain Creedon
arose. He looked straight ahead Tears
! filled his eyes and his face twltened Win
emotion. Then each member of the COM
mittee and Counsels Golf, Jerome ana
Moss shook his hand warmly. There was
another burst OF applause and Captain
| Creedon walked from the courtroom ety.
! ing.
Then John w. Rappenhagen testified
that he handled the money. He was
given the monev. and In turn ne named
over $4,000 to Honest" John Martin 1or
the benefit of Comm issiouer Voorhis. de
kept the remaining $4,000 for himself. he
was the go-between. Rappenhsgen Swore
that Voorhis lied if he said he did not get
the money.
Mr.. Golf said he had suopenaed Martin,
but word had come that that Individual
was suffering from paralysis
1t was during the afternoon session that
Mr.. Golf learned of Captain Creedon's sus-
| pension. The committee became excited.
Subpoena all the Commissioners, yelled
Senator Bradley. The subpenaes were
Issued
ut looks as though the men who tell
The truth are to be SUSPENDED by the
board" said Senator O'Oonnor.
tits abomiuable," was Senator Lexow's
verdict.
The subpoena officers SOON performed
their work and Com missioner Martin too K
the witness-stand. he had not known
that the committee was DESTROYS of retain
ing Captain Creedon cr he would have
done otherwise. He had voted for Cree
don's suspension upon the recommended
ton of Superintendent Byrnes.
Mar in said he was DESTROYS of working
in harmony with the committee 10 purify
ing the Police Department. He promised
to do all In his power to restore Creedon.
Then there was more applause, which was
increased by the appearances of Superln-
endent Byrles. He said Creedon's case
was differen &3from that OF other accused