New-York tribune., 1894-04-07
ELUSIVE PRESIDENT MARTIN,
MR.. SUTHERLAND FOUND 1T HARD 10
PIN HIM DOWN.
ALLEGED BLACKMAIL OF LIQUoR-sELLERs 81
THE POLICE TAMMANY LEADERS WHO

ALLEGED BLACKMAIL OF LIoUoR-sELLERs BY
THE POLICE TAMMANY LEADERS WHO
DICTATE TRANSFERS OF PATRoLMEN.
Only three Of the State Senators who mem
bers of the committee to investigate the Police De-
partment present at the session yesterday,
and they obliged 10 sit in Part II of the Su-
perlor Court because Judge Pryor was sitting r
the General Term room. There was some con-
fusion in making the change and Senator Bradley,
who the first member OF the committee to
rive. went into several rooms before he found the
right one. Senator Lexow. the chairman of the
committee. and Senator Cantor found their way
to the shortly before IL a. President
James j. Martin, of the Police Board. was present
to resume his place in the witness chair. and he
talked apart with De Lancey Nicoll, the counsel
for the Commissioners, for few minutes. Police
Captain Delaney. of the Charles-st squad. had
been subpoenaed and had brought a book in which
record OF the enforcement of the corporation
ordinances in his precinct. He talked for a time
with Senator Cantor. but 1t evident that
his attendance a witness would not be needed
William A. Sutherland, of the committees counsel,
Henry Grasse to speak to Captain Delaney.
who then away with his book. Rollin NJ.
Squire was among the persons who were present to
listen to the testimony.
At the beginning of the session Mr.. Sutherland
placed in evidence the watchers certificate held by
j. c. Havemeyer when he performed his duties al
the poing-place in BaXter-st. at the election last
fall and was permitted by the police to stand
within the guard rail- The certificate signed
by John Sabine Smith and William II. Bellamy, Of
the Republican County Committee. and Mr. Suther-
land said the certificate regular in form.
HIS EXAMINATION RESUMED.
Then Mr.. Sutherland again turned his attention
to President Martin and recalled the attention
of the witness TO some of the testimony given
on last Saturday about the recent trial of Police
Captain Price Mr.. Martin asked II he remem-
bered that he had testified on Saturday that the
Police Board had fined Captain Price only five days
pay because there doubt as to his guilt and
Mr. Martin said he did.
Q-Would the punishment have been greater II
there had been doubt about the Captains guilt?
Alt would
Q.-Is 1t a very serious offence to disobey or
der TO close disorder,y house? Ayes; most
serious offence.
Odd all the Commissioners vote to find Cap
tain Price guilty OF the charge? A-They did.
Q.-Was he then improperly convicted? Al dc
not think so. We had doubt only as to the ex.
tent OF his neglect of duty. The testimony at his
trial showed that the house had been closed for
some time.
Mr. Sutherland read extracts from a newspaper
report of the trial. and asked a number OF ques-
tions to corroborate the reports regarding the tes
mony Of the Central Office detectives who had Sc
cured evidence upon which raid made on the
house. Mr. Ncol rose to object to the line OF in
Quiry. He said he could not understand why the
committee should waste time in listening to such
Senator Lexow-It Is proper in this investigation
to take testimony to show how the Commissioners
their judicial functions
INTERRUPTIONS BY MR.. NICoLL
Mr. Nicol-The chairman Of the committee has
already made a report to the Legislature on thai
subject in the Of eloquent speech. and
has had bill affecting the Police Board passed by
..iurat
the intention to repeal that bill to modify the
questions
Mr. Sutherland-Perhaps Mr. Nicoll would like to
lave the investigation suspended.
Senator Cantor-It might be until the bipartisan
police bill is passed
Mr. Ncol-It would to be waste Of public
money to continue after the committee has made
IS report.
Mr. Sutherland-Has your retainer been securedf
Mr. Nicoll-It has not been provided for by act
" Legislature
Senator Cantor-The chairman OF the COMMITTEES
las made report.
Senator Bradley-Was not the bipartisan police
ill introduced before this investigation began?
Mr. Nicnll-I believe II was, before the COMMITTEES
vas appointed.
Senator Lexow-There is question that the in
estigation may bear future legislation. Mr..
utheriand may proceed with the witness.
Q.-Cou.d not Captain Price have got the evf-
ence against the dsorderly house we'll the
entral ONCE men? Al think not. His detectives
pstfsd that they could not gst the svidAnoA The