The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-07
HALT IN THE TRIALS.
Police Board Will Undoubtedly
Defer to the LeIow COMMITTEES.
President Martin Asks the Sen
ator's Advice in the Matter.
The Question VIII BE Decided by
the Committee on Monday.

President Martin. OF the Police Board,
called upon Clarence Lexow, Chairman
OF the State Senate Investigating Com
mittee, at his office, 10 Liberty street.
shortly after noon to-day. to ask wheth-
err II was the desire of the Committee
that the Police Boards investigation
should cease during the Committees
session.
The two men were closeted in Chair
man Lexow's private office for an hour
and half. When Commissioner Mar
tin emerged he was all smiles, but he
declined to say what had passed be-
tween him and the Senator.
Mr.. Lexow was more communicative
He said:
Mr.. Martin introduced himself to me
as Committee appointed by the Board
OF Police to call upon and confer with
me about the Investigations into the
Police Department by the Board and
the Senate Committee respectively.
He asked my advice, and said the
Board desired me. for the Senate Com
| mittee, TO express some opinion OF the
situation. j told him that l had no
power, no authority TO advise him, but
that should be happy 10 lay the matter
before the Committee when It convcnes
Monday next and the members would
probably act upon the request of the
Board OF Police,
in , ,ara.,,o that Mr., Martin and l had an
am free to say that Mr.. Martin gave
me some very valuable suggestions
I've discussed tne recent action OF the
foiice board In aabolishng the ward de-
tective system. My opinion is that that
was very good change, and one die
tated by the evidence brought out in the
police trials and by our Committee.
I'VE did not discuss the merits of In.
several cases tried by the Police Board
and ! VIII say that those trials have not
IIesnited IN ne loss Of a witness to the
ton Of the Police Board In bringing ON
these trials caused the slightest chIngr
In the plans of the Committee.
morning in Part il. Of the Superior
Court. and We have plenty Of materials
II IhlnE," said Mr.. Lexow. with a
that We shall do something that win
be Of interest TO the public and make
some sensational reading, perhaps.
Among the suggestions made hy Mr.
Martin which seem strong was that the
present system under the operation OF
which any police officer charged with
IA onensc trusts in The fact that there
s u higher power 10 review the action
of his own superiors - not conducive
TO the best discipline, There We're many
other things touched upon in the talk
but | guess / have told enough"
Mr.. LeNow would not say whether the
Committee would subpoena either of the
Police Commissioners to appear as wit
nesses, nor whether the Committee
would take up the investigation OF any
other branch OF the municipal govern
ment having the responsibility for the
enforcement OF the criminal laws. Nor
NJulI he say that hn would favor the
enactment Of "A law that would give the
'unmi.sioUcE" " trial power similar
to that Of "a military uourt-maTtial.
II will say, said MI LcNoN that
the Board OF Police are hampered 10y
the laws under which they now act, and
that the power of review OF their acts
and the power of removal on the merest
technicaiIties Is, In my Judgment. very
Injurious to the discipline OF the De-
partment"
When President Martin returned 10