New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
POLICEMEN WERE BRIBED. |
SOJAMESJ MARTIN BELIETED
BUT HE ORDERED NO INVESTIGATION OF
THE BLACKMAIL OF LIQUOR-sELLERS.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE LEXoW
COMMITTEE - MIR. NICOLL BEGINS THE
CROSS EXAMINATION OF THE PREsI-
DENT OF THE POLICE BOARD -
MORE EVIDENCE ABOUT ELEc-
TION FRAUDS IN THE lid
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

TION FRAUDS IN THE lid
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
Police Commissioner James J. Martin again
on the stand Yesterday before the LeXow Com
mittee which is investigating the Police Depart
ment. His direct examination by w. \. Suther-
land, counsel of the committed was ended. ex-
cept in certain lines. and De Lancey Nicoll. who
appeared for the department. began the cross
examination. Mr. Martin again showed his lack
Of interest in charges against the police made
in the public press no matter how definite and
serious they were. His explanations about the
resolution Of the board against the blackmail OF
liquor-seers by policemen were especially weak
and halting. not to say absurd
The commissioners two or three years ago.
passed resolution against the so-caled spy
system; that is. the practice OF policemen going
into lauor stores ir citizens clothes on Sundays.
buying drink and arresting the bartender. Inc
reason for stopping this. as given In the resou-
ton was that Il led 70 bribery OF the police The
Board. in connection with this action. formally
condemned the bribery Of policemen. IL found II
necessary to put itself on record as condemning
blackmail by It's subordi1ates. This resolution
must have astounded the police Nh Martin mad
a faith in II which was touching. wnich was
worthy Of n citizen OF Utopia Olnlimited). He
hoped the declaration tndl DIlDfIy was "i''S
would work a great revolution among the police
men, whose hearts are so easily touched. lhey
would realize that they had done what they
should not have done. and would reform. Not
only did Mr.. Martin hope this; he believed that
the passage Of the resolution actually did, to
considerable extent end the evil which it con-
demned The board however. made no effort to
ferret on, and punish the guilt which 1t believed
to exist
Then there was another exhibition Of a pecul-
lar absence Of logic in the witnesses mind. This
resolution was based on vague rumors'; yet
when positive evidence was laid before the board
in the newspapers no notice was taken OF It,
sKGLFIr DE LANCEY NICOLL
De Lancey Nicoll also began his cross-exami-
nation of Mr.. Martin. The Police Board showed
It's good serse in selecting the former District
Attorney as its counsel He gave further proof
81 the wisdom OF its choice Yesterday. He had
evidently planned his examination carefully. and
he put nearly every answer into Mr.. Martins
mouth Only the stenogra piers minutes will
give an idea of how cleverly Mr.. Nicoll man.
aged this These leading questions would have
been objected to in an ordinary trial but Mr..
Sutherland said not word. Mr. Ncoll. with
frequent expressions Of assent from the witness,
described the civil service rules of the board.
These were shown TO be good as far as they
went but that is credit 10 Mr.. Martin. Be-
sides. they did not prevent the promotion Of
Devcry. Gallagher Doherty and McAvoy To
oblige Tammany Hail
In the morning several witnesses described vi
olatlons of law on election day in the IITd AS
scmb.y District. This evidence merely
cumulative II taught no new lessons. II
merely affirmed the Judgment long since based
on testimony before the Irxow Committee that
the police by criminal Interference. aided in
keeping many Republicans from voting and in
the casting of hundreds OF fraudulent Tammany
ballots