Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-20

New York, Dee. 19.-AttOrney GOf1
began the proceedings in the
afternoon with reference
to the testimony as given by Moran
the tugboat owner, about the pay
ment Of money to Richard Croker.
Now said Mr.. Golf, IF Mr.. Gro
ker would like to clear himself t. this
glad to have him appear and yludi-
cate himself
| Mr.. Golf said the only reason why
he had not subpoenaed Mr.. Croker
was because he might refuse to appear
on the ground that he is in no way
connected With the police department.
Capt. Schmittberger was called.
by advice of my counsel, l shall de.
cline to answer all questions" said
| Schmittberger. Mr.. Golf allowed the
captain to go.
Capt. Creden was then called to the
stand. The captain said he had re-
fused to answer questions because he
did not desire nor wish to implicate
anybody else. He did not wish to be
placed in the light of an informer.
Mr.. Golf reminded the captain that
J what he could say would not be trea-
son to his country, and then asked
him if he wished to state anything diff
ferent from Thursday.
The captain started in by telling
how he passed the civil examination.
1t was in December, 1891, that he
heard who We're to be appointed as
captains. A friend of his asked him
why he did not go to one of the COM
missioners who had one of the APP
| pointmentS.
Il did not do anything more just
theu," went on the capaitn. Il was
at the desk one night when this friend
came in. He spoke to me again about
the matter He said that Reppenha-
gen was the county democracy leader
in the district, and that | ought to see
him. Reppenhagen came to see me
about it and told me later the place
could be had for $4,000. l told him
| it was considerable money" you
were a poor man." interrupted Mr.
| Golf Il was, sir. But | told him |
| would see my friends. | saw a num-
Der Of them and told them whatever
they agreed to 1 would stand by"
"Reppenhagen told me that another
man had $4,000 up and if l wanted
the place l must put up $4,000 more. -
"Who was the other man?
at was Sergeant Wiegand." Vie
gand is now acting captain of the
Fourteenth precinct The money was
raised by Captain Creeden on his per-
sonal notes guaranteed by a life in
surance policy.
':Snell and John J. Martin came to
the station house one day together
and asked me if | knew that any mon.
ely had been raised for me. | told him
no, and the men returned to headqudr-
! tiers. About five minutes after they
arrived they wired me to 90 over. |
did so and found that | had been ap-
pointed and assigned to the first pre-
cinct.'
"The $4,000 I believe was in Mr..
| Smells hands?
Eyes. The money was withheld for
a couple of days until finally | said,
Let it 90, will stand the difference.
The money was paid over to Reopen
hagen
! Witness went on to say that he
made applica ton for promotion on sew
eral occasions and once, sergeant be-
| low him in the percentage scale had
! been promoted.
"At either of these examinations
were you approached and told that
you could not get promotion unless
you paid for it," asked Mr.. Golf. Il
was" 'Was any sum named?' Yes,
$4,000" and you refused to pay it"
Yes" ''WhO did Reppenhagen, to
whom this money was paid, repre-
sent?' 1--WE said that he represented
Commissioner Vo0rhis,' was the an
swer.
John T. Martin to whom witness
Penhagen, testified he paid $4,000 OF
49, 600 received from Capt. Creeden
is an eX-assentblyman, has beer
known Familiarity as Honest John
Martin.
Capt Creeden has been suspended
by the police board, and Supt. Byrnes
ordered to prefer charges against him
Commissioner Martin assumed the
witness stand. He had not known thu
committee was DESTROYS of retaining
Captain Creedon, or he would have
done otherwise He voted for Cree
denis suspension on the recommends
ton of Superintendent Eyrnes. Com
missioner Martin promised that b.
would do all in his power to restore
Captain Creeden. Superintendent
Byrnes said that Creeden's case is diff
) ferent from the other accused polio
captains. When Creeden was appoint
| ed he swcre that he paid no money t.
secure the appointment. The superin
rendent recommended his suspension
because Of Creeden's perjury and be
cause Creeden acknowledged his gull
before the committee. But ByrneS al
So promised to do all in his power t
obtain Captain Creeden's restoration
Captain Creeden's confession is tn
biggest sensation brought forth by tn
LeXOW committee. But public censur
is not heaped on Creeden's head. H
served in the local police department
for thirty years with honor and dis
tinction. He is a war-scarred veteran
whose record shows that in twenty
three engagements of the civil war II
risked his life for his country. TIL
, day was Ieplete with exciting an
, dramatic incidents. The witnes
! spoke slowly and with downcast eye