New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-20
DIVERS BUNCO FRIENDS.
SHELTERED A GANG OF THEM:
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER GAMBLER AND
CONFIDENCE" MAN.
THE JUSTICES BARRooM WAS HEADQUARTERS
OF THE CRIMINALs-PoLIcE PROTECTION
BOUGHT FOR NEFARIOrs sWINDLERS-
CAPTAIN STRAUSS NEW
YEARS PRESENT

Police Justice Paddy OLIVER was the centraA
figure in the proceedings before the Lexow Conn
mittee yesterday. although he was not present IN
the courtroom It may have been thought difn-
cult to bring any facts which could smircn
his present character much. but the dlsclosures
made by Frank Clarke, a former gambler ana
"bunco steerer" showed that the community had
not had knowledge of all the devious methods by
which Diver won wealth and political power
Clarke's story was that Diver furnished the
money with which swindlers carried on business
and his barroom in Park Row was the head
quarters Of the gang. In the 'bunco game al
in the green goods swindle it is necessary 70
show the victim large amount OF good money.
The bills thus used were KEEP in Divers safe
every night. The witness often saw Ed Parm-
lev or Parmeee pay Diver money, and was cer-
tain that they were dividing the profits OF the
nefarious business in which the iquor-seller ao-
vanced the ca oital and Parmley did the work.
4 circumstance which came to light not long
ago shows that the intimacy between Diver and
I'D" Parmley king Of the "bunco men, has
continued to within a recent time In 1892 DIV
yer bought the property No. 75 Park Row. Half
a dozen deeds were filed to cover up the Police
Justices connection with the transaction, but one
OF the persons who appeared in it was Mrs.
Catherine f. Pierce sister Of Ed" Parmey, or
Edward Parmley Jones. 10 use his real name.
Diver sold the property az advance Of S2s.Oo0.
Clar5e's story gave some interesting revela-
tlons about the protection given 10 "bunco
steerers" and "three-card monte" men by the
police His narrative in this respect was similar
to that Of George Apo the "green-goods' man
who was witness last week. Clarkes gang
paid $500 to the police for the privilege Of opening
business in the district. and gave substantial
sum besides at regular intervals. In addition,
il the victim "squealed' that is lodged COM
plant with the authorities. the police took one
half Of what he had lost Carke's experience
with officers who levied blackmal dated back
many years. and he had never been arrested for
"buncolng' countrymen.
Clarkes tale was Of thrilling interest, and was
indeed fitting companion one to that OF Apo.
II showed that in many cases the police were
actually in partnership with crime. and instead
OF crushing It out shared the profits OF It.
John w Goff pursued little further his in-
vestigatlons into the Bohemian Liquor Dealers
Association Of the XXth and XXIId Assembly
districts One member explained yesterday that
II was formed 20 keep tbe price Of beer al cents
a pint, and to obtain police protection. Iae first
object was apparently never prominent: the Sec
ond one ILLUSTRATES the impudence OF police black
mail These liquor-dealers were p,or and could
pay only small sum a week. The ward man.
therefore. encouraged Bohemians to join the or
ganization, that its treasury could collect the
protection" money and pay K 10 him in bulk.
Captain Strauss and his ward man. Lang ap-
peared in an unpleasant light. 70 say the least.
from the testimony yesterday. These Bohemian
lquOr-sellers decided 10 give the "pantata." or
head father. as they termed the police captain.
500 as a New-Year's gift. and s25 to the ward
detective. Strauss, after receiving the cash,
said he didn't want IL. but easily persuaded
not 70 return Il. Lang didn't have even such
slight compunctons Indeed. well understood
are now the functions Of the ward man that Mr..
GoT raised general laughter when he asked II
Lang de clned to accept his gift
The committee will meet again today
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