The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-10-10
POLICE BRIGANDAGE.
The Lexow Committee After Cap
.,r tain Schmittbergsr. 4-,
MR.. FORGET Is VERY F0RGETFUL.
The Representative of a Steamship Conn
pnny Admits Paying Large Sums for
"Protection," but Cannot Romember
= Where the Doodle Was Distributed.

"Protection," but Cannot Romember
Where the Doodle Was Distributed.
NEW YORK, Oct 10-The Lexow COM
mittee yesterday returned to a line of in
vestigation which was found to be a most
fruitful field during the midsummer The
subject under discussion during the greater
portion of the day was the tribute ex-
torted from shipping companies under the
guise of protection" of sums of money
paid to policemen, and by them turned
over to superiors in office. The star wit
ness yesterday was Augustin Forget, agent
Of the French steamship line. He sue
ceeded in forgetting a great many things
that the committee very much desired to
know, but some of his testimony was ern-
phatic enough to make things interesting
for captains and policemen.
Mr.. Forget testified that his company
paid $500 to the police for extra services
The policeman on the pier was paid $40
week and $500 went to other police officials.
One of the company's books, which was
produced, showed that in November 1891,
$500 had been paid for Especial surveillance
Of the pier" Mr.. Forget could not ro-
member to whom the mony was paid. Mr..
Goff asked Mr. Forget il Policeman De
Gan had been removed from the pier be-
cause he refused to divide with the captain
tho money he received from the company.
Mr.. Forget could not remember.
Policeman DcGan testified that he was
stationed on the French line pier for eleven
years He said he received $40 week for
working overtime and on his days off.
He was'sent there in 1880. Tho superin-
tendent of the line offered him 80 for ex-
tra services. He never had charge made
against him, and got along very well. In
1891 Wardman Vail came to him and said:
Captain Schniittberger wants this $40
you receive"
II told VAIL" said De Gan, "that 1 was
no serf, and would not give up the sio 1
earned by hard work after my regular
hours. i was already giving IS u week,
and the captain wanted every cent. told
him that Captain Schmittberger would
next want my salary"
Wall said: 'You had better, as the cap
tain can make you trouble Let Captain
Echmittterger do his worst, replied; I
won't be serf.' "
A few days later De Gan was transferred
to u canal boat wharf.
Superintendent West, of the company,
testified that he had protested against DE
Cans removal. When De Gan was trans
ferred Wardman Cannon called and de-
manded the $40 formerly paid to De Gan.
Superintendent West said II receipt
would be given he would give the money.
A receipt was refused. Mr.. West had
heard that the $500 had been raised us
prize to Captain Schmittberger.
Mr.. Forget was recalled, and, under
ndroit questioning by Mr.. Goff, admitted
tn at friends of Captain Schmittberger had
approached him and begged him not to
testify that Schmittb erger got $500, or it
would ruin him. He professed not to re.
member who had interceded for the cap
tain. 1t was represented to him that Cap.
aain Schmittberger would be dismissed II
the $500 story came out, and, for the sake
OF tho captains family, Mr.. Forget WAS
urged to keep 1t dark.
Mr.. Forget, apologizing for his imperfect
knowledge of the English language, said
he did not want to go on record us saying
that he had been approached only in Cap
tain Schmittbergers' behalf. Some one
whom he snid he could not remember, had
In tho last two weeks, asked him not tC
testify against any police official. Among
Mr.. Forgets ''lmpressions' was one to thu
effect that seven men had shared In tht
ehU0. Counsel GoH got the witness to ad
NIT he had written the list of seven namei
and told tho cashier to divide the $500, hui
Mr. Forget could not remember thell
names
Policemen John Corcoran was called
Mr. Goff held a broken locust in hi
hand and charged tho giant policeman
with breaking the club over a small man.
head. The small man was made to stant
by tho side of the policeman who towere,
above him. The policeman denied that h
bad broken his club on the prisoners head
Ho said he shattered the "locust" acros
az iron railing which the small man hat
grasped.
Peter Edward Quinn, the small man,
siaborer. His clothes were in rags from
the rough treatment he had received ut tn
big policcman's hands. He said Corcoral
struck him in the face when ho reaches
the station house. He was struck becaus
ne tried to talk. James Clifford testife'
10 the brutal treatment Quinn had re
ceived. When the witness protested h
was himself clubbed and kicked an
khrown into cell.
Nellie Weinberg testified that Aldorma1
a'9ilycr Dollar" Smith refused an offer c
1850 for protection for coffee saloon wit
1ndy boarders, which Mr.. Goff pronounce
She most startling evidence yet produced.